Policy briefs
Unlocking Citizen Science Potential: Inclusive Narratives Ethical Engagement Strategic Capacity Building
Description of the evidence
There is a clear need for citizen science narratives and language that resonate with potential citizen scientists from civil society, particularly those from hard-to-reach and/or underrepresented groups to encourage participation in European citizen science projects. Without such inclusive communication, participation in European citizen science projects remains limited.
In parallel, many project coordinators and researchers lack knowledge of ethical participation approaches that support different levels of co-creation opportunities for citizen scientists, extending beyond the mere and limited role of data collectors.
Additionally, civil society actors and potential partners are often overlooked due to insufficient skills in stakeholder mapping, engagement and management, highlighting the need for targeted advice, training and individual coaching.
Finally, project leaders frequently remain unaware of existing research strategies within higher education institutions and universities, obstructing their capacity to situate their initiatives within broader academic and policy contexts.
Recommendations
Therefore, we recommend including the following focus areas in future EU research funding and calls for proposals:
- Development and dissemination of clear, accessible narratives and language for citizen science projects.
- Structured guidance on ethical and inclusive participation in research with an emphasis on co-creative and collaborative engagement.
- Targeted support, training and coaching for citizen science projects to professionalise stakeholder management and strengthen public engagement and communication.
- Capacity building for project owners and leads in citizen science to improve their understanding of the research landscape and institutional research landscape and institutional research strategies.
Conclusions
To fully harness the transformative potential of citizen science, it is essential to address the current barriers to inclusive and ethical participation. Clear, accessible communication, stronger stakeholder engagement, and improved alignment with institutional research strategies are all critical to enhance the quality and impact of citizen science projects. By investing in training, guidance, and capacity building, future EU research programmes can foster a more co-creative, collaborative, and socially relevant research landscape.
Unlocking the full potential of CS for climate change adaptation
Context
Citizen Science can play a vital role in co-creating adaptation strategies that are both locally grounded and scientifically informed. However, despite its potential, citizen science remains underutilised in EU-funded climate adaptation efforts. Out of more than 230 ongoing Horizon Europe and EU Mission projects addressing climate change adaptation, only 29 have integrated a citizen science component. This pronounced gap highlights a wealth of untapped potential, which was addressed and explored in ScienceUs deliverable D2.2, which highlighted how citizen science can contribute to EU adaptation goals and identified barriers currently limiting citizen science in this context.
Description of the evidence
A mixed methods approach was used to explore how citizen science can support EU climate adaptation. The analysis looked at EU-funded projects currently using citizen science and those that are not, identifying key opportunities and challenges at the project level and for wider EU adaptation efforts.
Results demonstrate that citizen science offers clear added value for the EU’s climate adaptation mission. It can help close data gaps through low-cost, long-term monitoring and strengthen community engagement, both vital for effective adaptation. By supporting locally tailored solutions and fostering societal resilience, citizen science contributes directly to smarter, more systemic adaptation strategies and delivers key co-benefits aligned with Mission objectives. However, sustained participation remains a key challenge, and limited volunteer recruitment and funding threaten the scalability and impact of citizen science in climate adaptation.
Recommendations
- Develop targeted communication strategies based on behavioural science to raise awareness and encourage public involvement in citizen science.
- Recognise the importance of locally tailored adaptation strategies, as one-size-fits- all approaches are insufficient to meet the diverse needs of communities across the EU.
- Ensure open access to data and results to improve collaboration between citizens, scientists, and policymakers.
- Create platforms and funding opportunities for projects to share experiences and best practices—bridging gaps between those using and not using citizen science.
- Communicate the added value of citizen science, such as building environmental awareness, social cohesion, and community ownership.
- Acknowledge and communicate the co-benefits of citizen science, such as enhanced environmental literacy, social cohesion, and local ownership, as key contributions to the EU’s long-term climate adaptation
- Integrate citizen science as a strategic, complementary tool that strengthens broader adaptation policies and
- Engage and empower local authorities by providing incentives, targeted funding, and institutional support to scale up citizen science initiatives, thereby reinforcing local resilience and community-led adaptation goals.
- Allocate adequate funding and resources to allow for meaningful engagement and maximise scientific and policy impact.
