The image shows a busy pedestrian crossing in an urban setting, with numerous people walking in various directions. A digital network overlay of interconnected nodes and lines represents the concept of connectivity, technology, or data networks, blending the physical and virtual worlds.

Citizen Science Programme

A strong connection between universities and their local communities is at the centre of EUniWell. Citizen science is currently evolving as a way of involving people and technology in ways that broaden the scope of scientific knowledge by drawing on collective knowledge produced outside of universities. 

Citizen science can be many things, but what they all have in common is the active engagement of people, not just as objects of study, but as active participants. The typical citizen science project uses individuals, communities, clubs, and NGOs of various kinds to collect data that can then be analysed professionally. More recently, participatory co-creation has increased, and projects now also include civic participation in all parts of the research process. 

EUniWell defines citizen science broadly to include teaching and course development in a variety of co-creation efforts. The aim of the EUniWell  Citizen Science Programme is to showcase and promote citizen science
projects and initiatives for social and individual well-being at our institutions, including:

  • projects/initiatives on co-creational learning;
  • citizen science projects/initiatives focusing well-being issues;
  • citizen science projects/initiatives in the social sciences and humanities;
  • digital citizen science projects/initiatives, using e.g. communities of practice in social media and emancipatory online environments (such as NGO campaigning);
  • citizen science projects/initiatives using mixed methods research and teaching.

The Citizen Science Programme showcases and develops initiatives among EUniWell member universities where civic participation is part of both research and educational efforts as a means of increased social well-being. 

 

Current initiatives of the programme include

  • Online best-practice workshops on citizen science and well-being
  • Citizen Science Talks – and open lecture series on citizen science and well-being

 

Contact 

Linnaeus University: Joacim Hansson and Elin Lindkvist

Nantes Université: Julie Morère

University of Florence: Valeria Lingua

University of Birmingham: Helen Hook