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Open Science - Citizen science in Sweden�SciLifelab 20250509��

Lotta W Tomasson, �Vetenskap & Allmänhet – Public & Science Sweden

Creative Commons Erkännande-IckeKommersiell-DelaLika 4.0 Internationell Licens.

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Programme

About Vetenskap & Allmänhet�
Citizen, civil society and end-user engagement in Open Science�
Science communication & Public engagement

What is Citizen Science?

How to run a successful citizen science project?�

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NGO and a network some 100 members. �Founded in 2002

Promotes dialogue and openness �between the public and researchers.

Science

MEETING

Public

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Training & skills development

What do we do?

National knowledge hub for science communication, public engagement and citizen science.

Policy & advocacy

Dialogue & engagement activities

Surveys & studies

Our mission: Science accessible for all!

Science Communication Toolbox:�https://vetenskapallmanhet.se/2015/06/science-communication-toolbox/

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24 cities
37,000 visitors
500 researchers
Since 2005
Forskarfredag.se

�

”Researchers are ordinary people

with extraordinary jobs”

https://forskarfredag.se/researchers-night/

Science accessible for all!

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Borrow a researcher

https://forskarfredag.se/european-researchers-night/borrow-a-researcher/

60 researchers
250 visits
6 000 pupils

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https://forskargrandprix.se/researchers-grand-prix/

We challenge researchers to present their research in the most captivating, inspiring and educational way possible – in just four minutes! The audience and expert judges jointly decide on the winner.

https://youtu.be/zD263V5agS4?si=wJ9gv6Z_c-SGqxy6

Researchers’ Grand Prix is a national competition that was run for the first time in Sweden in 2012. Researchers are challenged to make a four-minute presentation about their research that is as captivating and educational as possible. The audience and an expert judging panel select the winner. Regional heats are organised by universities and science centres around Sweden in conjunction with the annual European science festival, Researchers’ Night, in September. The winners are then invited to compete in a national final in Stockholm. The contest is coordinated by Public & Science Sweden and the final organised together with research councils Formas, Forte, the Swedish Research Council and Sweden’s innovation agency, Vinnova.

�The aim of the contest is to increase public interest in science and research. To achieve this researchers must be able to talk about their work in a straightforward and engaging manner and the competition is designed to encourage and develop the skills and confidence to do this. All contestants are given intense presentation skills training as part of the competition.

Researchers’ Grand Prix is inspired by similar international concepts like Famelab and ScienceSlam, as well as Grand Prix contests in neighbouring Denmark and Norway.

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Our international collaboration

More than 15 years’ experience in EU project management, and currently partner in 6 Horizon Europe projects.
National coordinator of the RRI Tools (2014-2016), EU Citizen-Science (2019-2021) projects plus the European Researchers’ Night (2006-…)
Active member of EUSEA – European science engagement association, ECSITE – European association for science centres and museums and of ECSA - European Citizen Science Association
ECS – European Citizen Science Ambassador Sweden.
Hub manager of the Falling Walls Engage Hub Sweden.

.

Vetenskap & Allmänhet (VA) is not just active in Sweden — it also plays a significant role on the international stage.

VA has over 15 years of experience managing EU projects, and is currently a partner in six Horizon Europe projects — reflecting both its expertise and its trusted position in European science engagement.

It has served as the national coordinator for key projects such as:

RRI Tools (Responsible Research and Innovation, 2014–2016)
EU-Citizen.Science (2019–2021)
And Sweden’s national coordination for the European Researchers’ Night since 2006.

VA is an active member in several major European networks that promote science communication and public engagement:

EUSEA (European Science Engagement Association)
ECSITE (European Network of Science Centres and Museums)
ECSA (European Citizen Science Association), where VA also serves as Sweden’s ambassador for citizen science.

Additionally, VA is the Swedish hub manager for Falling Walls Engage, a global platform for science engagement innovators.

This international work helps bring global best practices into Swedish contexts, and ensures Sweden’s citizen science and engagement activities are visible and influential at a European level.

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Citizen, civil society and end-user engagement in �Open Science�

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Máire GEOGHEGAN-QUINN

Framework Programme 7

Mariya Gabriel

Horizon Europe

From Open Access to Open Science and societal involvement

Carlos Moedas

Horizon 2020

Photo: European Commission

This slide shows the evolution of the EU’s thinking and policy direction — from a focus on Open Access to a broader commitment to Open Science and societal involvement in research.

