The study aimed at assessing the pandemic’s impact on online CS participation and capturing CS project coordinators’ experience of the pandemic and their actions in managing the pandemic’s effects. 

Continue reading An explorative study on the effects of the recent pandemic on online Citizen Science: lessons learnt for improving project management and implementation at Citizen Science | CS Track Project.

Project descriptions are a central element of a Citizen Science project’s online presence and thus play a key role in recruiting volunteers. Very often, they are the first point of contact between a project and prospective participants. As such, they need to be reader-friendly and accessible, spark interest, contain all the necessary practical information, and motivate readers to join by explaining convincingly how they will benefit from participating in the project. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the project descriptions stored in the CS Track database meet these criteria. 

Continue reading Citizen science project descriptions as science communication texts – the good, the bad, and the ugly at Citizen Science | CS Track Project.

The biannual ECSA conference organised under the theme Citizen Science for Planetary Health got off to a great start in Berlin on 5 October with a welcome reception in the Museum of Natural History. The surroundings, dominated by dinosaurs and other fossils was a fine reminder of the importance of protecting the environment, the theme that runs through so many Citizen Science projects. The agenda over the following two days was intense with presentation and discussion sessions involving the almost 500 participants in debate about the best ways to organise Citizen Science activities to have the most impact.

Continue reading Citizen Science Community meets in force in Berlin at Citizen Science | CS Track Project.

The ECSA Conference 2022 will be held from October 5-8 in Berlin, Germany. This year researchers from all disciplines, scientists, practitioners, activists, funders, policymakers, non-governmental organizations, artists, and other interested citizens worldwide are invited to reflect, discuss, and network on the topic of Citizen Science for Planetary Health. The concept of planetary health is based on the understanding that human health and human civilization depend on thriving natural systems and the sustainable stewardship of those natural systems.

Continue reading ECSA 2022, 5-8 October, Berlin, Germany at Citizen Science | CS Track Project.

CS Track and ECSA teams are organising a half-day symposium under the theme “Understanding the nature of Citizen Science in a rapidly changing world” on 8 October, 9:00-13:00 CET in Berlin. This symposium aims at sharing these results and findings and discussing their implications with the citizen science community. Of course, other researchers and community members are invited to share their results and approaches as well. We are particularly interested in computational tools and analysis as well as other innovative empirical approaches in order to understand the essence of CS projects, their activities and the motivations that drive people to participate in CS.

Continue reading Understanding the nature of Citizen Science in a rapidly changing world, half-day symposium, 8 October, Berlin at Citizen Science | CS Track Project.

Javier Dufour is the head of the Systems Unit and Lorena Martinez is responsible for communication and image at IMDEA Energy in Spain. The research at this Madrid-based research centre focuses on determining the sustainability of any energy system.

Continue reading IMDEA’s views on Involving Citizens in the Circular Economy at Citizen Science | CS Track Project.

Marketing and motivation studies highlighted the importance of knowing more about participants. Framing and user experience experts showed how to convert knowledge into tailored approaches that enhance engagement and retention. Other fields, including the world of commerce, have potential lessons for citizen science practitioners, especially those involved in top-down, mass participatory projects that require high levels of engagement.

Continue reading Learning from others – marketing the science and engaging the citizens at Citizen Science | CS Track Project.

Dr. Elissa M. Redmiles is a faculty member and research group leader of the Safety & Society group at the Max Planck Institute for Software Systems. She has additionally served as a consultant and researcher at multiple institutions, including Microsoft Research, Facebook, the World Bank, the Center for Democracy and Technology, and the University of Zurich.

Continue reading Data donation and Citizen Science  – an interview with Elissa Redmiles, Max Planck Institute for Software Systems at Citizen Science | CS Track Project.

The 4th ECSA Conference taking place from 5-8 October in Berlin, Germany runs under the cross-cutting theme of Citizen Science for Planetary Health. The concept of planetary health is based on the understanding that human health and human civilization depend on thriving natural systems and the sustainable stewardship of those natural systems. This demands not only knowledge, commitment and engagement of health and environmental sciences, but inter-and transdisciplinary efforts from all research fields and societal and political actors.

Continue reading ECSA Conference 2022, Call for proposals at Citizen Science | CS Track Project.

REINFORCE (Research Infrastructures FOR citizens in Europe) project is hosting a high-level roundtable and interactive workshop entitled “How citizens can play an active role in the advance of ground-breaking research?” on 24 March, 15:00-16:30 CET. Speakers at the event will include Claudia Fabo Cartas (ECSA), who will open the discussion with an overview of policy objectives with regards to citizen science across Europe; Emmanuel Tsesmelis (CERN), who will provide an overview of the most important research infrastructures in Europe for particle physics; Marina Manzoni (European Commission), who will present the European Union’s perspective.

Continue reading Webinar on how citizens can play an active role in the advance of ground-breaking research, 24 March at Citizen Science | CS Track Project.