Citizen Science 2030: Potential Future Scenarios for the Path Ahead

As part of the IMPETUS project, our accelerator programme will support 125 citizen science initiatives. Our goal is to ensure their impact extends far beyond the projects themselves—laying the groundwork for future endeavours and strengthening the wider citizen science ecosystem.

Citizen science is not a new idea, but it has grown and transformed dramatically over the past decade. Once largely centred on data collection, it has evolved into a truly collaborative research practice. Today, people from all walks of life can meaningfully shape and lead research that matters to them, across diverse areas of science and innovation.

Through the IMPETUS open calls, we have seen first-hand the remarkable variety of citizen science projects and their potential to reshape how research is done. Yet, this is still only the beginning. The field is dynamic and fast-changing, and its future trajectory remains an exciting question.

Our partners at Nesta UK have been exploring these possibilities in depth—tracking emerging trends in citizen science and developing insights into where it might be headed. They have outlined four desirable scenarios for 2030, along with practical resources to help researchers, practitioners, and policymakers reflect on future opportunities, challenges, and risks.

We invite you to explore these scenarios and consider what the future of citizen science might look like. You can also learn more about Nesta’s work in shaping these foresights here.

The future scenarios

Bottom Up Citizen Science and Closed Data

The Challenge – Tackling the long-term effects of climate change and the heat island effect is now an urgent issue to adapt to and mitigate collectively. Crippling heat waves have been exacerbated by a surge in the cost of living crisis that has continued to rise over the last five years, leading to a lack of volunteering capacity for many individuals who struggle to find time to engage in non-work related activities.

Learn More

Institutionalised Citizen Science and Closed Data

The Challenge – Across Europe there is a waste disposal crisis. The European Commission has already introduced significant penalties and regulation to reduce consumption, and encourage circularity and recycling. An exacerbated cost of living crisis has taken hold of many countries across Europe, due to increasing inflation. The population more broadly has less capacity for volunteering, and participation levels in citizen science more generally are low.

Learn More

Bottom Up Citizen Science and Open Data

The Challenge- There is an ever-increasing gap between institutional discourse on climate adaptation and mitigation needs, and what’s happening on the ground across Europe, meaning that there is a lack of impact on policy and decision making, and citizens’ priorities are not aligned with policy agendas.

Learn More

Institutionalised Citizen Science and Open Data

The Challenge – The increased negative impact of urban extreme heat – in particular indoor extreme heat – is pushing more and more cities to the point of crisis. Lowering heat stress in urban environments is crucial to protect the lives of vulnerable people, to ensure urban climate resilience for the future and improve quality of life for European citizens.

Learn More

Curious about how Nesta created these scenarios? Click the link below for a deeper look into their process and thinking.

Learn More Here!