Bridging Communities: Citizen Science Meets Citizen Data at the 2025 Participatory Sciences Conference
by
the Open Data Watch Team
22 July 2025
In May 2025, Open Data Watch’s (ODW) Director of Policy and Partnership represented the Collaborative on Citizen Data, where ODW is a steering committee member, at the 2025 Participatory Sciences Conference in Portland, Oregon. The event, hosted by the Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences (AAPS) —formerly known as the Citizen Science Association — is the premier annual gathering of scholars, practitioners, and facilitators in the field of participatory sciences.
Exploring Common Ground
Francesca spoke in two sessions focused on citizen data and the Copenhagen Framework on Citizen Data, which drew strong interest from participants across environmental and humanitarian fields. A central question emerged during both discussions: How can citizen science and citizen data — two fields with distinct roots — come together to build more inclusive, impactful data ecosystems?
Citizen science typically focuses on public participation in designed research projects and brings scientific rigor and institutional credibility. Citizen data, by contrast, is driven from the ground up — community-centered and action-oriented, empowering groups to gather and use their own information. Despite these differences, both aim to democratize data, promote accountability and fill data gaps.
Bridging the citizen data and the citizen science communities paves the way for powerful collaborations that can help address the complex social, economic, and environmental challenges we face nowadays.
Engaging Dialogue and Provocative Questions
Francesca spoke in the session titled “Citizen Science for Policy: Is the Citizen Science Community Ready for Change?”, convened by Dilek Fraisl (IIASA & Citizen Science Global Partnership). The session featured a diverse and experienced panel:
- Francesca Perucci, Open Data Watch & Collaborative on Citizen Data
- Austin Mast, Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences
- Mariana Varese, Ibero-American Network of Participatory Science (RICAP)
- Dorte Riemenschneider, European Citizen Science Association (ECSA)
- James Sprinks, Earthwatch Europe
The conversations were deeply engaging and sparked thoughtful dialogue across disciplines. The session tackled key questions that resonated with participants:
- What are the barriers to achieving policy impact through citizen science data? How can we overcome them?
- Are we, as a community, ready to take on the responsibility that comes with citizen science gaining broader recognition and influence?
With citizen science gaining visibility as a contributor to global goals and policy frameworks, these questions highlighted the importance of readiness — both in practice and governance — to support its growing role.
Attendees sit in a conference room while Francesca Perucci speaks at the front, a screen displays her presentation.
The Role of the Copenhagen Framework
On the second session, Francesca introduced the Copenhagen Framework on Citizen Data as a promising bridge between citizen science and formal policymaking processes. Developed through the Collaborative on Citizen Data and endorsed at the 56th UN Statistical Commission, the Framework offers a structured and credible pathway for integrating citizen data into official data systems.
Participants welcomed the Framework as a timely opportunity to legitimize community-generated evidence and establish a more formal role for citizen insights in shaping policy. For many in the citizen science community, the Framework represents an important tool to gain traction in policy spaces that have long felt out of reach.
Towards a Shared Ecosystem and Looking Ahead
Interest in continued collaboration was strong throughout the conference. One emerging idea is to establish a Citizen Science Working Group within the Collaborative on Citizen Data — a space to facilitate dialogue, share methodologies, and design joint initiatives that blend scientific rigor with grassroots action. Such a platform could help align efforts, elevate community voices, and advance a shared agenda for participatory data in both scientific and policy spheres.
Participants seated in a dialogue circle in a conference room, with one person speaking while others listen.
Looking Ahead to 2026 and Beyond
The next Participatory Sciences Conference will be held in Europe in 2026, offering an important opportunity to continue deepening the dialogue between citizen science and citizen data communities on a more global scale. As the Collaborative explores next steps, a few key questions remain:
- What would a shared agenda between citizen science and citizen data look like?
- How can both communities align their strengths to influence environmental and social policy?
- What structures or platforms are needed to institutionalize this collaboration and ensure long-term impact?
The Collaborative on Citizen Data invites researchers, policymakers, and community leaders to join this evolving conversation. To learn more and get involved, visit the Collaborative website.
▶ Learn more about the conference.
