- Convenors:
-
Lucrina Stefanescu
(Babes-Bolyai University)
Didone Frigerio (University of Vienna)
Stefanie Schuerz (Centre for Social Innovation)
Send message to Convenors
- Format:
- Panel
Short Abstract
This panel aims to explore lessons from ECS Ambassadors Network about building citizen science in their countries, highlighting case studies, challenges, opportunities, and the essential needs for future projects and inclusive citizen engagement strategies.
Description
The ECS Citizen Science Ambassadors Network, launched in 2023, was established to advance citizen participation in scientific research across Europe. Since its creation, the network has contributed to numerous developments by fostering cross-country collaboration, knowledge exchange, and community-driven innovation in citizen science.
This panel session will explore the evolving landscape of citizen science through the lens of the Ambassadors’ experiences. Drawing on a diverse set of national case studies, discussants will examine critical dimensions such as institutional support, grassroots mobilization, digital and data infrastructures, scientific credibility, social inclusion, and long-term sustainability.
Beyond showcasing individual efforts, the session offers a space for comparative reflection and shared learning. It aims to highlight effective practices, identify persistent barriers—such as digital access gaps and funding constraints—and generate policy-relevant insights. The discussion will also emphasize the strategic value of transnational cooperation and the role of the Ambassadors’ Network in shaping inclusive, resilient citizen science ecosystems across Europe.
Accepted papers
Short Abstract
In the Romanian context, the role of the ambassador is threefold: to promote citizen science among the general public and within academic and research environments, to collect information on past and ongoing projects, and to connect dispersed researchers and groups in order to foster cooperation.
Abstract
In 2023, when the Ambassadors' mission began, there was no particular infrastructure for citizen science in Romania and very few dispersed citizen science projects or initiatives. The launch of Romania’s first Citizen Science platform by Babes-Bolyai University marked a major step in building a national community for participatory research.
Now the platform serves as a central hub where researchers and citizens can connect, share resources, and grow new initiatives. What began with presentations across university faculties to spark interest has now evolved into an internationally (UNESCO) and nationally recognized effort, supported by the national executive agency dealing with the implementation of open science policies (citizen science included) in Romania (Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation - UEFISCDI).
Since then, more university groups have focused on the citizen science component, with another platform already running in the western part of the country, developed by the West University of Timisoara. This is a signal of increasing institutional commitment to citizen science in Romania.
Despite the initial success and the growing institutional support, significant challenges remain. Limited human resources, lack of tailored training and insufficient funding constrain the ability to scale up activities and sustain long-term projects. At the same time, specific motivational factors affect citizen engagement, with many initiatives struggling to attract and retain volunteers. These obstacles highlight the need for stronger investment, dedicated staff, and continuous outreach to build a resilient citizen science ecosystem in Romania.
Short Abstract
As the Finnish ECS Ambassador, my work bridging siloed national actors reveals critical barriers like funding gaps and demonstrates the ambassador's vital role as a catalyst for building a more resilient and interconnected European citizen science ecosystem.
Abstract
While Finland boasts a strong tradition of public engagement and advanced research infrastructure, its citizen science initiatives often operate in silos across universities, government agencies, and research projects. My experience as the Finnish Ambassador has been centered on proactively bridging these actors to map their needs, identify shared opportunities, and catalyze collaboration.
On the national policy front, dialogue has been initiated with key bodies such as the National Open Science and Research Coordination, the Research Council of Finland, and Business Finland to understand funding mechanisms and strategic priorities. To connect research and practice, I have actively engaged with major research institutions (e.g., VTT Technical Research Centre, Finnish Environment Institute - SYKE, Natural Resources Institute Finland - LUKE) and data infrastructures (e.g., Finnish Biodiversity Information Facility, Statistics Finland) to explore synergies.
Drawing from these engagements, this discussion will highlight critical insights into the Finnish citizen science ecosystem. Key findings point to a strong grassroots interest and institutional willingness, but also reveal persistent barriers, including the lack of a dedicated funding streams, and standardized support services. The presentation will argue that the ambassador role acts as a crucial catalyst translating needs between policymakers, funders, researchers, and communities. By sharing these experiences, I aim to contribute to the panel's comparative reflection on building resilient, inclusive, and interconnected citizen science ecosystems across Europe.
Short Abstract
As a Citizen Science Ambassador in a country with strong CS traditions, I reflect on how university alliances—like Circle U—can help anchor citizen science institutionally and act as multipliers to strengthen academia’s engagement in citizen science.
Abstract
As a Citizen Science Ambassador in a country where citizen science is well established, I see a growing need to move from promoting citizen science toward anchoring it structurally within academia. One promising path lies in university alliances, which increasingly shape the strategic and societal role of universities across Europe.
