At the 11th network meeting of Young Science and Citizen Science contact persons, current topics and presentations were on the agenda. First, the staff of the OeAD Center for Citizen Science presented news on Young Science and Citizen Science initiatives. Among other things, the active role of OeAD in the implementation of some points from the BMBWF's TruSD: 10-Point Program for Strengthening Trust in Science and Democracy in Austria was highlighted. As part of the 10-point program, among other things, a root cause study on the reasons for science skepticism in Austria was commissioned. Furthermore, the creation of a broad alliance of science ambassadors and the production of teaching materials for teachers and researchers is planned. A second measure is the creation of a collection of materials for science and democracy education in schools, which will be continuously expanded. Much of the OeAD's #YoungScienceRocks campaign has gone into this. It now comprises around 500 materials.
Presentations on initiatives from the network and on Horizon Europe
This was followed by two presentations by speakers from the Young Science and Citizen Science contact network. Barbara Kieslinger from the Center for Social Innovation (ZSI) presented the European Citizen Science platform EU-Citizen.Science. The interactive online platform serves the exchange of knowledge from Citizen Science projects, tools, trainings and resources. In addition to broadly embedding Citizen Science in science and society, it aims in particular to address previously underrepresented population groups, contribute to excellent science through capacity building, and create improved data infrastructures.
In a second presentation, Barbara Konturek from the Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft's Open Innovation in Science Center (OIS Center) introduced the OIS zam: network and its initiatives. The LBG OIS Center supports scientists and organizations in planning, implementing, and evaluating open and collaborative research practices in the context of engaging citizens, stakeholders, and interested parties.
Finally, Michalis Tzatzanis from the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) gave a guest lecture in which he presented the Horizon Europe Community Austria and FFG services and also talked about funding opportunities for Citizen Science, Science Communication and Societal Engagement in European funding programs.
Young Science and Citizen Science contact persons
The staff of the OeAD Center for Citizen Science regularly organizes networking meetings for Young Science contact persons and Citizen Science contact persons at Austrian universities, universities of applied sciences, universities of education and non-university research institutions. The networking meetings offer space to get to know each other and exchange experiences.
If your institution would also like to appoint a contact person, simply write to citizenscience@oead.at.
Die Mitarbeiterinnen des OeAD-Zentrums für Citizen Science organisieren regelmäßig Vernetzungstreffen für Young-Science-Kontaktpersonen und Citizen-Science-Kontaktpersonen an österreichischen Universitäten, Fachhochschulen, Pädagogischen Hochschulen und außeruniversitären Forschungseinrichtungen. Die Netzwerktreffen bieten Raum zum gegenseitigen Kennenlernen und Erfahrungsaustausch.
Wenn auch Ihre Einrichtung eine Kontaktperson ernennen möchte, schreiben Sie einfach an citizenscience@oead.at
