Shaping the Future of Citizen Science: Join the RIECS-Concept Online Workshops
✳️ How can a European research infrastructure truly support researchers and scientists engaged in citizen science – today and for decades to come?
✳️ This question sits at the heart of the upcoming RIECS-Concept Researchers & Scientists Online Workshops, organised by Malmö University as part of the RIECS-Concept project.
Why These Workshops Matter
✳️ The RIECS-Concept project is working towards a pan-European Research Infrastructure for Excellent Citizen Science. A critical part of this concept phase is ensuring that the infrastructure is designed with its future users – not just for them.
📌 These online workshops create a dedicated space for researchers and scientists from different disciplines and countries to:
⚫ Share research needs, challenges, and opportunities related to citizen science.
⚫ Reflect on current gaps in tools, support structures, and interoperability.
⚫ Contribute user stories that will directly inform the design of RIECS-Concept.
⚫ Help ensure the future infrastructure is inclusive, sustainable, and fit for purpose.
✨ Participants’ insights will feed directly into RIECS-Concept Phase 1, shaping decisions that may influence European citizen science practices for years to come.
Workshop Dates & Format
✳️ The sessions are online, interactive, and designed to fit busy academic schedules. Each workshop lasts approximately one hour and will be held via Zoom (access details shared with registered participants).
Available sessions (CET / UTC+1):
📍 24 February 2026 – 10:00
📍 24 February 2026 – 14:00
📍 5 March 2026 – 10:00
📍 6 March 2026 – 10:00
Who Should Attend?
✳️ The workshops are specifically aimed at:
⚫ Researchers and scientists working with or interested in citizen science.
⚫ Scholars across disciplines who engage with public participation, data co-creation, or open science.
⚫ Researchers who want their practical experiences to influence European-level infrastructure design.
Organising Team
✳️ The workshops are organised by the Sustainable Digitalisation Research Centre at Malmö University, with contributions from:
⚫ David Cuartielles – Senior Lecturer in Interaction Design.
⚫ Martin Stojanov – Senior Lecturer in Computer Science and Media Technology.
⚫ Ilana Mallak – Interaction Design Researcher.
⚫ John Cowhie – Interaction Design Researcher.
Registration
✳️ Participation is free, but registration is required.
⚫ Register here: https://forms.office.com/e/zEZav6sPMt
⚫ Registration deadline: 20 February 2026
✳️ Research infrastructures are most effective when grounded in real research practice. By participating in these workshops, you are not just attending an event; you are actively shaping the foundations of a future European research ecosystem for citizen science.
✨ We warmly invite researchers and scientists to lend their voice, share their experience, and help co-design RIECS-Concept ✨
Published 2026-02-18