From 409 submissions from 58 countries, an independent jury of experts selected three main prize winners and 27 projects that received an ‘Honourable Mention’. The award-winning projects impressively demonstrate how citizens can actively contribute to research and help shape social challenges.
The ‘Grand Prize’, endowed with 60,000 euros, went to the ‘HEROINES - Heritage of Emancipation’ project. It empowers Roma women in Serbia through participatory research, community mapping and the collection of oral histories. The initiative opens up perspectives that are often lacking in traditional academic approaches and promotes academic debate on the topic of emancipation of marginalised groups.
The ‘Digital Communities Prize’, endowed with 20,000 euros, went to the ‘Antiquake Risk Hunter Community’ in Istanbul. In a historic neighbourhood, over 150 citizens worked with schools, authorities and civil protection actors to map danger zones and develop measures to improve earthquake preparedness - with the help of open data and digital tools.
The ‘Diversity & Collaboration Prize’ (20,000 euros) was awarded to the Portuguese project ‘MoFWaste - Museum of Food Waste’. Pupils, teachers and canteen staff worked together to develop methods for reducing food waste in schools. The project combines education, research and practical implementation and provides easily transferable materials for other regions.
The EU Prize for Citizen Science was awarded for the third time as part of the Horizon Europe project IMPETUS and organised by the Ars Electronica Center. It recognises outstanding initiatives in Europe. This year's selection emphasises the increasing importance of participatory research, particularly in socially relevant areas such as risk prevention, food security, healthcare and social justice.
