Redefining Excellence: The CoARA Agreement as an Opportunity for the Citizen Science Community

In this ECS high-level policy event, we explored the role of citizen science in reforming research assessment and redefining scientific excellence. Together with experts and decision-makers from science and policy we discussed the CoARA Agreement - a unique opportunity to advance the integration of citizen science into mainstream academic funding and reputation systems - and reflected on its wider implications for both the field of citizen science and academia as a whole.
Panelists:
- Eva Mendéz (CoARA Steering Board, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid)
- Georgios Papanagnou (European Commission, DG Research and Innovation)
- Claire Salinas/James Morris (Science Europe)
- Diana Bowler (UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology)
- Facilitated by Alan Irwin (Copenhagen Business School, Aarhus University)
The CoARA agreement is vital for reforming research assessment in Europe as it fosters greater collaboration and coordination among research institutions across the continent. Through its advocacy for open science principles and societal engagement, CoARA strives to boost the visibility and recognition of research outputs beyond traditional metrics. Additionally, CoARA facilitates the implementation of transparent and accountable research practices, enhancing the credibility and integrity of European scientific endeavors.
This event was part of the European Citizen Science (ECS) project, which is funded by the EU under Horizon Europe and runs from August 2022 to July 2026. ECS aims to link science to society and society to science by increasing the capacity of European society to engage the public in scientific research through an approach called Citizen Science. The project’s activities include networking events, a platform with information and resources, capacity-building and training, technical support and policy engagement activities.
ECS is a project funded by the EU.