Trainings

This course provides an introduction to Citizen Science (CS) and offers practical guidance on participant recruitment and community engagement. The course consists of two modules:

Introduction to Citizen Science (2 hours)

• A foundational module for researchers interested in engaging the public in scientific research.
• Covers the history of CS, participation levels, the ten principles of CS, its role in Open Science and tools to get started.

Participant Coordination and Community Engagement (2 hours)

• An intermediate-level module building upon the Introduction to Citizen Science module.
• Focuses on volunteer recruitment and management, ethical considerations, communication strategies and inclusivity in CS projects.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the historical development and principles of Citizen Science.
• Identify and evaluate Citizen Science methodologies and levels of participation.
• Recognise ethical considerations and the need for ethical approval for CS research.
• Develop strategies for recruiting and sustaining volunteer engagement.
• Implement effective communication and two-way dialogue in CS projects.
• Address inclusivity challenges, including working with indigenous and marginalised communities.
• Apply CS as a method for societal impact and Open Science.

The course is designed for researchers at different career stages:

R1: Students and First-Stage Researchers (including students and PhD candidates)

• Need foundational knowledge of CS methodologies and their application in research.
• Interested in leveraging CS to expand the scale and impact of their work.
• Face challenges related to time constraints and direct applicability of training to research.

R2: Early-Career Researchers (e.g., Postdoctoral researchers)

• Require a deeper understanding of CS and its practical implementation.
• Expected to formulate concrete CS project ideas.
• Motivated by societal impact and the desire for recognition in career progression.

R3: Established Researchers (e.g., Senior academics, project leaders)

• Require advanced knowledge of Open Science and CS project design.
• Expected to take leadership roles in CS initiatives.
• Motivated by the potential for CS to enhance research impact and recognition.