Join the movement: CitiObs open call for citizen science initiatives & citizen observatories

Joao Paulo Tavares
Oct. 14, 2024, 7:54 a.m.

In the European policy landscape, one can often hear about the central role of evidence-based decision-making. In this context, citizen-generated data shows enormous potential to fill data gaps, shaping contextualised decision-making. That being said, this approach is still severely underutilised with important social and technical challenges arising. Social barriers, such as unequal access to technology and lack of trust in citizen-driven data, limit its inclusivity. On the technical side, data quality, standardisation, and interoperability issues prevent policymakers from leveraging this resource.

Citizen observatories offer a practical and innovative approach to using citizen-generated data in policymaking. By enabling citizens to participate in data collection and monitoring actively, citizen observatories bridge the gap between communities and decision-makers, providing real-time, localised information that can drive more responsive governance. For example, in air quality monitoring,  citizen observatories empower citizens to track pollution levels in their neighbourhoods, creating a rich dataset that complements official sources.

Citizen observatories play a pivotal role in the broader field of citizen science by empowering communities to participate actively in environmental monitoring and decision-making. Their unique strength lies in their ability to decentralise data collection, making it more inclusive and reflective of local realities. Unlike traditional scientific methods that often rely on limited, centralised data sources, citizen observatories provide a platform for continuous, real-time monitoring driven by citizens themselves. This democratisation of data ensures that policies are informed by diverse perspectives while fostering greater public engagement and trust in the policymaking process.

CitiObs — a European funded project promoting practice-based knowledge for co-creating data, knowledge and local action via citizen observatories — is actively working to strengthen and expand the role of citizen science initiatives and citizen observatories across Europe by providing the tools, support, and resources necessary to scale their impact. Through tailored mentoring and collaborative workshops, CitiObs supports citizen observatories in promoting the use of citizen-generated data to address local challenges. By building connections between citizen initiatives, citizen observatories, public authorities, and civil society, CitiObs encourages the uptake of citizen observatory’s insights into meaningful, evidence-based policy actions. CitiObs focus on co-creation, inclusivity, and technological innovation facilitates the engagement with a wide range of COs, each with its unique context, while promoting broader participation and data-driven governance across the European region.

Figure 1. CitiObs alliance cases timeline: https://citiobs.eu/demonstrations-open-call-for-alliances/ 

As part of our ongoing efforts to expand the reach and impact of citizen science initiatives and citizen observatories, CitiObs is launching an open call for citizen science initiatives and citizen observatories to join the project as alliance cases. This action invites existing citizen science initiatives and citizen observatories in Europe to collaborate with us to scale their activities and share good practices. The selected alliance cases will benefit from tailored support, including technical assistance, mentoring, and access to a vast network of experts and stakeholders. We encourage all citizen science initiatives and citizen observatories working on issues such as air quality, biodiversity, and urban sustainability to apply and become part of this growing movement towards more engaged and informed urban governance.

The selected CitiObs alliance cases can look forward to a comprehensive support package to enhance their COs. Participants will begin with an onboarding session to familiarise themselves with the CitiObs team and its resources. 

• Throughout the collaboration, they will have access to online webinars and workshops that will guide them in implementing CitiObs tools and methodologies effectively. 
• Alliance cases will also engage in peer-learning activities with other cases facing similar challenges, fostering mutual support and knowledge exchange. 
• An exciting in-person study travel will provide further opportunities for hands-on learning. 
• Additionally, cases will be connected to communities of practice, fablabs, maker spaces, and creatives, providing access to valuable networks. 
• To strengthen their data collection capabilities, the selected cases will receive open-hardware sensors for monitoring air quality, noise, and temperature, with the added benefit of connecting their data to our data hub, utilising our data validation and mapping algorithms.

CitiObs is committed to providing citizen observatories with different resources and networks that have the potential to expand their impact. We invite all citizen science Initiatives and citizen observatories in Europe to join us by applying through our open call and becoming alliance cases.