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Short Abstract

This study compares barriers to citizen science in Portugal between academia and civil society, highlighting differences in motivation, funding, and institutional recognition, and calling for collaborative, sustainable, and inclusive approaches.

Abstract

Citizen science has increasingly emerged in Portugal as a relevant approach to promote scientific literacy, public participation, and collaborative knowledge production. However, its consolidation still faces multiple institutional, operational, and social challenges. This study addresses the following research question: What are the main barriers to the development and growth of citizen science projects in Portugal, and how do these differ between initiatives promoted by academia and by civil society?

The analysis is based on 16 citizen science projects implemented in Portugal between 2016 and 2024, using data collected through semi-structured interviews with project coordinators and promoters from both academic and civic contexts.

Findings reveal clear contrasts between the two spheres. In civil society-led projects, the main barriers relate to sustaining citizen motivation, limited scientific literacy, and lack of funding and human resources. These constraints reflect the structural vulnerability of local initiatives and the difficulty of maintaining long-term engagement. In academically driven projects, the predominant barriers are institutional and cultural, including scientists’ distrust in citizen-generated data, the absence of formal academic recognition of citizen science for career progression, and slow data validation and management processes.

Despite these differences, both groups share common challenges, particularly the need for continuous funding and effective engagement and communication strategies with participants. The study concludes that the strengthening of citizen science in Portugal requires an intersectoral approach that integrates universities, municipalities, associations, and citizens, promoting more collaborative, sustainable, and inclusive models of participation in research.