Brief conclusion
Implementing these recommendations will contribute to a more inclusive, data-informed, and resilient approach to climate adaptation across Europe.
References
Bates, Nadia; Oesterheld, Marius; Thum, Isabel, 2025, “ScienceUs D2.2: Challenges and Opportunities for Citizen Science under the new era framework and EU Mission “Adaptation to Climate Change” [Unpublished project deliverable]
Bridging the Communication Gap Between Citizen Science, Policy, and Funding
Context
A key insight from WP5 activities during the first 18 months of ScienceUs is the structural communication gap between citizen science actors and the policymaking and funding ecosystem. Although citizen science projects generate valuable data and community engagement, these efforts often remain disconnected from formal research systems and public decision-makers, resulting in lost opportunities for societal impact and innovation alignment with EU missions.
Analysis
Through communication and dissemination activities, WP5 identified that many local and grassroots citizen science projects lack the capacity or channels to engage meaningfully with policymakers or funding bodies. Existing mechanisms for funding are not easily accessible or visible to these groups. Moreover, there is limited feedback or interactive dialogue from the European Commission or other institutions back to the citizen science community, which undermines long-term engagement. WP5 activities have demonstrated a strong willingness for clearer, bi-directional communication pathways and stronger networking infrastructures.
Recommendations
- Integrate strategic functions within EU-level digital Citizen Science platforms:
- Funding and partnership opportunities.
- Two-way policy communication tools.
- Establish Citizen Science Communication Hubs in future EU Mission implementation strategies, with provisions for directed and sustained funding.
- Implement Policy Feedback Loops where EU-funded citizen science projects receive structured feedback on how their contributions, such as data, insights, or recommendations, have influenced policy decisions, enhancing transparency and trust.
Brief conclusion
Without dedicated channels, citizen science risks remaining disconnected from the research-policy-funding triangle. The first period of ScienceUs shows the urgency and opportunity of connecting these spheres through structured communication efforts. WP5 strongly recommends formalising this connection via digital infrastructure, policy mandates, and continuous stakeholder dialogue.
Embedding Citizens in the Upstream Policy Design and Ensuring Sustainable Communication
Context
Citizen science is often treated as a downstream tool for data collection or dissemination. However, for real transformation, citizens must be engaged earlier, as co-creators of research agendas and policies. Additionally, communication structures created within projects often dissolve after funding ends, limiting long-term visibility and uptake.
Analysis
WP5 findings show a clear need for two major shifts: (1) citizens should be systematically empowered to influence research agenda, ensuring alignment with local priorities and needs; (2) communication outputs from citizen science projects – such as websites, networks, and outreach campaigns – are often not supported by coherent long-term sustainable strategies within funding calls. This gap results in lost momentum, reduced engagement, and duplication of efforts across initiatives.
Recommendations
- Introduce Participatory Policy Design Frameworks within Horizon Europe to include citizen inputs in setting priorities, especially for EU Missions and green transition towards climate adaptation.
- Promote long-term commitment and community involvement, especially a long-term communication strategy beyond the core project period.
- Promote Institutional Partnerships between citizen science projects and local authorities to embed engagement practices and ensure local continuity.
- Include sustainable and long-term financing of citizen science projects.
Brief conclusion
True citizen inclusion requires both upstream participation and downstream continuity. By institutionalising co-creation and planning for sustainability, Europe can unlock the full transformative potential of citizen science.
Partners
The ScienceUs team is formed by universities from the CIVIS Alliance and the Museum für Naturkunde that brings its expertise and networks generated thanks to its leading role in EU-citizen science and its successor, European Citizen Science.
ScienceUs is led by the Universidad Autonoma De Madrid (Spain). Together with other 6 universities from the CIVIS, (Aix Marseille Université(France), Ethniko Kai Kapodistriako Panepistimio Athinon (Greece), Universitatea Din Bucuresti (Romania), Universite Libre De Bruxelles (Belgium), Universita Degli Studi Di Roma La Sapienza (Italy), and Eberhard Karls Universitaet Tuebingen (Germany)) and the Museum Für Naturkunde (Germany) have joined to work together on the ScienceUs project, offering diverse experiences and know-how, and representing a broad, balanced, and targeted geographical area.
