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COALESCE national and regional hubs are leading science communication organisations across Europe. They host COALESCE activities, co-create tools, train local actors, build Communities of Practice, and support policy advocacy to strengthen and sustain Europe’s Science Communication ecosystem.

Abstract

COALESCE national and regional hubs are organisations across Europe, well recognised for science communication research and/or practice in their respective countries/regions. Together, they form a network at the heart of the COALESCE project and serve as the physical venues for COALESCE activities. The COALESCE hubs will play a crucial role in establishing the European Competence Centre for Science Communication and its future sustainability, according to their national and regional contexts and the nature of their work. Hubs will be fundamental in multiple activities, such as, the co-creation and adaptation of tools, resources and training for local actors involved in science communication, establish local Communities of Practice, raise awareness with relevant stakeholders. Hubs will also play a key role fostering science communication policy advocacy at the national and European levels, by contributing to a Mutual learning exercise in science communication in Research and Innovation, that feeds from the past-MLEs, such as the MLE in Citizen Science and Public Engagement, with expected impact in the recognition and professionalisation of the field.

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A national case study on connecting science communication and citizen science in the Irish public engagement ecosystem. A multi-stakeholder approach will bring together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, to explore EU platforms as support for sustainable national collaborations.

Abstract

This paper responds to the panel's theme by examining the connections between citizen science and science communication within a specific national context: Ireland. We argue that the “centre-periphery” dynamic exists not only at a transnational level, but also within individual countries, and that a coordinated national strategy is essential to bridge internal divides and fragmentation.

Our paper will bring together authors from a number of key stakeholders from the Irish public engagement landscape: the national representatives for both the citizenscience.eu and scicommcentre.eu platforms (funded by ECS and COALESCE, respectively), Ireland’s ECS citizen science ambassador, as well as funding and policy experts from Research Ireland (Ireland’s national funder of research).

We present a case study of our collaborative efforts to build a cohesive ecosystem that serves diverse communities, from urban centres to rural peripheries. This involves sharing knowledge and resources, aligning strategic goals, and supporting public engagement in terms of research, practice, and policy.

This case study for collaboration provides a practical model for how national actors can ensure the sustainability and legacy of European projects like ECS and COALESCE. The Irish case study will demonstrate a pathway to a more integrated, equitable, and impactful way of connecting research, practice, and policy, offering transferable lessons for similar collaborations across Europe.

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Drawing on IMPETUS’s work with three accelerator cohorts and insights from Nesta UK’s brief “Why inclusion needs to be at the forefront of citizen science,” we share lessons on enabling diverse communities to engage in citizen science and contribute to research that matters to them.

Abstract

Throughout the IMPETUS project, we have worked closely with both new and established citizen science initiatives across Europe to help build momentum for their work and strengthen their position, not only within the citizen science ecosystem but also within the communities they serve. Our goal has been to ensure these organisations are recognised as trusted advocates for a wide range of societal groups, including those that are often marginalised or underrepresented.

Through the training provided by our accelerator programme and our ongoing collaboration with project cohorts in developing their communication strategies, we have gained valuable insights into fostering proactive communication and community building across diverse topics and audiences. Building on this experience, our partners at Nesta UK have released a policy brief, Why inclusion needs to be at the forefront of citizen science, which captures these lessons and highlights the importance of inclusion in citizen science, along with further recommendations on how to ensure participation is not confined to particular social or economic groups.

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Neuro(Minorities)Science - an online group of neurodivergent citizen scientists and allies - explored accessibility needs of neurominorities and created guidelines for stakeholders and policymakers, including citizen science platforms and science communicators, to improve inclusivity for all.

Abstract

Neurodivergent people - people with mental health and neurological conditions and differences – actively participate in digital citizen science. The 2024 survey of 7873 Zooniverse users showed that for many of them participation in crowdsourced research is an accessible and enjoyable route to make contributions to society and science. Yet most or all citizen science platforms and science communication systems were developed without regard for neurominorities’ needs. Our lived experience research group, Neuro(Minorities)Science, has worked to fill this gap.

Adult neurodivergent people and allies with experience contributing to digital citizen science projects on platforms like Zooniverse, iNaturalist, ECS, CisSci and SciStarter, formed an online working group to create actionable guidelines for inclusion of neurodivergent volunteers. This group of 80+ participants from different countries has worked together, online, led by the University of Oxford neurodivergent researcher Dr. Alisa Apreleva.

This work has resulted in a comprehensive list of features conducive of creating “an environment that benefits all and is crucial to some” (Elsherif et al, 2022) on citizen science platforms, globally. Whilst some of the recommendations are focused on the accessible design of online interfaces (e.g. opt-in colourblind or dyslexia features), other are closely related to science communication and engagement (e.g. unambiguous projects descriptions, use of plain language, presenting information in a variety of modes, translations for non-English speakers, etc), with significant implications for future policy for stakeholders like ECS and COALESCE.

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In this interactive session, attendees will engage with the tools in the Soil Your Scarf project to gain insight into the methods used and rationale behind them, before sharing their own experiences and ideas about inclusive, non-extractive, and anti-colonial citizen science through creative mapping

Abstract

About the project:

Soil Your Scarf is an Irish citizen science project that empowers participants with accessible and DIY tools to assess the life in their own soil. The design of the project tends to attract people who may not otherwise feel welcome in scientific spaces, especially in soil science and agriculture. Engaging in knitting/making creates an environment that fosters discussion and openness and makes space for participants to take agency within the project. The scarf itself then becomes a tool for participants to assess their own soil and a vehicle for safely viewing and measuring soil mesofauna biodiversity without harming them – afterward, the scarves are returned to the soil to decompose and provide nutrients. When participants come together to analyse their data, they depict their results and their relationship to the place where they generated their data through creative mapping.

About the session:

Attendees will engage with the tools in the Soil Your Scarf project to gain insight into the methods used and share their own experiences and ideas about inclusive, non-extractive, and anti-colonial citizen science through creative mapping. The goal of the workshop is to spark ideas, build a community of practice around non-extractive citizen science, and explore potential collaborations. Using soil ecosystems as a model, participants are invited to creatively map their own citizen science and science communication ecosystems.

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The paper aims to give insights of the practices across 5 ecosystems within Greece and Türkiye. The SolarHub project brings the dynamics of solar innovation technologies and their applicability to agri-food systems. It draws upon the experience of quadruple helix actors across both countries.

Abstract

SolarHub, is an ongoing EU funded project bringing together solar innovation actors across Greece and Türkiye. The project entails 20 funded partners and reflects the plethora of quadruple helix representation relevant for the renewable energy sector and the agri-food industry. Project insights are important in understanding the leveling of communication across horizontal (DEC and project management) and vertical (strategies, capacities and activities) pillars of project implementation to ensure co-creation and value creation. It brings unique insight with its engagement with farmers and energy communities, as well as its quadruple helix constituents in structuring dialogue and impact across five ecosystems. These ecosystems are based in Greece (Thessaloniki, Athens) and Türkiye (Ankara, Istanbul, İzmir) and all reflect an idiosyncratic nature which enriches the knowledgeability of the experience. The presentation will bring into discussion the dichotomy of balancing differences across the ecosystems and how best to exploit and explore new practices for science communication and citizen engagement. The paper will detail examples from project practice in adherence to the 10 principles of Citizen Science and also bring insights to collaborating with other projects of geographical and thematic relevance.