National project · Participatory governance
Citizen Science and Universities Steering Group
A working group to promote citizen science in, from and with Spanish universities
About the project
The Citizen Science and Universities Steering Group (Citizen Science and Universities Steering Group) was set up on 24 March 2022 at the initiative of the Spanish Ministry of Universities to promote citizen science in higher education. Fundación Ibercivis was its co-coordinator.
It was made up of fifteen people from different fields of knowledge with extensive experience in citizen science projects: researchers from the University of Barcelona, the Technical University of Madrid, the University of Zaragoza, the University of Alcalá, Pompeu Fabra University, Pablo de Olavide University and Carlos III University of Madrid, together with FECYT, CSIC, CREAF and Fundación Ibercivis.
On 27 April 2022 the Minister of Universities, Joan Subirats, met the group for the first time. He highlighted its role in the new Organic Law on the University System, which would include citizen science and open science.
Project objectives
- Promote citizen science in Spanish universities.
- Design the content of the UIMP summer course ‘Ciencia Ciudadana y Universidades’ (Citizen Science and Universities).
- Lay the foundations for a national strategy, together with the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, to promote citizen science in, from and with universities.
The role of Ibercivis
Ibercivis co-coordinated the Steering Group and took part in the Santander course: its executive director, Francisco Sanz, opened the course alongside Minister Subirats, and Maite Pelacho, coordinator of the Observatory of Citizen Science in Spain, spoke on its panels.
Our activities
- Steering Group meetings from March 2022, including the first one with the Minister of Universities (27 April).
- Menéndez Pelayo International University (UIMP) summer course ‘Ciencia Ciudadana y Universidades’ (Santander, 11, 12 and 13 July 2022), with panels on the international context, the relationship with academia and what citizen science is.
- At the course, the Ministries of Universities and of Science and Innovation announced an additional €400,000 from the Ministry of Universities for the FECYT call, to strengthen citizen science in universities (La Moncloa press release, in Spanish).
Gallery
Project details
Type of project
National
Duration
2022
Promoter
Spanish Ministry of Universities
Coordination
Spanish Ministry of Universities and Fundación Ibercivis (co-coordinator)
Area
Participatory governance