Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ScienceUs (Integration of citizen SCIENCE best practices to Upscale and maximise projects impact related to Green Deal and EU missions)
Berichtszeitraum: 2024-01-01 bis 2025-06-30
The primary objective of the ScienceUs project is to establish a connected, EU-wide network of citizen science initiatives. This is being achieved through the delivery of a comprehensive support program — Upscaling Academy — structured around a three-phase service model: Seed, Flourish, and Harvest. The Academy is providing both direct funding and expert services to a select group of high-potential citizen science projects, guiding them from early development through growth and eventual impact.
To ensure broad engagement, a robust strategy for communication, dissemination, and knowledge transfer is being implemented, engaging all actors in the quadruple helix around these newly formed networks.
Project Structure.
The 36-month ScienceUs project is structured into five distinct work packages. WP1 is devoted to the coordination of the entire consortium. WP2 conducts a benchmarking exercise on existing citizen science projects to identify the barriers, needs, and challenges for implementing best practices within the New ERA and EU missions. WP3 focuses on selecting and supporting the most promising initiatives for upscaling across Europe. WP4 analyses the project's impact and facilitates the transfer of its results to policymakers, while WP5 manages all communication, dissemination, sustainability, and exploitation activities.
Expected Results and Impacts
The ScienceUs project is expected to deliver several key outcomes. These include the development of toolkits, training materials, and methodologies that promote best practices in citizen science. The establishment of a network of interconnected citizen science initiatives is also foreseen, enabling the active sharing of resources, data, and synergies. Furthermore, the project will introduce a new approach to facilitate the engagement of quadruple helix actors in citizen science sub-projects. Lastly, ScienceUs aims to generate increased interest from funding bodies in the supported initiatives and to produce materials—such as policy briefs—that inform and influence the revision of relevant policies.
To ensure broad engagement, a robust strategy for communication, dissemination, and knowledge transfer is being implemented, engaging all actors in the quadruple helix around these newly formed networks.
Project Structure.
The 36-month ScienceUs project is structured into five distinct work packages. WP1 is devoted to the coordination of the entire consortium. WP2 conducts a benchmarking exercise on existing citizen science projects to identify the barriers, needs, and challenges for implementing best practices within the New ERA and EU missions. WP3 focuses on selecting and supporting the most promising initiatives for upscaling across Europe. WP4 analyses the project's impact and facilitates the transfer of its results to policymakers, while WP5 manages all communication, dissemination, sustainability, and exploitation activities.
Expected Results and Impacts
The ScienceUs project is expected to deliver several key outcomes. These include the development of toolkits, training materials, and methodologies that promote best practices in citizen science. The establishment of a network of interconnected citizen science initiatives is also foreseen, enabling the active sharing of resources, data, and synergies. Furthermore, the project will introduce a new approach to facilitate the engagement of quadruple helix actors in citizen science sub-projects. Lastly, ScienceUs aims to generate increased interest from funding bodies in the supported initiatives and to produce materials—such as policy briefs—that inform and influence the revision of relevant policies.
To date, the ScienceUs project has performed the following activities and achieved the following results:
1. Benchmark and Strategic Framework:
We conducted a comprehensive benchmark of citizen science practices to identify areas for improvement and best practices. The goal was to increase the effectiveness and impact of citizen science initiatives. This work led to the development of Key Strategic Topics (KSTs), which now form the basis for the Upscaling Academy's structure and the selection process for participating sub-projects.
2. Outreach and Engagement:
The ScienceUs team identified challenges and opportunities for citizen science in climate change adaptation by assessing the interest of various EU research projects in using CS campaigns to maximise their impact.
3. Stakeholder Advisory Board (SAB)
The SAB, composed of 20 experts in CS, has been established to support the ScienceUs team in diverse actions, including the selection of CS projects to participate in the Upscaling Academy.
