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Short Abstract

A national case study on connecting science communication and citizen science in the Irish public engagement ecosystem. A multi-stakeholder approach will bring together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, to explore EU platforms as support for sustainable national collaborations.

Abstract

This paper responds to the panel's theme by examining the connections between citizen science and science communication within a specific national context: Ireland. We argue that the “centre-periphery” dynamic exists not only at a transnational level, but also within individual countries, and that a coordinated national strategy is essential to bridge internal divides and fragmentation.

Our paper will bring together authors from a number of key stakeholders from the Irish public engagement landscape: the national representatives for both the citizenscience.eu and scicommcentre.eu platforms (funded by ECS and COALESCE, respectively), Ireland’s ECS citizen science ambassador, as well as funding and policy experts from Research Ireland (Ireland’s national funder of research).

We present a case study of our collaborative efforts to build a cohesive ecosystem that serves diverse communities, from urban centres to rural peripheries. This involves sharing knowledge and resources, aligning strategic goals, and supporting public engagement in terms of research, practice, and policy.

This case study for collaboration provides a practical model for how national actors can ensure the sustainability and legacy of European projects like ECS and COALESCE. The Irish case study will demonstrate a pathway to a more integrated, equitable, and impactful way of connecting research, practice, and policy, offering transferable lessons for similar collaborations across Europe.