Strengthening Public Engagement in Research

Public Engagement offers science and policymakers a strong return on investment by delivering scientific, environmental, and societal benefits at relatively low cost while strengthening democratic engagement. By involving the public  directly in generating knowledge for policy, it increases transparency, builds civic skills, and fosters trust in institutions. At a time of declining trust in science and growing mis- and disinformation, citizen science helps reconnect knowledge, citizens, and policymaking whilst supporting EU priorities such as the Green Deal, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, and the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change. Looking ahead to future funding programmes and policy frameworks, scaling and better integrating public engagement can help ensure that research and policymaking remain inclusive, trusted, and impactful.

This presentation was featured in a policy event organised by the ECS project in partnership with IMPETUS and RIECS-Concept where we:

• Presented the long-term return on investment of public engagement in science  (including projected effects of increasing or reducing EU funding for citizen science);

• Showcased policy-relevant outputs and achievements from lighthouse citizen science projects;

• Demonstrated how future funding instruments can strengthen public engagement and contribute to decreasing important knowledge gaps supporting EU missions as a result.