Prize Categories

European Union Prize for Citizen Science – Grand Prize

Awarded for outstanding achievements in the advancement of knowledge through the empowerment of civil society and citizens in the development of the future.

The Grand Prize of the European Union Prize for Citizen Science is not limited to specific topics or themes. The Prize will be awarded to the most outstanding initiative according to the award criteria. 

Diversity & Collaboration Award

Awarded for excellence in grassroots approaches, explorative collaboration, cultural and gender diversity, community participation, stakeholder engagement and social inclusivity.  

The Diversity & Collaboration Award of the European Union Prize for Citizen Science focuses on initiatives with transdisciplinary collaboration models that actively engage with or are initiated by a diverse range of stakeholders. Awarded initiatives will demonstrate a specific excellence in pushing the boundaries between civil society, citizens and science by engaging with local communities or taking a grassroots approach, and that display gender and cultural diversity, community participation, stakeholder engagement, and social inclusivity. 

All submissions to the European Union Citizen Science Prize will be evaluated according to the six Award Criteria and will be considered for the Diversity & Collaboration Award. The Citizen Science Initiative selected by the jury to receive the Diversity & Collaboration Award is expected to achieve specific excellence within Award Criteria 3. Diversity & Collaboration.

Digital Communities Award 

Awarded for excellence in fostering an open and inclusive civil society fit for the digital age by empowering communities to critically engage with digital technologies. 

The Digital Communities Award of the European Union Prize for Citizen Science focuses on initiatives that create or support communities to actively participate in Europe’s digital transformation. Awarded initiatives will demonstrate a specific excellence in researching transformation topics that increase citizens’ ability to engage with change processes or that demonstrate advances in the field of Citizen Science through the use of digital technologies.    

All submissions to the European Union Citizen Science Prize will be evaluated according to the six Award Criteria and will be considered for the Digital Communities Award. The Citizen Science Initiative selected by the jury to receive the Digital Communities Award is expected to achieve specific excellence within Award Criteria 2. Societal Transformation & Policy Impact.

Honorary Mentions 

The selection of Honorary Mentions is not shaped by thematic considerations, but will consist of outstanding initiatives from all fields and directions of Citizen Science. Beyond the quality assessment of applications, the selection of Honorary Mentions will also consider the geographical diversity as well as the diversity of contexts and research fields represented by the selected initiatives.