📢 On 1 October 2025, Madrid will host a key moment for the citizen science community in Spain: the Citizen Science Workshop, organised by Fundación Ibercivis together with the European project RIECS-Concept.

📌 The event will take place at the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (Paseo de la Castellana 162, Madrid) from 11:30 to 16:45. 

📌 Around 50 invited participants will gather for this first national consultation within RIECS-Concept, which aims to design a pan-European Research Infrastructure for Citizen Science and prepare its inclusion in the ESFRI roadmap.

Why this workshop matters

🧩 Citizen science in Spain has grown steadily in recent years, with universities, research centers, NGOs, and communities playing an active role in advancing public participation in science. The Madrid workshop offers a unique opportunity to:

✨ Present the background and related initiatives in Spain.

✨ Collect and analyse needs and proposals from stakeholders on technical, organisational, and sustainability aspects.

✨Reflect on the implications and opportunities of RIECS-Concept for Spain.

✨ Define strategic next steps, such as setting up a national network, organising a congress, or establishing an observatory for citizen science.

Who will be there?

The workshop will bring together a wide range of key national actors:

✳️ Spanish RIECS-Concept partners: Fundación Ibercivis and CSIC with possible contributions from international colleagues (CSGP, Ars Electronica, ZSI, Malmö University).

✳️ Ibercivis Board: representatives from the Government of Spain, Government of Aragón, FZC, CSIC, CIEMAT, and the University of Zaragoza.

✳️ Other universities, research centres, and community networks engaged in citizen science.

✳️ Key organisations such as AEI, CRUE, ANECA, Fundación Biodiversidad, EOSC, and FECYT.

What to expect: Agenda highlights

✅ Welcome and state of citizen science in Spain.

✅Presentation of RIECS-Concept.

✅Two co-design sessions:

✨ Lessons learned, vision, and needs

✨ Governance, interoperability, inclusion, and sustainability

✅ Discussion on national initiatives: possible network, congress, or observatory

✅Conclusions and next steps.

Looking ahead

✨ This workshop marks a strategic milestone: strengthening the Spanish citizen science ecosystem while linking it with the broader European effort to establish RIECS-Concept. Engaging diverse voices and expertise will help shape the role of Spain in the future of pan-European citizen science collaboration.

Published: 2025-09-29