- Convenors:
-
Rhys Archer
(Stockholm Environment Institute, The University of York)
Lucy Way (University of York)
Smriti Safaya (Stockholm Environment Institute)
Send message to Convenors
- Format:
- Workshop
Short Abstract
This session by the Inclusive Citizen Science group explores how to embed inclusivity in citizen science. Through case studies and collaborative discussion, it aims to share strategies, address challenges, and generate practical recommendations for inclusive, impactful research.
Description
This session, presented by the Inclusive Citizen Science group at SEI York, explores inclusive practices within citizen science initiatives across a range of different project models including in-person, remote, hybrid, and asynchronous, and for a range of different project phases. As citizen science grows in prominence addressing issues of inclusivity is imperative to maximise the participation and contributions of diverse community groups as well as to meet the Ten Principles of Citizen Science. This session aims to share strategies and methods for incorporating inclusivity into citizen science projects in various different areas, and broaden the discussion to sharing learning to and from European partners.
The session will begin with an overview of the current landscape of inclusivity in citizen science, highlighting diversity of participants, equity, and accessibility. We will present case studies which illustrate inclusive practices, showcasing their impact on both scientific outcomes and community engagement. Based on a discussion about the case studies, participants will then reflect on their own experiences from a European perspective. The group discussions will focus on identifying effective strategies for promoting inclusivity, addressing challenges, and sharing best practices. This collaborative learning approach aims to generate inclusion recommendations relevant to researchers and across Europe.
By the end of the session, participants will have gained understanding of inclusive citizen science practices and developed practical strategies to apply these principles in their own work.
The required space would need to be able to accommodate a group work setting, with a maximum of 50 people.
Accepted contributions
Short Abstract
Neuro(Minorities)Science participatory working group has researched the accessibility needs of neurodivergent people who participate in digital citizen science. We will share insights and guidelines for citizen science platforms and project owners to make their online environment more inclusive.
Abstract
Many participants of digital citizen science projects are neurodivergent. For many of them participation in crowdsourced research is the most accessible and preferred way of contributing to society and science. Yet most or all citizen science projects were developed without regard for neurominorities’ needs. Our lived experience research group, Neuro(Minorities)Science, has worked to fill this gap. We believe that “Inclusive Citizen Science in practice: Learning across borders” workshop would be a good thinking space to highlight our findings and to engage in a productive conversation about inclusivity in citizen science across disciplines and cultures.
Adult neurodivergent people - people with mental health and neurological conditions and difference - and allies, who have experience of contributing to digital citizen science projects on platforms like Zooniverse, iNaturalist, CisSci and SciStarter, formed an online working group to create actionable accessibility guidelines for inclusion of neurodivergent volunteers. The group of 80+ participants from different countries has worked together, online, in writing, led by the University of Oxford neurodivergent researcher Dr. Alisa Apreleva.
Our recommendations will be released in time for the ECSA2026 conference, and we would like to embrace the opportunity to share these during the workshop. We also find it important to share the insights into the process and experience of our work as a large, lived experience, citizen science group in an online, asynchronous, in-writing format.
Short Abstract
Since 2020 I have been conducting co-creative citizen science projects in Applied Language Studies. Issues of inclusivity and participant diversity as well as the level of participation in different phases of research have been in focus of many discussions.
Abstract
Since 2020 I have been conducting co-creative citizen science projects in Applied Language Studies. Issues of inclusivity and participant diversity as well as the level of participation in different phases of research have been in focus of many discussions. Currently these issues are central for a new project, IMPACT, where I am leading a WP with the objective to bring the perspective of adult immigrants in Finland to the impact of official language proficiency requirements and associated high-stakes testing on their lives and their integration into the Finnish society. In my contribution I describe some issues and achievements in my previous CCS projects with young people. Finally, I invite the participants to reflect on the work in progress of IMPACT and to brainstorm on enhanced inclusivity as well as level of participant control in the forthcoming phases of the project.
Short Abstract
The European Citizen Science project promotes inclusion and diversity in citizen science across Europe. We would contribute experiences from inclusive pilots, evaluation methods, and upcoming guidelines for inclusion in citizen science (to be published in November 2025).
Abstract
As part of the EU Funded European Citizen Science (ECS) project, which aims to build a globally connected and inclusive citizen science community, we are interested in contributing to this workshop by sharing experiences, learnings, and reflections from our work on inclusion and diversity across Europe.
ECS Project: https://citizenscience.eu/ecs_project/
ECS works to widen and strengthen the European citizen science community through capacity building, awareness raising, and the promotion of inclusive practices. Within this framework, we are conducting inclusive pilot initiatives in different European contexts to explore the barriers that prevent participation and to identify strategies that effectively engage underrepresented and marginalised groups. These pilots address a wide range of challenges, from digital exclusion to cultural and linguistic barriers.
In addition, ECS is developing inclusive evaluation methodologies that aim to capture diverse experiences and make impact assessment frameworks more equitable. By November 2025, the project will publish a set of guidelines for inclusion in citizen science, synthesising cross-border experiences and lessons learned.
Through participation in this workshop, we aim to exchange practices, validate our findings with peers and participants, and contribute to a collective reflection on how to mainstream inclusive citizen science across borders.
Short Abstract
The RISE project empowers Social Economy Organisations to pursue engaged research. By bridging gaps with academia through EU-funded training, it builds skills in collaboration, communication, and ethics advancing inclusive, evidence-based innovation across Europe.
Abstract
Societal challenges demand co-created solutions, yet a significant skills gap often impedes meaningful research partnerships between Social Economy Organisations (SEOs) and academia. SEOs frequently lack the tools and methodologies to effectively navigate the research landscape, limiting their capacity for impactful, evidence-based work. The RISE project, an EU-funded initiative, directly addresses this gap by empowering non-academic actors to become ‘research-ready’ in evidence-based practice, moving beyond traditional dissemination models.
RISE focuses on building core competencies through an engaged research training program. Initial findings from our ‘gaps and barriers’ workshops reveal diverse participant confidence levels and highlight key disconnects between SEOs and academic researchers, including issues in networking, communication, goal alignment, and funding. Workshops also identified critical challenges in competencies like sustainability planning, interdisciplinary research, and intellectual property management, alongside concerns regarding ethics and participant retention. We will share best practices and lessons learned through our workshops designed to fill in those gaps, and empower SEOs engaging in the research and funding landscape.
This session is ideal for academics interested in equitable partnership models, leaders from the third and public sectors seeking to enhance evidence-based practice, and policymakers aiming to foster a more robust and applied knowledge ecosystem. The RISE approach offers a tangible blueprint for a collaborative, effective, and socially engaged research culture in Europe.