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Short Abstract

Through 200 questions focusing on structural inclusion and participant empowerment, the MICS (measuring impact of citizen science) platform demonstrates outcomes without compromising community safety or autonomy.

Abstract

The MICS (measuring impact of citizen science) platform offers impact evaluation that addresses the core tension between demonstrating outcomes and protecting community autonomy. Rather than requiring extensive demographic profiling and complex consent protocols, MICS employs a self-assessment approach where projects evaluate their own impacts across five domains: society, environment, economy, governance, and science.

The platform's 200-question framework enables non-intrusive measurement through project-level indicators such as 'Do the goals of the project align to the demands of the participants?' and 'Are participants equal partners in the knowledge generation?' Rather than extracting demographic data from individuals, MICS evaluates structural inclusion by asking 'Does the project make sure that minorities and those who usually have less power are among those who are able to influence the project?' This approach assesses participant empowerment through process satisfaction rather than personal profiling. The AI-powered scoring system generates comparable impact metrics while preserving participant privacy and agency.

MICS demonstrates that rigorous impact assessment need not compromise participant safety or transform citizens into study objects. By shifting evaluation focus from individual-level data extraction to project-level impact indicators, the platform enables evidence-based demonstration of inclusive outcomes while maintaining the democratic character of citizen science. The methodology has been validated across diverse European and extra-European contexts, proving its applicability for marginalised communities seeking to document their research contributions without compromising their autonomy.

This approach provides practical solutions for the ECSA community to demonstrate an inclusive impact while upholding the citizen science values of empowerment, participation, and community ownership.