Public Science: Science in dialogue with schools and society

To increase trust in science and democracy and to facilitate cooperation between science, schools and society the OeAD coordinates and supports numerous initiatives, projects and networking possibilities on behalf of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF).

What do the monk Gregor Mendel, the fossil collector Mary Anning and the politician Benjamin Franklin have in common? All three are famous citizen scientists. They made important scientific discoveries without having any training in their field of research. The citizen science approach is therefore not new. Today there are also still numerous research projects in which interested citizens are involved.

To make this approach better known in the research community the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) initiated the OeAD Centre for Citizen Science in 2015 as an information, advisory and service centre. Since then the staff have made a significant contribution to the accumulation of citizen science expertise in education and research. Expertise in citizen science and science communication is promoted through networking activities (e.g. citizen science contact persons) and events such as the Sparkling Science Spotlights as well as lectures/workshops (e.g. as part of conferences).

What is the added value? The active involvement of society in the research process and interaction with researchers strengthens trust in science and democracy. With its activities the OeAD Centre for Citizen Science contributes to further establishing the citizen science approach in Austria.

On behalf of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research the OeAD's research programme Sparkling Science 2.0 supports citizen science projects in which pupils of all school levels – and also civil society – are actively involved in the research process. Since the autumn of 2022 123 schools have been involved in research in one of the 34 Sparkling Science projects funded in the first call (funding volume: 11.5 million euros). Together with 18 research institutions the children and young people e.g. analyse the changes in snow in Greenland and Austria, investigate illegal wildlife trade or examine questions of our future relating to space research. In the school year 2024/25 27 new projects of the 2nd call for proposals will start. Around 90 schools are taking part (again)!

What is the added value? The citizen scientists get to know research in all its diversity – from the research question to scientific methods and the interpretation of results. Through their commitment, knowledge and skills the citizen scientists also contribute to the research results, the processing of which would not be possible without their help.

Children's and youth universities offer a wide range of opportunities to immerse themselves in the world of science and research within the framework of lectures, workshops, excursions, etc. The Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) supports children’s and youth universities in Austria with its own funding programme, which has been coordinated by the OeAD since 2021. In 2024 the budget for projects was increased to 1.6 million euros. This means that extension modules for “Holiday care with a scientific focus” can also be funded.
Projects related to Lower Austria can receive additional funding from the government of the province of Lower Austria’s department of science and research. The OeAD has managed these since 2024.
Calls for application for funding of children’s and youth universities are issued in the autumn of each year. Information about this and about the initiatives already funded is available on the OeAD’s Young Science website.

What is the added value? Researchers impart their knowledge in a playful and age-appropriate way, provide impulses for later educational and career choices and contribute to the reduction of stereotypes and prejudices.