We can trace this shift through the leadership of successive EU Commissioners for Research and Innovation:

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, under Framework Programme 7, emphasized making publications openly accessible.
Carlos Moedas, during Horizon 2020, introduced Open Science as one of three core priorities, highlighting transparency, collaboration, and public engagement.
Mariya Gabriel, in the current Horizon Europe programme, has deepened this vision with a strong emphasis on citizen participation, co-creation, and responsible research and innovation.

The trend reflects a growing recognition that science must be more inclusive, both in process and in outcomes — and that citizens have a crucial role to play in shaping research agendas.

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Open science �in Horizon Europe

Legal obligation��-> Its purpose is to foster greater transparency and trust for the benefit of scientific research and for the benefit of EU citizens.�

Open science practices included in Horizon Europe project proposals are evaluated under the “Excellence” and the “Quality and efficiency of implementation” criteria.

In Horizon Europe, Open Science is no longer optional — it’s a legal obligation for all funded projects.

This reflects the EU’s commitment to making science more transparent, collaborative, and accessible, not just for researchers, but for society at large.

The aim is twofold:

First, to enhance the quality and credibility of scientific research through open practices like data sharing, open peer review, and collaborative approaches.

Second, to build public trust by ensuring research is conducted with and for citizens — aligning with the values of openness and accountability.

Importantly, the inclusion of open science practices is evaluated during proposal review:

Under “Excellence”, evaluators consider how open science contributes to better science.

Under “Quality and efficiency of implementation”, they assess how these practices are realistically planned and resourced.

So for applicants, this means integrating openness into their research design, workflows, and dissemination strategies from the very beginning.

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Citizen, civil society and end-user engagement:

”Provide clear and succinct information on how citizen, civil society and end-user engagement will be implemented in your project, where/if appropriate. The kinds of engagement activities will depend on the type of R&I activity envisaged and on the disciplines and sectors implicated. ��This may include: co-design activities (such as workshops, focus groups or other means to develop R&I agendas, roadmaps and policies) often including deep discussion on the implications, the ethics, the benefits and the challenges related to R&I courses of action or technology development; co-creation activities (involving citizens and/or end-users directly in the development of new knowledge or innovation, for instance through citizen science and user-led innovation); and co-assessment activities (such as assisting in the monitoring, evaluation and feedback to governance of a project, projects, policies or programmes on an iterative or even continual basis). ��The extent of engagement in the proposal could range from one-off activities alongside other methodological approaches to being the primary focus or methodological approach of the project itself. Engagement will require resources and expertise and is therefore often conducted by dedicated interlocutor organisations or staff with relevant expertise”.

In Horizon Europe, engaging citizens, civil society, and end-users is increasingly recognized as central to responsible research and innovation.

Applicants are asked to clearly describe if and how such engagement will be carried out in their projects. This isn't a one-size-fits-all requirement — it depends on the type of research and the disciplines involved.

The European Commission outlines three main types of engagement:

Co-design: This could involve workshops or focus groups to help shape research agendas or roadmaps. These aren't just consultation exercises — they often include deep discussions on ethics, implications, and societal impact.
Co-creation: This is more hands-on — citizens and users are directly involved in producing knowledge or innovation, such as through citizen science or user-led design.
Co-assessment: Here, stakeholders participate in monitoring or evaluating a project, policy, or program. This can be iterative or even ongoing — adding value through feedback and accountability.

The level of engagement can vary:

It might be a single activity that complements other methods,
Or it could be the core methodology of the entire project.

Crucially, this work requires resources and expertise — it’s not something to add as an afterthought. That’s why many projects partner with intermediary organizations like Vetenskap & Allmänhet, who specialize in this kind of engagement.

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UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science

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Ämne / Talare

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Communication – �Commũnicāre �-> ”to share”

“The imparting or exchanging of information by �speaking, writing, or using some other medium. …�The successful conveying or sharing of ideas and feelings.”

Oxford English Dictionary

�

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Dissemination

Science communication & Public engagement

Public engagement

Citizen Science

This is the way we see Science communication and public engagement.

