Follow-up report: FTI Citizen Science Networking Meeting 2025

The event provided a platform for stakeholders from research, science communication, and project practice to discuss specific challenges in the field of citizen science and jointly develop solutions. The OeAD Center for Citizen Science was represented by Petra Siegele.

The focus was on exchanging ideas on issues that arise in everyday collaboration with citizen scientists: How can participants be motivated in the long term? What communication strategies are necessary to convey complex research processes in an understandable way? And what structural conditions support sustainable citizen participation?

Particularly valuable were the reports on experiences from ongoing projects, which provided insight into different methodological approaches – from participatory data collection to co-creative research designs. The discussions showed that successful citizen science initiatives arise primarily where research questions are clearly communicated, roles are transparently defined, and feedback processes are carefully designed.

With this networking meeting, the Society for Research Promotion Lower Austria (GFF) provided further impetus to promote citizen science as an integral part of the research landscape and to provide practical support for projects in this field.

Further information