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Poster Short Abstract

ScienceUs fosters citizen science via a Europe-wide competition that selects scalable and impactful projects for climate adaptation and policy integration.

Poster Abstract

The ScienceUs project has pioneered an innovative approach to identifying and promoting citizen science initiatives aligned with the EU Mission “Adaptation to Climate Change.” Central to this effort was the organization of a Europe-wide competition aimed at selecting the most relevant and impactful ongoing citizen science projects that could contribute to climate resilience and adaptation strategies after their upscaling.

The presentation will outline the key elements (e.g., selection criteria, dissemination, and evaluation process), challenges (e.g., competition with other funding schemes, diverse project maturity), and lessons learned (e.g., supporting diversity) from the competition process.

The presentation will raise critical questions: What defines relevance in the context of climate adaptation and citizen science? Which criteria best capture scientific value, community engagement, scalability, and policy impact? How can priority topics—such as urban heat, water management, coastal resilience, biodiversity loss, and social vulnerability—be effectively integrated into the selection framework? Who must be the target of dissemination activities?

The competition design involved a multi-stage evaluation process that combined expert review with participatory assessment and climate adaptation background from the ScienceUs project and from the Stakeholder Advisory Board. Challenges included balancing scientific rigor with inclusivity, ensuring geographic and thematic diversity, and aligning with EU Mission objectives. The experience highlighted the importance of transparent criteria, clear communication, and capacity-building support for applicants.

It demonstrated the potential of citizen science to inform climate adaptation policies and empower communities, while revealing the need for sustained support and strategic scaling of successful initiatives.