Every April, people worldwide come together for Citizen Science Month, a global movement that invites everyone, regardless of background, to participate in meaningful scientific research. The movement is organised by SciStarter (US), ECSA (Europe), and the D-A-CH working group (Germany, Austria, Switzerland).

At RIECS-Concept, we see April as a celebration and a catalyst: a reminder that science is strongest when it is open, inclusive, and collaborative. It’s a moment to reflect on our community’s achievements and look ahead at how we can continue to embed citizen science in research cultures, education systems, and policy frameworks across Europe.

“Citizen Science empowers people from all walks of life to collaborate, explore, and contribute meaningful knowledge that drives change. For me, Citizen Science Month is about celebrating the collective effort and passion of communities while striving to engage more people.” – Franziska Stressmann, ECSA (European Citizen Science Association)

This year, April reaffirmed our core values of collaboration, engagement, and transformation. It wasn’t about spotlighting individual efforts but about recognising how interconnected our actions are. Across different countries and institutions, partners of the RIECS-Concept contributed to an inspiring mosaic of activities that engaged citizens, empowered young researchers, and opened up scientific conversations in new and accessible ways.

The month kicked off on April 1st with RIECS-Concept’s first as a consortium collaborative international online session to shape the future Research Infrastructure for Excellent Citizen Science. The event was hosted as part of the ECS Collaboration Sessions by the European Citizen Science Association (ECSA). The event gathered over 25 participants from across and beyond Europe (Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Spain, Serbia, Romania, Austria, and the UK), bringing together researchers, practitioners, students, and citizen science advocates.

Fermin Serrano, coordinator of the RIECS-Concept project proposed a bold and innovative idea: not to create a new infrastructure from scratch, but to recognise society itself and citizens as the basis of scientific infrastructure – “We need to recognise, acknowledge the citizens, the society itself as a research infrastructure that can be modelled, articulated, liberated for public good” – he said. Citizens should not just be participants, but should become co-authors, designers and owners of scientific processes. 

A month of collective spirit was on full display throughout Europe. Monika Mačiulienė (VILNIUS TECH) moderated the international Citizen Science Conference held in Lithuania. The event spotlighted local and international perspectives, emphasising the importance of collaboration across borders and supporting bottom-up initiatives responding to societal challenges with scientific insight.

In Austria, the OeAD-Center for Citizen Science played a leading role in engaging the public and expanding the reach of citizen science. On the 1st of April the OeAD launched the Citizen Science Award 2025, a nationwide research competition designed to invite citizen participation in meaningful, real-world scientific projects, for the 10th time. In addition, the Sparkling Science Spotlight, an online event showcased innovative projects that bring students and researchers together, and a series of public talks at libraries created new spaces for dialogue, learning, and exchange.

Meanwhile, in Spain, Fundación Ibercivis and the Embimos Research Group from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) brought citizen science’s energy and diversity to life. Ibercivis worked on the Collaboration Session, which is aimed at the entire Citizen Science community, reinforcing the need for strong networks and infrastructure to sustain and grow citizen science across the continent. Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) delivered a dynamic set of initiatives throughout April, along two main lines; education & outreach and empowering citizens to take action through data collection and analysis:

✅ Several school workshops collaborating with ProBleu Project, such as the Voramar Workshop at the Split International School in Barcelona, which encouraged hands-on exploration and community learning. 

✅Inspiring talks on MINKA, a participatory environmental monitoring and stewardship platform.

✅Leadership in the City Nature Challenge: BioDiverCiutat, the flagship citizen science event for urban biodiversity. The Barcelona edition logged 4,335 observations covering 973 species! 

✅Bioblitz sessions and citizen science training for local schools and vocational students, making scientific inquiry accessible and relevant for young learners.

The Citizen Science month is the opportunity to showcase work that, through a range of CSIC projects, continues year-round, driving impact in Spain and across Europe.

The European Citizen Science Association (ECSA) played a pivotal role in amplifying citizen science activities across the continent. ECSA utilised platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook to spotlight citizen science projects and engagement opportunities across Europe, aiming to reach over one million acts of science during the month. Public Libraries & Citizen Science series of online events connected libraries to share experiences and best practices in developing citizen science activities.

Each of these activities, whether aimed at schoolchildren, educators, policymakers, or the general public, demonstrated the growing influence of citizen science in areas ranging from environmental sustainability to education and digital participation.

Citizen Science Month is not just a celebration — it’s a statement of values. It represents a belief in shared knowledge, public participation, and open science. At RIECS-Concept, we are committed to building a stronger foundation for citizen science in Europe, supporting the systems and policies that allow this field to thrive.

One of the standout aspects of Citizen Science Month is how it encourages people from all walks of life to see themselves as participants in the scientific process. Whether it’s observing biodiversity, mapping air quality, or joining a public lecture, citizen science breaks down the walls of academia and invites everyone in.

What we saw in April — through workshops, talks, trainings, and competitions — is that citizen science is not only about collecting data. It’s about building relationships. It’s about empowering communities to ask questions and seek answers together. It’s about co-creating knowledge that matters, both locally and globally.

As we wrap up Citizen Science Month, we carry forward the momentum, inspiration, and lessons of April. We continue working to make citizen science more visible, inclusive, and impactful—not just for one month but all year round.
“Citizen Science Month highlights the power of people taking action. For me, it’s about making citizen science more visible, more accessible, and more impactful. It’s about reaching new audiences and perspectives.” — Fermín Serrano Sanz, Fundación Ibercivis

The success of Citizen Science Month reminds us of the work still ahead: building long-term engagement, integrating citizen science into mainstream research agendas, and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to participate. With continued collaboration and support, we believe citizen science will remain a driving force for change in Europe, fostering a more connected, democratic, and sustainable scientific culture. At RIECS-Concept, we’re proud to be part of this vibrant ecosystem.