European Citizen Science project

Whether you are a conference attendee or just passing through the mall, join the ECS project, the University of Oulu and ECSA in the heart of Oulu.

From 17:00 to 20:00, join more than 20 European and local projects for a celebration of discovery. Grab a citizen science map, visit the project booths and see how everyday curiosity drives real research.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗜𝗧 𝗜𝗦 𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥

Today, 6 March 2026, the #ECSA2026 conference concludes with the Citizen Science Festival at Valkea shopping mall.

Everything you need to know: www.ecsa2026.ngo/citizen-scie...

👉 Interested in exploring how participatory approaches can grow within collaborative innovation projects? Get in touch with the DxHub team to learn more.

💡 A key insight from this pilot was that EU-funded projects like DxHub provide an effective entry point for companies to engage with citizen science, creating a shared framework to experiment, collaborate and learn across organisations. Learn more here: doi.org/10.5281/zeno...

The joint pilot focused on building on DxHub participatory activities and exploring how citizen science could reach new user groups, new use cases and new operational settings.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻?

In the ECS private-sector pilots, STAB VIDA and other DxHub partners explored how existing citizen science activities within the DxHub project could be expanded and strengthened.

The image shows an event schedule for the ECSA 2026 conference, highlighting Monday's program including an Early Career Researchers Workshop and an ECSA working groups meeting.

#ECSADaily Spotlight – 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬!

Check the detailed programme here: https://www.ecsa2026.ngo/programme/#timetable
We look forward to a week of rigorous dialogue, shared learning, and collective vision-building!

With the 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 just a few days away, it is time to map out your visit to our first "island" in Oulu.

To help you navigate the festival, we have gathered all the practical information at the link below: www.ecsa2026.ngo/citizen-scie...

Join us for this shared celebration!

It brings together evidence-based guidelines for making citizen science more open and diverse, drawing on seven inclusive pilots and ten public library events across Europe between 2023 and 2025.

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗘𝗖𝗦 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁: 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

Our new report, led by project partner Stickydot, is now online.

Read the full report here: zenodo.org/records/1832...

#CitizenScience #PublicEngagement #Inclusion #OpenScience

👉 Interested in learning more or exploring future collaborations? Get in touch with STAB VIDA and discover how they are connecting accessible technology, innovation and participatory science.

💡 A key insight from this pilot was that citizen science and private-sector R&D can be compatible when both sides are clearly understood and carefully aligned, particularly in relation to ethics, data use, participant roles and scientific integrity. Find out more: zenodo.org/records/1842...

The pilot focused on the conceptual design of a citizen science approach linked to STAB VIDA's portable multi-mode reader technology (Doctor Vida®), aimed at involving participants in experimental activities, protocol implementation and structured feedback.

𝗖𝗦 & 𝗥&𝗗?

In the ECS private-sector pilots, we worked with STAB VIDA, a Portugal-based biotechnology SME with a strong R&D focus on developing portable and affordable analytical technologies, to explore how citizen science can support research, validation and learning in real-world contexts.

We are moving from our conference sessions into the Valkea shopping mall, transforming this public space into the very first "island" of the ECS archipelago.

The 𝗘𝗖𝗦 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁, together with the 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗢𝘂𝗹𝘂 and 𝗘𝗖𝗦𝗔, is co-organising this celebration to bring European and local citizen science initiatives directly to the heart of the city.

𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗭𝗘𝗡 𝗦𝗖𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗙𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗔𝗟

The journey through the #ECSA2026 conference week will find its public highlight at the Citizen Science Festival on 6 March.

𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽: www.ecsa2026.ngo/citizen-scie...

Dr. Martin Friedrichs-Manthey (UFZ) will highlight opportunities and challenges for integrating citizen science more systematically into national monitoring and reporting programmes.

𝟮 𝗗𝗔𝗬𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗚𝗢

ECS Policy Event: Institutionalization and Long-Term Sustainability of Citizen Science

📌 Thursday, 19 February 2026 | 10:30–12:00 CET | Online

Join the conversation, 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/475814...

👉 Interested in how participatory science can support farming, sustainability and research collaboration? Get in touch with Tenuta di Paganico and discover how they combine agriculture, science and participation.

A key insight was that citizen science collaborations that begin as focused or project-based activities can grow into long-term partnerships, as already seen in Tenuta di Paganico’s collaboration with the Maremma Natural History Museum.

The pilot focused on developing a network-based participatory approach that fits real farming operations and educational activities.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗼𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿?

In the ECS private-sector pilots, Tenuta di Paganico, an Italy-based agroecological farm, explored how citizen science could support biodiversity, soil quality and animal welfare.

𝟯 𝗗𝗔𝗬𝗦 𝗟𝗘𝗙𝗧

ECS Policy Event: Institutionalization and Long-Term Sustainability of Citizen Science

𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗼𝘀 𝗣𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘂 (EC, DG Research & Innovation) joins our panel to discuss sustainable funding for citizen science.

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 to secure your place: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/475814...

𝗥𝗼𝘀𝘆 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗶 (Citizen Science Centre, UZH/ETH) and 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱 (Citizen Science Lab, Leiden University) will share their insights on building capacity in citizen science and fostering strong, collaborative networks across institutions, communities, and disciplines.

𝗘𝗖𝗦 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁: 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

➖ Thursday, 19 February 2026 | 10:30–12:00 CET | Online

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/475814...

Whether you are already involved in citizen science or a curious passerby, we invite you to step onto this first "island" with us. Come and explore more than 20 interactive project activities at the 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹.

On 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟲𝘁𝗵, together with the University of Oulu and ECSA, we are transforming our work into a shared celebration of discovery with the local community.

As the ECS project enters its final year, we are setting sail to celebrate with a series of events: 𝑨 𝒄𝙚𝒍𝙚𝒃𝙧𝒂𝙩𝒊𝙤𝒏 𝒐𝙛 𝙩𝒉𝙚 𝙀𝑪𝙎 𝙖𝒓𝙘𝒉𝙞𝒑𝙚𝒍𝙖𝒈𝙤.

Our first stop? The snowy city of 𝗢𝘂𝗹𝘂, 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱.

Find out more here: www.ecsa2026.ngo/citizen-scie...