Menu
ECIU Network
Menu
Menu
Establishing a Community on Empowering, Inclusive, and Equitable Citizen
PILOT LENGTH: 12 monts (6/22-4/23):
The main objective of this pilot is to advance the development of citizen science (CS) initiatives, in and among ECIU universities, by focusing on the empowerment, inclusion, and equality of citizens’ contributions to science. In the proposed pilot pilot, we aim to establish a Community of Practice on citizen social science within the ECIU network. This ECIE community will generate new insights on how to build long-term Quadruple Helix (4-helix) communities on CS, in each of the participating university’s ecosystems that are more inclusive.
Expected impacts
In addition to this, the Pilots are going to be used as a test bed to identify the needs and institutional changes that European Universities will have to implement, to facilitate, to support and acknowledge Citizen Science actions among their researchers and their Community of 4-helix stakeholders. Five main actions will implement this approach:
- Action 1: Understanding local CS projects.
- Action 2: Produce a Synthesis and Framework
Action 3: Establishing the community of practice through the local projects
The Pilots will serve to prototyping trans-national collaboration in the context of the European University, and they will focus on the engagement and the consolidation of a strong Community of Citizen Science.
Expected outcomes
A number of publications will be contributedEvery the partners participating in every Pilot will agree on the different Scientific and Social outcomes obtained during their activities.
The SMART-ER Team will use carefully follow the Pilots with the objective of creating a solid set of recommendations and guidelines for the structural changes needed to foster Citizen Science.
Why is Citizen Science Relevant for this Pilot
The CS component of this project is relevant for several reasons. First, CS projects help universities fulfil their institutional roles in societies. Participating institutions can provide the expertise, knowledge, and resources to help identify, assess, and solve local, regional, and nation problems. Such efforts help demonstrate the universities’ value to every segment of the public. CS projects provide an opportunity for universities to partner with government, businesses, and other stakeholders in society (nonprofits, civil society groups, etc.) to not only solve problems, but improve the quality of science, professional disciplines, economy, and public policy (Vaz, 2005). Second, CS projects help scientists to better understand the social contexts from which, and to which, their research springs. Third, CS projects help universities prepare graduates to be better scientists and citizens, by helping them apply their skills in specific and socially-complex settings. Such projects provide participants with experiential learning, as well as opportunities to learn and apply professional and ethical standards. Furthermore, by collaborating with the public in the implementation of CS projects, students gain an increased awareness of their civic and ethical responsibilities towards the public, who may be affected by their current or future research (Vaz, 2005; Dillon et al., 2016). Finally, CS has potential to contribute to the UN’s SDGs by bringing together researchers and citizens, of different ages, cultural and social backgrounds, to jointly address the great challenges outlined in the 2030 Agenda, such as increasing the legitimacy, transparency and inclusiveness of possible future pathways (Sauermann et al., 2020, Fraisl et al., 2020). For example, a recent review found that CS projects could contribute directly to tracking five of the SDG 11 indicators that are lacking data (Faisl et al., 2020). The promotion of more inclusive CS initiatives will leverage the impact of those initiatives in society, as well as at the level of universities themselves.
How is the 4-helix implemented
The CS component of this project is relevant for several reasons. First, CS projects help universities fulfil their institutional roles in societies. Participating institutions can provide the expertise, knowledge, and resources to help identify, assess, and solve local, regional, and nation problems. Such efforts help demonstrate the universities’ value to every segment of the public. CS projects provide an opportunity for universities to partner with government, businesses, and other stakeholders in society (nonprofits, civil society groups, etc.) to not only solve problems, but improve the quality of science, professional disciplines, economy, and public policy (Vaz, 2005). Second, CS projects help scientists to better understand the social contexts from which, and to which, their research springs. Third, CS projects help universities prepare graduates to be better scientists and citizens, by helping them apply their skills in specific and socially-complex settings. Such projects provide participants with experiential learning, as well as opportunities to learn and apply professional and ethical standards. Furthermore, by collaborating with the public in the implementation of CS projects, students gain an increased awareness of their civic and ethical responsibilities towards the public, who may be affected by their current or future research (Vaz, 2005; Dillon et al., 2016). Finally, CS has potential to contribute to the UN’s SDGs by bringing together researchers and citizens, of different ages, cultural and social backgrounds, to jointly address the great challenges outlined in the 2030 Agenda, such as increasing the legitimacy, transparency and inclusiveness of possible future pathways (Sauermann et al., 2020, Fraisl et al., 2020). For example, a recent review found that CS projects could contribute directly to tracking five of the SDG 11 indicators that are lacking data (Faisl et al., 2020). The promotion of more inclusive CS initiatives will leverage the impact of those initiatives in society, as well as at the level of universities themselves.
