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Short Abstract

The University of Groningen has embedded citizen science in research and education, from MSc/PhD projects to dedicated courses. Insights from these activities will inform roundtable debates on pedagogy, incentives, and curricular integration.

Abstract

Citizen science (CS) offers powerful opportunities for universities to connect research, education, and society. At the University of Groningen (UG), CS has become an increasingly important approach for addressing sustainability challenges, biodiversity conservation, public health, and disaster preparedness. This roundtable contribution includes insights from ongoing and planned citizen science initiatives at UG, highlighting both research applications and their integration into teaching and training.

Contribution to the roundtable discussion includes an overview of CS activities across the university, illustrating how community engagement has been embedded into diverse disciplinary contexts. Concrete examples include PhD projects related to resources sustainability and disaster risk management, as well as MSc-level research projects at the intersection of CS, sustainability-related topics, science communication and science education.

Beyond research, UG actively explores the role of citizen science in education. CS projects are being embedded in university-level courses to support experiential learning, interdisciplinarity, and reflection on science/society relations. These experiences contribute to broader discussions on pedagogical priorities, institutional incentives, and curricular placement, which relate to the key themes of this roundtable. Importantly, they showcase how CS can function not only as a research method but also as a transformative pedagogical tool, equipping students with skills for collaborative, socially engaged science.