The ScienceUs Upscale Academy officially entered its Flourish phase with a vibrant two-day kick-off meeting held in Marseille, France, on June 25–26, 2025, hosted by our partners at Aix-Marseille Université.
This milestone gathering brought together the five selected Flourish projects, members of the ScienceUs consortium, guest speakers, and local stakeholders for two days of exchange, inspiration, and planning — all in the spirit of upscaling citizen science for climate resilience.
🌱 Flourish Phase of ScienceUs Upscale Academy Kicks Off in Marseille
Day 1: Presenting Projects and Building Shared Vision
The meeting opened on June 25 at the University building on 63 Canebière with a warm welcome lunch and ice-breaker session, setting the tone for a collaborative and supportive atmosphere.
Each of the five Flourish projects presented their current progress, key challenges, and needs for upscaling, followed by lively discussions and knowledge exchange. The diversity of approaches — from rooftop adaptation and water monitoring to youth climate leadership and coastal resilience — highlighted the strength of the ScienceUs community.
A highlight of the day was the keynote by Aurélie Biancarelli, Vice-Mayor of Marseille, who shared the city’s perspective on participatory science. Her reflections emphasized the real-world value of citizen-driven initiatives in shaping sustainable, inclusive urban futures.
The day concluded with a group dinner at the Vieux-Port, strengthening the community ties that will carry us through the Flourish phase.
Day 2: Learning and Planning for Scale
Held at the Campus St Charles, June 26 was dedicated to training and strategic development. Participants explored key tools and infrastructures for citizen science upscaling, including:
Sophie Gachet from Observatoire des Saisons (ODS)
A virtual presentation on VERA, part of the OPERAS infrastructure
Maud Rebibou on the CIVIS Open Lab, an open facility supporting participatory research
Practical sessions on setting up the Upscale Academy’s digital infrastructure
A workshop on Strategic Stakeholder Mapping, supporting projects to identify and engage key actors
A closing talk by Fabien Borget on the challenges and opportunities of open science
This second day solidified a collective roadmap for the Flourish phase — one built on shared knowledge, open collaboration, and a commitment to empowering communities across Europe.
Looking Ahead
The Kick-off meeting marked more than just the start of a new phase — it embodied the ScienceUs spirit: grounded in community, informed by science, and focused on action.
As our five Flourish projects move forward, they do so with renewed energy, expanded networks, and tailored support to scale their local innovations. We can’t wait to see what they achieve next.
Stay tuned — the Flourish journey has only just begun!
“Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.”