Drawing on my experience within the Circle U. European University Alliance, I explore how such alliances can act as powerful platforms for institutional change and knowledge exchange. With their cross-border structures, long-term collaborations, and shared commitment to societal engagement, alliances like Circle U. offer a valuable entry point for embedding citizen science into research agendas, curricula, and university strategies.
In this contribution, I reflect on the potential for a "domino effect": leveraging the networks and influence of university alliances to multiply citizen science awareness and practices—not just among academics, but also among students, local communities, and policy actors. I share insights about possibilities for ECSA to explore structured partnerships with alliances like Circle U. to further integrate citizen science into the European Higher Education and Research Area. As ambassadors, we can act as connectors and facilitators, aligning institutional opportunities with ECSA’s broader mission.
Short Abstract
Belgium’s Citizen Science Scan maps Belgian citizen science projects, revealing who initiates them, how they are funded, and what roles citizens play. The scan provides a structured overview—from grassroots to international projects—and helps identify trends relevant to European collaboration.
Abstract
As ECS Ambassador for Belgium, I offer to present the Belgian Citizen Science Scan, a national initiative by Scivil that systematically maps citizen science practices across the country. The scan includes projects that meet a clear definition of citizen science and involve at least one Belgian partner. It offers a data-driven overview of the field, highlighting who initiates projects, how they are funded, what roles citizens play, and how projects vary in scale—from small, local efforts to large international collaborations.
The first edition (2023) analyzed 150 projects and revealed that most initiatives are led by public institutions, non-profits, and universities. Citizens typically contribute through data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Funding sources range from government grants to private foundations, and one-third of projects actively involve schools.
The second edition (2025, data collection ongoing at time of submission) builds on this foundation with an updated dataset and a targeted survey. This allows us to also track changes over time: Are certain themes gaining traction? Are citizen roles evolving? Is the funding landscape shifting?
By comparing both editions, we gain insights into the development and diversification of citizen science in Belgium. The scan serves not only as a monitoring tool but also as a resource for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners aiming to foster inclusive and sustainable citizen engagement.
This case study contributes to the panel’s broader reflection on national strategies, challenges, and opportunities in building resilient citizen science ecosystems across Europe.
Short Abstract
Despite several long-term, self-sufficient citizen science projects, we have had low activity in the Swedish national network. We are now looking for the failing parts, filling the gaps and starting a new chapter for a national node.
Abstract
Several NGOs, governmental authorities and universities in Sweden run and support citizen science projects. Some of them are long-term and provide trusted data to research and environmental monitoring. Others are short-term mass experiments engaging thousands of school children, their teachers and parents. In a previous project, Public & Science Sweden took part in establishing a web portal for citizen science in Sweden (medborgarforskning.se), but the activity within this network has since been slow. Why?
There is an interesting difference between established, long-term and well-supported citizen science programmes and attempts from single researchers to set up and run a citizen science project: Long-standing projects might not need the support of a network and new attempts might not know the essential parts of a successful citizen science project. In addition, many researchers run citizen science projects giving them other names (participatory, co-creation, …) and governmental agencies might run ones they don’t even call citizen science. Thus, many researchers active in the area of engaging and collaborating with volunteers do not know of each other.
Obviously, bringing together a national network of researchers interested in these ‘engagement’ and ‘participatory’ methods may both (i) increase the peer-support and quality of CS and (ii) increase the (financial) support from stakeholders for a national node and resource centre. We aim to avoid the issue of ‘semantics’ (=what to call citizen science) and make it a network for exchange of experience and competence, where we can discuss how to best advance citizen science in Sweden.
Short Abstract
Since the 2010s, networks and platforms have connected citizen science projects, promoting public engagement, collaboration, advocacy, and project support. An ECSA working group analysed experiences from various countries to address challenges and enhance citizen science capacity building.
Abstract
Since the early 2010s, several national networks and platforms have been established to connect different citizen science projects in their respective countries, generally across scientific disciplines. These networks, often with associated online platforms, pursue various goals, such as: (1) displaying citizen science projects to an interested public; (2) connecting citizen science actors to foster innovation and learning; (3) advocating and lobbying for citizen science in their respective contexts; as well as (4) supporting the creation of citizen science projects or to improve small “local” projects by facilitating a cooperation with professional researchers. In the ECSA working group, “Citizen Science Networks”, we combine the knowledge and experience in governing networks and platforms from initiatives in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Slovenia, as well as from the international platforms EU-Citizen.Science, SciStarter and VERA.
In a series of online workshops, the working group members shared their experiences in different areas of coordinating a citizen science network/platform. These areas of experience involve the aims, setup, activities, funding, target groups and communication of citizen science networks and/or platforms, as well as data collected in such networks and/or platforms.
The aim was to inform the citizen science community about the challenges or questions faced in developing citizen science networks in different countries. In our contribution, we want to present a report that summarises the findings of our collaborative endeavour and discusses these results in the context of citizen science capacity building.