Learning Planet Institute researchers and Université Paris Cité are partners in the European Citizen Science (ECS) project, which just got awarded a 4M€ grant by the European Commission!
The project focuses on supporting, enlarging, and strengthening the European Citizen Science community through the establishment of a network and a series of actions. As highlighted in the grant proposal, “a key focus is on inclusivity, which will be achieved through dedicated actions such as engaging libraries affiliated to the Public Libraries 2030 network to attract underrepresented publics, as well as ad-hoc support to countries/regions lacking citizen science networks, platforms and policy recognition”
CREATING THE EUROPEAN CITIZEN SCIENCE ACADEMY
The Learning Planet Institute main involvement will be creating the European citizen science academy. The Institute will develop high quality resources, activities and training events aimed at improving skills and knowledge for citizen science practitioners, civil society, public authorities, businesses, (in)formal and education establishments, and research funding and performing organizations.
Dr. Muki Haklay, our former short-term fellow and collaborator for many years, led the project design and submission from our side and will also be in charge of its execution for the Learning Planet Institute/Université Paris Cité. He will take advantage of this opportunity to further strengthen the ties between his present institution, University College London and the Learning Planet Institute.
ENABLING OPEN SCIENCE AS THE FUTURE OF SCIENCE ACROSS EUROPE AND BEYOND
All consortium partners participating in this project strongly believe that open, citizen science is the future of science across Europe, a notion further validated by the funding obtained. We expect that the project’s scientific, societal, and policy impact will lead to securing Europe’s global position as a leader in citizen science throughout the entire research and innovation system. Furthermore the project aims to extend its impact beyond Europe by collaborating with the Global Citizen Science Partnership, a network-of-networks that seeks to promote and advance citizen science for a sustainable world.
OPEN AND CITIZEN SCIENCE CENTRAL TO THE LEARNING PLANET INSTITUTE SINCE ITS CREATION
Both open and citizen science have been Learning Planet Institute’s governing principles since its creation and have been embodied in all the projects of our Research Collaboratory. Most notably, in the past the Learning Planet Institute was the French partner in the successful “Doing It Together Science (DITOs)”, a 3 year European project which was completed in 2019 . The aim of DiTOs was to empower and engage citizens and policy makers in open scientific research and innovation. To carry on this engagement, The Learning Planet Institute is also one of the six partners of the transdisciplinary Crowd4SDG consortium. The program is an ongoing Research and Innovation Action supported by the European Commission’s Science and promotes the development of citizen science projects with a focus on climate action.
The Learning Planet Institute is grateful for this opportunity to continue its engagement on these important topics and to shape the next stages for open and citizen science in Europe thanks to the Commission.
