The RIECS-Concept project will build a concept for a European Research Infrastructure for Excellence in Citizen Science. This concept will integrate citizen resources (such as mobile phones, desktop computers, etc.) and existing scientific resources (citizen science (CS) platforms, data collections, existing Research Infrastructure (RIs), etc.), providing several transversal services for the research community.
© RIECS
The RIECS-Concept project has three objectives:
Conduct a technical feasibility study for the development of RIECS
The first objective of RIECS-Concept is to collectively assess the feasibility of developing the future data and research infrastructure for CS addressing current challenges and opportunities in the field. This objective entails three key steps. Firstly, creating an open inventory of technological components –mainly services and resources– to establish a foundational understanding of what RIECS should be, undertaken in the initial phase of the project. Secondly, this catalogue will be refined and interconnected to form a cohesive foundational design, interlinking technological and scientific challenges, addressing specific requirements. Thirdly, given the pivotal role of data in CS, a unified conceptual model for integrating data and metadata from diverse sources will be formulated throughout the project. In order to facilitate engagement and address cross-cutting issues, three domains of CS are selected: environmental observations, health, and climate change.
Develop a strategic plan for the RIECS
The second objective is the development of a strategic roadmap for the RIECS future lifecycle. This will lay the groundwork for the successful establishment and operation of RIECS. Given the significance of factors like governance and sustainability, it is imperative to undertake careful planning and co-design processes with key stakeholders, including funding agents and end-users. The strategic plan will provide a pathway for the RI's implementation, guiding decisions related to organisational structure, financing, technical infrastructure, operational procedures, societal engagement, and environmental sustainability. The strategy will be articulated in a multiple-year implementation roadmap, outlining actionable measures and guidelines for decision-makers along its lifecycle. Additionally, a comprehensive impact assessment framework with criteria and indicators will be developed to evaluate RIECS's impacts across various dimensions.
Achieve open governance from the conceptualisation of RIECS
This third objective is about fostering an open and participatory approach to governance by engaging diverse stakeholders from science, technology, policy, and society in the co-design and road mapping processes. This will not only harness the expertise contributed by the consortium but also will foster co-ownership, trust, and appeal among diverse communities in shaping the future of the Research Infrastructure. Emphasising inclusive dialogue and collaboration, RIECS seeks to stimulate critical dialogues around users’ challenges and ensure that the Research Infrastructure's design and governance reflect the needs and perspectives of different stakeholders.
© RIECS
In order to achieve these objectives, the project is divided into two phases:
The first phase focuses on the technical elements and addresses a fundamental question: “What type of services, resources, and/or functionalities should this infrastructure provide to genuinely benefit our stakeholders and achieve excellence in CS?”.
The second phase goes a step further, refining the initial draft of services, resources and functionalities, while also incorporating new technical (data and metadata) and non-technical aspects. In this second stage, we consider the practical requirements for bringing RIECS to life, including governance, financial sustainability, collaborations, and the essential support from key stakeholders.
In the RIECS project, NODES will contribute to the stakeholder engagement activities, particularly involving policymakers, including UN agencies and other international organizations. Additionally, NODES will contribute to developing a roadmap for the successful establishment and implementation of the RIECS.
The consortium of RIECS consists of 12 partner organizations:
European Citizen Science Association, ECSA
Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
© IIASA
RIECS is funded by the European Commission’s Horizon Europe Program.
News
14 February 2025
Strengthening citizen science and sustainability monitoring in Europe
Researchers from the IIASA Novel Data Ecosystems for Sustainability (NODES) Research Group are part of the newly launched RIECS-Concept (Towards A Pan-European Research Infrastructure for Excellent Citizen Science), a project designed to develop a conceptual framework for a pan-European citizen science research infrastructure. The initiative aims to enhance the role of citizen science in data collection, validation, and policy engagement, ensuring long-term sustainability and broader participation in scientific research across Europe.
Events
Brussels, Belgium