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Short Abstract

Drawing on my experience coordinating national Open Calls for Citizen Science projects, I aim to contribute insights on funding accessibility and sustainability. My focus is on how diverse actors—schools, NGOs, and research institutions—navigate funding challenges while ensuring inclusiveness.

Abstract

I would like to join this workshop to share experiences and learn from others about sustainable funding models for citizen science. As a program coordinator at the Center for the Promotion of Science (CPN, Serbia), I have been responsible for designing and implementing two national Open Calls for Citizen Science, which funded 17 projects addressing diverse topics, from environmental monitoring to public health, while aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This experience highlighted both the opportunities and challenges of supporting citizen science through grant-based funding in a national context, especially in terms of accessibility, accountability, and long-term sustainability.

My contribution to the workshop will focus on two aspects: first, practical insights from coordinating citizen science funding schemes at the institutional and policy level, including working with schools, research institutions, NGOs, and local communities; and second, reflections on how funding mechanisms can foster participation, strengthen partnerships, and build capacities beyond the project cycle.

I am particularly interested in learning from colleagues about alternative models such as crowdfunding and hybrid approaches, and in discussing how protocols like the one presented at this workshop could be adapted for smaller countries and emerging citizen science ecosystems.