Helping citizen science gain impetus
The EU-funded Impetus project has launched its second open call for its Accelerator Programme and the European Union Prize for Citizen Science. Launched on 10 January 2024, the joint open call has two aims: to support new and ongoing citizen science projects, and recognise outstanding citizen science initiatives.
Accelerating citizen science
The Accelerator Programme is aimed at individuals, groups or organisations thinking of starting a new citizen science project or needing support to grow their existing citizen science project. Selected new projects will each receive EUR 20 000 through a kickstarting grant and ongoing projects EUR 10 000 each through a sustaining grant. In addition to the financial support, successful applicants will also receive mentoring and training over a period of 6 months. This year’s Accelerator focuses on three themes: sustainable lifestyles, justice and equity, and citizen science with and for communities. Under sustainable lifestyles, Impetus is looking for projects that tackle food, mobility and waste. The justice and equity theme focuses on two key challenges that can be addressed through citizen science: climate resilience (improving response to climate change effects, especially on vulnerable groups), and health (inequalities in health and their causes). For the third theme, applications are welcome on any topic as long as the projects have evidenced support from their community.
Prizes to boost recognition
The second part of the call – the European Union Prize for Citizen Science – will honour excellent citizen science projects that promote an inclusive and sustainable European society through three awards. The Grand Prize of EUR 60 000 recognises an initiative’s outstanding achievement in advancing knowledge by empowering citizens and civil society. The EUR 20 000 Diversity & Collaboration Award acknowledges excellence in grassroots approaches, explorative collaboration, cultural and gender diversity, community participation, stakeholder engagement and social inclusivity. Last, the Digital Communities Award, also worth EUR 20 000, rewards excellence in helping communities to actively participate in Europe’s digital transformation. “Our understanding of citizen science is inclusive,” reports the Impetus team in the open call announcement. “We are seeking to fund projects that can make a difference on a local, national or international scale. We are particularly interested in applications that propose novel, less explored participatory roles for citizens and other key stakeholders and that engage with marginalised, underrepresented or disadvantaged groups.” The Impetus project’s first webinar to assist interested applicants is now available. Further questions will be addressed in a second webinar that will be held at 10:00 CET on 28 February 2024, or book a one-on-one chat with a member of the Impetus team. The Accelerator call closes on 14 March 2024, at 12:00 CET. The Prize call closes on 11 March 2024 at 23:59 CET. For more information, please see: Impetus project website
Keywords
Impetus, citizen science, community, justice, equity, climate resilience, health
