RFAs: European Union Prize for Citizen Science

The Prize honors Citizen Science Initiatives in the European Research Area that enact change, expand knowledge, and demonstrate innovative Open Science processes that rethink existing practices while addressing social, cultural, environmental, educational, and political advancement.

The Prize invites submissions from a diverse range of initiatives that demonstrate outstanding examples of both citizens engaging with science and research, and scientists and researchers engaging with society. An initiative could consist of a project, a series of projects, an activity, or series of activities.

Prize Information

• Grand Prize: € 60,000
• Diversity & Collaboration Award: € 20,000
• Digital Communities Award: € 20,000

Eligible Projects

• Examples of types of eligible initiatives include:
  • Citizen Science projects with outstanding engagement methodologies (digital) humanities research engaging with citizens
  • Science engagement for and with citizens
  • Science and research communication with citizens as well as citizen engagement in science and research communication
  • Participatory and participatory artistic-led research
  • Science education that engages citizens and other outstanding initiatives in the field of citizen science e.g. in terms of activities and results, stakeholders involved, or policy impact

Eligibility Criteria

• The competition is open to Citizen Science Initiatives in the European Research Area. This includes the European Union and third countries in Europe that are associated to Horizon Europe or negotiating an association agreement with Horizon Europe.
• The competition is open to applications from natural persons (such as individual researchers, creatives, artists, and other individuals), groups of natural persons, legal entities (such as associations, research and higher education institutions, public bodies, NGOs, companies, and other legally established organizations), and groups of legal entities (such as research consortia).
• Community initiatives may be submitted only by an authorized representative. This may be an individual or an organization as specified above.
• Initiatives must be at the time of submission either be ongoing, completed or far enough along in their design for the jury to be able to assess their quality and impact and the likelihood of being successfully implemented. The same applies to collaborative arrangements – at the time they are submitted, they must already be up-and-running and in the implementation stage. No consideration will be given to entries that are purely concepts, ideas or proposals for collaboration. Entries must be no older than two years or, if completed more than two years ago, must still show a significant update or further development through active work within the last two years.
• Initiatives that have received funding from Horizon Europe or other European Union funding schemes are eligible to receive the European Union Prize for Citizen Science, but European funding is not a requirement for entry.
• Initiatives participating in the IMPETUS Accelerator Program are eligible to receive the European Union Prize for Citizen Science if they fulfill the eligibility criteria.
• Citizen Science Initiatives consisting of or benefitting entities subject to EU sanctions are not eligible to apply.

Judging Criteria

• The quality of all submitted initiatives will be judged according to the following six award criteria and sub-criteria:
  • Scientific Quality
    • Contribution to knowledge
    • New research fields and transdisciplinarity
    • Open Science & FAIR data best practice
    • Quality and robustness of research methodology
    • Scientific impact and quality/uptake of research outputs
  • Societal Transformation & Policy Impact
    • Social innovation
    • Social & Societal impact
    • Environmental impact & sustainability
    • Contribution to and engagement with Sustainable Development Goals and Green Deal
    • Contribution to and engagement with local, national and European policy development
  • Diversity & Collaboration
    • Diversity of partnerships and stakeholders
    • Community engagement
    • Quality and extent of citizen scientist involvement
    • Co-creation approaches and bottom-up design
    • Transdisciplinary involvement
    • Integration of citizen scientists into scientific process
    • Sustainable collaboration
    • Gender diversity & social inclusion
  • Communication & Dissemination
    • Quality and clarity of communication to public
    • Quality of community outreach activities
    • STEAM & science educational aspects
    • Quality and clarity of documentation of outputs for the wider public
    • Accessibility and reach to diverse citizens
    • Target group awareness
  • Innovation & Creativity
    • Development and/or innovative use of technology for communities
    • Innovative methods of artistic & scientific engagement
    • Innovation in scientific, artistic, and participatory research methodologies
    • Inspirational use of art, culture, and creativity
    • Scalability and exploitability of (scientific) results and developed approaches
  • European Dimension
    • Engagement with European policy (EU research and innovation missions, e.g. Open Science policy, Green Deal, New European Bauhaus, and other priorities)
    • Showcase Europe’s role as a global leader in Citizen Science
    • Exemplify Citizen Science as a methodology and practice in science, education, innovation, and policy within the European Research Area
    • Value creation and alignment with the needs of EU citizens
    • Incentive for behavioral changes towards science/environmental issues in EU citizens
    • Potential to increase trust of citizens in science and research.

For more information, visit Ars Electronica.