How does Citizen Science support the European agenda for a more committed and sustainable future for people and the planet?

In the last 20 years, Citizen Science has grown exponentially, transforming into a key movement to drive sociotechnical innovation. Nowadays, citizens not only observe, but they are more empowered than ever to influence policy creation and actively contribute to innovative solutions. This phenomenon has been driven by the increasing adoption of open science approaches and the constant evolution of digital technologies, which are redefining how we collaborate and build the future together.

In a context of polycrisis, the European Commission’s agenda aims to work on 5 Missions (Mission Cancer, Mission Cities, Mission Water and Oceans, Mission Soils and Food, and Mission Climate Change Adaptation including Social Transformation) with the objective of pursuing a more committed emerging future for the planet, people, and their present and future needs. 

In what way does Citizen Science support the development and integration of the 5 European Missions? The IFC team is investigating the answer to this question: mapping 500 projects that align with the objectives of the 5 European Missions in the European and Global context, designing a strategy to analyze the potential impact of these projects on the 5 European Missions, in order to collaborate with stakeholders and projects that have demonstrated their potential impact and that can scale their projects in the European context.