In the EU framework programmes most of the time you hear about; Dissemination, Communication and exploitation.

We like to see it this way instead.

Science communication can be undertaken with various degrees of interaction:

Information (Dissemination): Characterised by one-way communication aimed at a passive recipient, for example, press releases or popular science articles and lectures.

Dialogue ( Public Engagement): Characterised by all parties having a role as both senders and receivers and there’s a mutual benefit. �Both researchers and the general public have an opportunity to speak and take an active interest in each other’s views. (In cases where there is an opportunity for two-way communication, but where only one party is active e.g. blogs with a comment function that is unused, it is known as pseudo-dialogue.)

Co-creation: Characterised by two-way communication, whereby all parties not only have an opportunity to express their views but are also given influence and may participate in the research process.

This can be anything from identifying ethical barriers or new research topics, to helping with data collection or being involved in communicating and using research findings.

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(Murunga, M. (2022). Public engagement for social transformation: Informing or Empowering?. In Enviromental Science and Policy (pp. 237-246). Volume 132.

CONTROL

R

= researcher

P

= public

This graphic comes from Murunga’s 2022 work on public engagement for social transformation.

It illustrates different levels of public participation, ranging from inform to empower.

At the lower end, inform means one-way communication — just sharing information with the public. This requires fewer resources but involves less active participation.

Moving up, consult and involve engage the public more directly, asking for feedback or input on decisions.

Collaborate means working together with stakeholders throughout the process, sharing decision-making power.

At the highest level, empower gives communities real control over decisions and outcomes. This demands the most resources but can lead to transformative change.

When planning engagement activities, it’s important to balance the desired level of participation with the resources available.

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1825

1985

2000

2010

SciComm today and yesterday

�

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1825

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Public Understanding of Science
Science Literacy

1985

In 1985, a report was released in the United Kingdom called the Bodmer Report, which is seen as the start of scicomm activities in the research community.

�It emphasized the importance of the public both understanding and appreciating the value of research. For its own sake but also for the survival of science.��The title of the report gave name to the so-called PUS movement.

At the same time in the USA, knowledge surveys were conducted which showed that the citizens almost doesn´t know any science at all! Only one in ten could define what a molecule was and half believed that humans and dinosaurs lived side by side.

These reports gave rise to major information and education campaigns that actually had the same basic idea:

�There is a great lack of knowledge among the population and it must be filled!

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Science Understanding �of the Public

Is also crucial !

Public Understanding �of Science

Is not enough

2000

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2010

Co-creation/participation
Citizen Science

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(t.ex Trench, B. (2008). Towards an analytical framework of science communication models. In Communicating science in social contexts (pp. 119-135). Springer, Dordrecht.)

DEFICIT DIALOGUE PARTICIPATION

Collaboration between researchers and society.

Eg. citizen science.

�

Increased knowledge leads to positive attitudes towards science.

Two-way communication between researchers and society. Eg. consultations, hearings, science cafés.

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Why engage the public/society in science?

The world is becoming increasingly complex -> �there is more information and research than ever
Influence societal dialogue and debate
Impact and use for society and industry
Democracy – transparency, insight and debate
Stimulate interest for research and higher education
Statutory duty - it is the law! (Higher Education Act 2009:45)
The public pays for research, your salary

New perspectives and ideas
Greater possibilities for funding
Easier to collaborate between disciplines
Promote individual carriers - branding

External motives

�

Internal motives

�

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There are many ways to engage, but not all of them will be suitable for what you're hoping to achieve. You might want to:

Inform to enable understanding of the issue or the process.
Consult people and gain new perspectives and insights.
Involve to foster dialogue and understanding.
Collaborate with people and share expertise.
Empower people, share knowledge and give them a voice.

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(Murunga, M. (2022). Public engagement for social transformation: Informing or Empowering?. In Enviromental Science and Policy (pp. 237-246). Volume 132.

CONTROL

R

= researcher

P

= public

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What is public engagement?

”Public engagement describes the myriad of ways in which the activity and benefits of higher education and research can be shared with the public. Engagement is by definition a two-way process, involving interaction and listening, with the goal of generating mutual benefit.” National Coordination Center for Public Engagement, NCCPE, UK

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Klicka här för att ändra format

��Public engagement, stakeholder involvement, participatory action research, citizens engagement, community engagement, citizens involvement, patient and public involvement, public participation, place-based public engagement, PPIE,

end-user involvement, citizen science,

community-based participatory research,

civic engagement and societal engagement….

