Bridges towards a joint legacy for the future of Citizen Science in Europe
As the sun sets on IMPETUS and ECS, we aren’t simply sailing off into the distance. The true legacy of these projects lives on in the impact we’ve made and the new citizen science ventures we’ve helped launch.
One of the most important lessons from our journey is that no project is an island. Citizen science thrives on collaboration between researchers, policymakers, innovators, and the public. Yet a critical question remains within the community itself: do we have the infrastructure to enable effective, lasting knowledge exchange across initiatives?
The knowledge generated by each citizen science project is a treasure trove for others, whether for an initiative just setting out or one striving to stay the course.
We invite you to join us on 17th June for an online discussion where we will share the lessons that IMPETUS and ECS have learned, and explore together what we as a community can build to ensure that citizen science flourishes, not just in the regions we have explored, but in the uncharted waters beyond.
At a time when public engagement is increasingly recognised as essential to rebuilding trust in institutions and countering mis- and disinformation, the connections we forge within the citizen science ecosystem matter more than ever. Sharing what works, and what doesn’t, strengthens the community’s capacity to deliver the scientific, environmental, and societal benefits that make citizen science a genuine return on investment for Europe.
This summer, both IMPETUS and ECS reach their conclusion. Before they do, we want to bring the citizen science community together to reflect on how these projects have supported citizen science across Europe, and to celebrate the real-world impacts this work has made possible. This event will also offer a platform for new and established projects, stakeholders, and decision-makers to connect, ensuring that the momentum built is sustained and that science continues to serve the society it represents.
Building on the Citizen Science Archipelago series from the ECS project, this gathering reaffirms a founding principle of our community: no project is an island. Mutual exchange is not simply a nice-to-have; it is the foundation on which the continued growth and impact of citizen science depends.
What this session will cover:
- Impacts, outcomes and legacy of the IMPETUS and ECS projects
- Project panel discussion from the next generation of citizen science initiatives
- Keynote speech with a collaboration session
Agenda:
09:30 – 09:45 Ice breaker and welcoming remarks
09:45 – 10:45 The lasting legacy of ECS and IMPETUS projects
10:45 – 11:25 Panel discussion: The future of citizen science
11:25 – 11:35 Short break
11:35 – 12:10 Keynote from Vanessa Mignan Jenkins
12:10 – 12:30 Collaboration session – How to reach the unreached in Citizen Science
12:30 – 12:35 Closing remarks
12:35 – 13:30 Lunch break
13:30 – 15:00 IMPETUS demo day
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- An interactive showcase featuring citizen science projects from the third cohort of the IMPETUS accelerator.
We welcome anyone and everyone from the citizen science community to join us on June 17th, and help us demonstrate that the future of citizen science is bright!
