Send message to Authors

Short Abstract

How can citizen science engage hard-to-reach audiences? Through a participatory workshop, we explored creative approaches focusing on audiences, channels, places, formats, purposes, and motivations to envision pathways for more inclusive citizen science.

Abstract

Citizen science initiatives often struggle to engage groups that remain at the margins of scientific participation, whether due to social exclusion, geographic peripherality, or limited prior interest in science. To address this challenge, we organised a participatory workshop with members of various citizen science groups. The aim was to generate innovative strategies for reaching new audiences, especially those less represented or more difficult to engage in citizen science activities.

The workshop was structured around six categories — audience, channel, place, format, purpose, and motivation/benefit. Through creative dynamics, participants collectively produced lists of potential approaches for each category. In a second stage, participants used these insights to design original initiatives and projects aimed at broadening the scope of citizen science.

We collected the insights that emerged during the workshop in a report, highlighting which ideas could lead to more effective strategies. These include focusing on organised groups (e.g., professional networks, associations) and individuals connected by social challenges. Engagement could be enhanced through diverse channels and settings — from everyday spaces such as cafés, transport hubs, to unexpected events like local festivals, sports, performances, or creative workshops. Formats might be adapted to the audience (e.g., gamification, art, audiovisual content), and co-creating research initiatives with communities could strengthen participation, empower individuals, and contribute to more equitable access to scientific knowledge and decision-making.

This initiative demonstrates that participatory design and creative engagement strategies can expand the reach of citizen science to hard-to-reach audiences, enriching both the practice itself and its social relevance.