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What is Citizen Science?

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Citizen Science definitions

“Citizen Science actively involve citizens in scientific endeavour

that generates new knowledge or understanding […]”

�ECSA: 10 principles of Citizen Science, 2016

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Citizen science three components:

– A research method

– A public engagement for gaining trust in science & decision making

– Civic mobilization activity

Definition by: Dick Kasperowski, University of Gothenburg (Kullenberg & Kasperowski, 2016)

ENGAGE

EXPLORE

INFLUENCE

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CITIZEN SCIENCE =�co-creation with the public during the research process

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https://vetenskapallmanhet.se/2023/01/varapport2023_1/

https://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kb:publ-720

The National Library of Sweden, KB was commissioned by the Swedish government to analyse ongoing efforts to promote public engagement in science as it relates to the public library system.

KB turned to Public & Science Sweden to compile a survey of the field, focusing on citizen science.

(January 2023).

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(Kullenberg & Kasperowski, 2016)

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There are many citizen science associations worldwide that support and promote citizen involvement in research.

ECSA, the European Citizen Science Association, is one of the most prominent networks in Europe, providing guidelines, principles, and community support.

CS Italia and Österreich Forscht represent national-level associations in Italy and Austria, respectively, helping coordinate citizen science efforts in those countries.

The Australian Citizen Science Association plays a similar role in the Southern Hemisphere, fostering projects and collaborations.

ECS, or European Citizen Science, is another important organization focused on advancing citizen science initiatives across Europe.

These associations help build capacity, share best practices, and advocate for citizen science in policy and research frameworks.

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What is Citizen Science?

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The Mass Experiment

Since 2009

Indoor climate in classrooms.
Acoustic environment in classrooms.
Food storage temperature in refrigerators.
Pictures of, and described, �hazardous environments.
Autumn leaf development in deciduous trees.
Fruit- and vegetable-eating habits.
Decomposition of organic material in soil.
Language and usage of bulletin boards.
The credibility of youth digital newsfeeds
AI training and ladybird spotting.
The Star-spotting experiment.
The Food Waste Experiment .
The Housing Experiment.
The Plastic Experiment .
Voices of the Walls.

Foto:Lasse Edfast/SR.

Forskarfredag’s “The Mass Experiment” is a long-running citizen science initiative since 2009.

It engages large numbers of participants, often school pupils, in simple but meaningful scientific investigations.

The experiments cover a wide range of everyday topics, such as indoor climate, acoustics in classrooms, and food storage safety.

Other projects explore natural phenomena like autumn leaf development and organic matter decomposition.

They also include social science topics like language use on bulletin boards and credibility of youth digital newsfeeds.

Some recent themes even involve AI training and biodiversity monitoring, like ladybird spotting and star-spotting.

These experiments promote hands-on learning, foster curiosity, and bring science into the daily lives of participants.

They also illustrate how citizen science can be used in education to make science accessible and fun.

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For students/general public to:

have the opportunity to participate in, and contribute

to ”real” research

be introduced to scientific method/systematic work

of researchers

gain interest in science
Empower civil society

For a researcher to:

obtain large amounts of data from various locations & more data than one could otherwise
test a hypothesis

engage in dialogue with the public and retain respect and trust
Investigate a “REAL” problem

For teachers to:

get material and methods based upon state-of-the-art research to integrate in the curriculum.

For nonprofit civilsociety organisations to:

attract media attention-> reach potential visitors and gain interest
Civic mobilization

The aim

The initiative is designed with multiple goals targeting different groups:

For students and the general public, it offers a chance to actively participate in genuine scientific research, not just learn about it passively.

It introduces participants to the scientific method and the systematic approach researchers use, helping build scientific literacy.

By engaging directly, it aims to spark interest and curiosity in science among the wider public.

It also empowers civil society by involving people in meaningful scientific activities.

For researchers, the Mass Experiment provides access to large-scale data collected from many locations, enabling more robust hypothesis testing.

It also helps researchers engage in dialogue with the public, which helps build respect and trust in science.

Importantly, it focuses on investigating real-world problems that have societal relevance.