4. Upscaling Academy
The highest-potential CS projects have been selected by an open call to participate in the Upscaling Academy support program.
The ScienceUs open call provided a toolkit and Info Day sessions to the institutions interested in submitting proposals. Those materials guide them through the open call requirements.
The rigorous evaluation process, composed of members of the ScienceUs team and SAB, selected 25 projects to advance to the Seed phase and join the Berlin Bootcamp.
Following the successful implementation of the Seed Phase, the 25 projects were evaluated. From this group, five projects were selected to advance to the Flourish Phase.
4.1 Project Support – Flourish phase
The Kick-Off Meeting for the Flourish phase was held in Marseille at the end of June.
Training Portfolio for the Upscale Academy has been developed through extensive research, content creation, and structural planning.
Current Status: The five Flourish Phase projects are currently receiving bi-weekly mentoring sessions to help them scale up their projects.
5. Impact Analysis and Monitoring
A survey is being designed to monitor and reflect on the supported projects. Through this process, we will gain valuable insights into the barriers, success factors, and knowledge flows of the transnational citizen science campaigns being implemented and analyse their overall impact.
6. Podcast – Good Practices in CS
A series of 12 podcasts is being set up to provide examples of good practices on CS.
1. Benchmark and Strategic Framework:
We conducted a comprehensive benchmark of citizen science practices to identify areas for improvement and best practices. The goal was to increase the effectiveness and impact of citizen science initiatives. This work led to the development of Key Strategic Topics (KSTs), which now form the basis for the Upscaling Academy's structure and the selection process for participating sub-projects.
2. Outreach and Engagement:
The ScienceUs team identified challenges and opportunities for citizen science in climate change adaptation by assessing the interest of various EU research projects in using CS campaigns to maximise their impact.
3. Stakeholder Advisory Board (SAB)
The SAB, composed of 20 experts in CS, has been established to support the ScienceUs team in diverse actions, including the selection of CS projects to participate in the Upscaling Academy.
4. Upscaling Academy
The highest-potential CS projects have been selected by an open call to participate in the Upscaling Academy support program.
The ScienceUs open call provided a toolkit and Info Day sessions to the institutions interested in submitting proposals. Those materials guide them through the open call requirements.
The rigorous evaluation process, composed of members of the ScienceUs team and SAB, selected 25 projects to advance to the Seed phase and join the Berlin Bootcamp.
Following the successful implementation of the Seed Phase, the 25 projects were evaluated. From this group, five projects were selected to advance to the Flourish Phase.
4.1 Project Support – Flourish phase
The Kick-Off Meeting for the Flourish phase was held in Marseille at the end of June.
Training Portfolio for the Upscale Academy has been developed through extensive research, content creation, and structural planning.
Current Status: The five Flourish Phase projects are currently receiving bi-weekly mentoring sessions to help them scale up their projects.
5. Impact Analysis and Monitoring
A survey is being designed to monitor and reflect on the supported projects. Through this process, we will gain valuable insights into the barriers, success factors, and knowledge flows of the transnational citizen science campaigns being implemented and analyse their overall impact.
6. Podcast – Good Practices in CS
A series of 12 podcasts is being set up to provide examples of good practices on CS.
Our activities boosted the visibility of citizen science within the European research community. By participating in key external events, we successfully raised awareness of our thematic focus.
Our involvement also increased the visibility of citizen science within the Research Division and Science Communication units of some of the ScienceUs consortium institutions. This helped to strengthen institutional support and foster internal collaboration.
Additionally, we specifically aimed to promote the use of Citizen Science among researchers by identifying existing barriers and providing recommendations on how to overcome them.
Our involvement also increased the visibility of citizen science within the Research Division and Science Communication units of some of the ScienceUs consortium institutions. This helped to strengthen institutional support and foster internal collaboration.
Additionally, we specifically aimed to promote the use of Citizen Science among researchers by identifying existing barriers and providing recommendations on how to overcome them.