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Short Abstract

Poland has a growing CS ecosystem, supported by recent references in the State Science Policy but lacking strong institutional embedding and stable funding. The 2025 Kraków workshop co-created recommendations on capacity-building, legal support, recognition, and dedicated structures.

Abstract

Citizen science (CS) in Poland has deep historical roots, with modern initiatives accelerating after EU accession in 2004 and expanding through biodiversity monitoring, marine research, and international projects such as JoinUs4Health and CREST. Today, CS is referenced in the State Science Policy (2022) as one of the three pillars of open science, yet it remains weakly embedded in legislation, funding frameworks, and research evaluation systems. Most initiatives are still driven by universities, research institutes, NGOs, or municipalities, and rely heavily on EU programmes, indicating limited sustainability.

As part of the European Citizen Science (ECS) project, the national policy workshop Współtworzenie zmian: nauka obywatelska, polityka krajowa, oddziaływanie (Kraków, 10 June 2025) brought together quadruple helix stakeholders to identify challenges and co-create solutions tailored to the Polish R&I context. Participants emphasized the need for stronger legal and institutional support for participatory practices, tailored capacity-building for different actors, recognition and incentives for contributors and researchers, and the creation of dedicated support centres to facilitate implementation.

These outcomes are consolidated in the ECS Policy Brief on Citizen Science in Poland (23 July 2025), which outlines priority actions to strengthen CS as a driver of scientific excellence, social trust, and innovation. By highlighting both achievements and structural barriers, Poland’s case underscores the importance of scaling up legal frameworks, dedicated funding, and recognition mechanisms to ensure CS can be institutionalised and sustained. The policy brief positions CS as a vital instrument for inclusive knowledge production and evidence-informed policymaking in Poland and across Europe.