2024 Jury

The European Union’s new Citizen Science Prize makes a statement. It honors, presents and supports outstanding projects whose social and political impact advances the further development of a pluralistic, inclusive and sustainable society in Europe.

This is the jury of the European Union Prize for Citizen Science 2024:

Elevating communities and excellent research through citizen science – Paving the way for radical societal transformation.

Statement by the jury of the European Union Prize for Citizen Science 2024:
Mairéad Hurley (IE), Sofie Burgos-Thorsen (DK), Snežana Smederevac (RS), Fermín Serrano Sanz (ES), Luciana Marques (BR)

2024 is the second year that we recognize the outstanding citizen scientists in Europe. Citizen science, a collaborative approach involving volunteers from diverse backgrounds in scientific research, represents a trend and a key paradigm shift in contemporary science. At its core, citizen science embodies the democratisation of knowledge. Inviting participants from all walks of life to participate in scientific discovery transcends traditional boundaries of expertise, inspires curiosity, catalyses innovation across various disciplines, and empowers communities to actively contribute to our understanding of the world. This inclusive process fosters a sense of global citizenship, pride, ownership,

empowerment, inclusion, and shared responsibility among participants. It enriches the scientific process with new perspectives, insights, and evidence-based decision-making while often driving social innovation,building capacity in local communities, and countering apathy and civic disengagement. Furthermore, citizen science is a powerful tool for scientific communication and education. It fosters a deeper appreciation of scientific methods and nurtures a society of informed, scientifically active citizens.

Citizen scientists contribute significantly to co-designing research methods, posing relevant questions, developing innovative tools, collecting data, collectively interpreting findings, and providing policy recommendations through hands-on research experiences and online platforms, performances, or workshops. As a result, the reality of citizen science in Europe today transcends the consolidated idea of projects being a mere database of collected georeferenced points on a map: citizen science is building strong bridges between policies and societies in Europe. This collaborative approach helps to close the gap between scientific expertise and public understanding, leading to more effective and inclusive policy-making processes. Nowadays, this is a crucial aspect, given the nature of contemporary challenges such as political polarisation, increased social marginalisation of minority groups, anti-European sentiments, or anti-science narratives which pose risks to our democracy, collaboration, and trust in science. In an era marked by the proliferation of fake news, right-wing populism, and distrust in sciences, engaging different groups directly with science contributes to generating reliable data and results, safeguarding democratic values. By empowering citizens to participate actively in the scientific process, these initiatives promote a culture of openness, accountability, and critical thinking —essential pillars of a healthy democracy. Through engagement in research activities related to issues that directly impact their communities, citizen science projects cultivate a sense of ownership and investment in the democratic process.

As jury members, the range of projects we reviewed allowed us a unique insight into the transformative potential of citizen science to shape the future of Europe. These awards are testament not only to the achievements of individual citizen scientists, but also to the collective spirit of collaboration and discovery that drives this movement forward. We respect the dedication and passion of all participants in this competition, while highlighting those projects that have achieved excellence in citizen science. The winners and honourable mentions showcased here come from more than 30 different countries. They exemplify ways that European citizens generate valuable knowledge across various scientific domains, addressing pressing societal issues. Congratulations to all. These initiatives demonstrate exceptional achievements, showcasing innovative methodological approaches and interdisciplinary collaboration…

We are living through profoundly turbulent times, and the events of recent years have shed light on the many processes and practices that need to be completely overhauled, given a tune up, or put out to pasture. It is clear that doing things the way we

have always done them will no longer serve us. Instead, we need to pay heed to the voices on the edges of those who are doing things differently, rebelling, imagining the world as if it could be otherwise, and most importantly, taking action. The projects we have recognised are these trailblazers who can act as a beacon for others to follow – whether they are using emerging or immersive technologies in unexpected ways, embracing circular economy, taking control of healthcare, or fighting against the many forms of injustice and oppression by generating knowledge and furthering education.

It’s crucial to underscore the ethics, transparency, and excellence in these initiatives especially those that aim to safeguard citizens’ basic human rights and to uphold research integrity in the digital age.

What’s next for Citizen Science?

While the projects we reviewed were all inspiring, they also indicate areas where there may be room for further developments that would allow citizen science in Europe to be more impactful.

First, on the level of citizen science methods, we advocate for more ambitious and inclusive approaches. Many citizen science initiatives could take inspiration from projects such as Diversity & Collaboration prize winner SeaPaCS, and others, to allow and support citizens to engage in all project phases, from inception to completion. This is just one step that can improve collaboration and participation of citizens in science. Another step to overcoming extractive tendencies involves investing in a reciprocal, rather than one-way, relationship between citizens and scientists. This might entail designing capacity building, educational outcomes, or accountability metrics into the project scope, ensuring that scientists give back to the communities, whose participation and labour they rely heavily upon.

Second, on the topical or thematic level, we encourage more citizen science projects to address technological issues in society. While many projects use sensor technologies, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and digital media as tools or means to study other issues, very few projects investigate technological problems as their topic of concern. Yet, honorary mention recipients such as ‘Intelligent Instruments in Citizen Science’ and ‘Eco-Bot.Net’ exemplify that citizen science has much to offer to our understanding of the implications of AI, Generative AI, surveillance systems, social media platforms, and other digital technologies, in relation to democracy, environmental policies, urban planning, social justice, and other burning issues. Here, citizen science could help us challenge and address the biases in digital technologies, and their power and role in society.

Third, citizen science could evolve further by integrating artistic practices, reconfiguring how knowledge is produced and going beyond conventional, linear scientific data collection and analysis modes. Honorary mention recipients like ‘Dreamachine’ exemplify this potential by using artistic installations and drawing exercises to invite

citizens to report in new ways about their sensory experiences, allowing for novel scientific research within cognitive science. This demonstrates that art and citizen science can inform and inspire each other, creating a citizen science that transcends traditional boundaries. While many citizen science projects currently focus on documenting their rigour in methods and data, the field could benefit from an increased focus on exploring what the integration of artistic practices could do to reconfigure knowledge production through creativity and playful research.

In line with European values, citizen science projects must consider their impact on all members of society. Citizen science should both serve and meaningfully engage with communities distant from science to avoid detachment. By bridging these gaps, citizen science can become more inclusive and impactful, breaking down barriers and fostering social justice.

Pre-evaluation
Jury