For teachers, this project supplies teaching materials and methods grounded in up-to-date research, which can be integrated directly into classroom curricula.

Finally, nonprofit and civil society organizations benefit by gaining media visibility, attracting visitors, and mobilizing civic engagement.

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www.zooniverse.org

www.scistarter.com

www.eu-citizen.science

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��How to run a successful �citizen science project?��

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Step 1 RESEARCH QUESTION

What relevant question within your research/organisation or community would you like to answer.

What would be interesting or relevant to find out? Or a more accessible option: which existing projects can we join?

Step 2 MOTIVATION

Why do you need to use citizen science to answer this question?

Think critically: is this question solvable by means of citizen science as a research method?

If yes: why is citizen science a relevant or even indispensable addition?

Keep in mind: collecting data about citizens with, for example, surveys is not doing citizen. Collecting data together with citizens is!

Step 3 COLLABORATION

Who will be the principal investigator/researcher? �Identify possible collaborations or partners. What are their strong and weak points, means and knowledge? �How can you complement each other?

Step 4 TARGET GROUP

Which target group do you want to involve? What group of people are a good fit as citizen scientist for your case?

What’s in it for them and why would they want to participate?

Step 5 MATERIALS & TIME

Think about the practical side: what infrastructure and materials do you need? For instance a website, data platform, communication plan etc. What do you need for data collection: consider training for the citizen scientists, manuals, feedback and measuring materials. �Or: what are the available infrastructure and materials from the project that you are joining? Is that workable for you?

From start to Citizen Science - What are the steps?

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https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uSWHhggXgmNmyDAiP8pG9V6HlQplwaDP/view?usp=sharing

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1. Motivation & Goals

Engaging and Empowering Citizens through Citizen Science

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Why use Citizen Science?

Specific data access

Outreach

Participation

Raising Awareness

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2. Team & Collaborations

Engaging and Empowering Citizens through Citizen Science

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Who do you want to involve in your team or collaborations?

What expertise do you need?

Who is already connected to the subject?

Why them?

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3. Engagement

Engaging and Empowering Citizens through Citizen Science

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How to involve the public?

Only data collection?

What’s in it for them?

How to reach them?

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Success factors and Challenges �

+ Communication skills: �Time for dialogue and feedback �(Both researchers and teachers) � …from the beginning to the end…

+ Cooperation with already existing organisations and networks

+ Teachers/instruction material – �Do a really good work to save time later

+ Evaluation

? Data quality

? Funding & Time consuming

? Ethics - Democratizing/� school not voluntarily

? incentive systems for researchers

Running a citizen science project requires strong communication skills — make sure there is ongoing dialogue and feedback throughout the project, involving both researchers and teachers from start to finish.

It’s important to collaborate with existing organizations and networks to build on established expertise and resources.

Developing high-quality teaching and instructional materials upfront can save a lot of time and effort later on.

Don’t forget to plan for evaluation — assessing how the project is going and its impact is key to improvement.

Some challenges to keep in mind: ensuring data quality, securing sufficient funding and managing the time commitment.

Ethical considerations are critical, especially when participation is not fully voluntary, such as in schools.

Also, consider how researchers are incentivized to participate, as this can affect engagement and outcomes.

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Values and principles

Valuing experience-based knowledge similar to academic knowledge�
An active collaboration requires power-sharing�
Mutual learning and empowerment�
Inclusive collaboration methods�
Establishing trust across time�
Ethical considerations e.g. balancing protection and participation

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Do your homework!

What could be the consequences of my research/innovation? �
Are everyone included? Under-represented groups (gender, social economic status, age etc.)�
Have I talked to all my stakeholders, publics, all groups concerned?�
In what way could I engage with my publics throughout the research and innovation process?

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CITIZEN SCIENCE =�co-creation with the public during the research process

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(Murunga, M. (2022). Public engagement for social transformation: Informing or Empowering?. In Enviromental Science and Policy (pp. 237-246). Volume 132.

CONTROL

R

= researcher

P

= public

Citizen Science

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Lotta W Tomasson lotta@vetenskapallmanhet.se

Find out more at www.vetenskapallmanhet.se �and follow us on socialmedia: @vetenskapoallm

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Science accessible for all!

Open science is �science done the right way!