This panel explores how citizen science and artistic research can join forces to create fresh ways of engaging communities, fostering dialogue, and inspiring innovation. By blending scientific inquiry with artistic expression, such collaborations expand participation beyond traditional disciplines, enriching both scientific and artistic practices. Real-life examples will showcase the creative potential and societal impact of these partnerships, from community-based data collection to socially innovative approaches. The discussion will address common challenges—bridging different goals, methods, and communication styles, as well as navigating separate funding systems and disciplinary silos. Panelists will share strategies, methodologies, and lessons learned from projects that treat art and science as equal partners, demonstrating how co-creation can drive sustainability, education, and new ways of understanding complex real-world challenges.
Photo: vog.photo
Citizen Science in Artistic Research and Practice
Antonella Passani (IT), Jennifer Kanary (NL), Josep Perelló (ES), Willie Ng’ang’a (KE)
POSTCITY, First Floor, Education Stage
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Antonella Passani
Social scientist with 20+ years’ experience in international, interdisciplinary research. Expert in innovation, co-design, citizen science, and impact assessment, with a focus on inclusion and equality. Experienced in facilitation, participatory methods, and co-design.
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Willie Ng'ang'a
Willie Ng'ang'a is a Kenyan STEAMer and environmentalist who believes in the power of collaborative, multidisciplinary approaches to address the world’s current and emerging challenges. Through a focus on locally available materials and know-how, Willie believes that the intersection of STEM and the arts offers a unique lens through which to imagine, explore, and build alternative futures. His work has been published in Forbes, Fair Planet, InNairobi, and the International Journal of Advanced Research.
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Jennifer Kanary
Jennifer Kanary turns art into a portal for understanding the mind. Founder of Roomforthoughts, she’s behind immersive projects like Labyrinth Psychotica and The Anoiksis Experiment (S+T+ARTS Honorary Mention 2023), blending science, story, and empathy to help people feel what mental breakdowns can be like—and rethink how we talk about them.
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Josep Perelló
Full Professor at the University of Barcelona, he leads OpenSystems-UB, creating scientific projects in urban contexts through citizen participation and artistic practices. He has curated art–science exhibitions and co-authored a citizen science project that opened the 2017 FiraTàrrega street arts festival. His current work on walkability, climate action, and community mental health includes CoAct for Mental Health, winner of the 2025 European Prize for Citizen Science (Digital Communities).
