Speakers: Ana Raquel Matos (FEUC/CES), Catarina Seabra (III-UC), Cristina Luís (RPCC), Elaine Santana (ESEUC), Lays Hevércia Farias (FIOCRUZ), Maria Vicente (RPCC), Rita Campos (CES), Rosa Silva (ESEUP), Rui Oliveira (EST-IPS),  Sílvia Silva (ESEUC)

Background
In a context where global health challenges are becoming increasingly complex - ranging from disease surveillance to the promotion of well-being - a central question emerges: how can citizens be actively involved in the production of scientific knowledge? Citizen science initiatives in health have demonstrated that public participation can contribute to data collection, the identification of local problems and the development of solutions better suited to the realities of communities.

Building on these experiences, the discussion extends to other areas of knowledge, raising a broader question: how can we bring society closer to science? Or, conversely, should science be the one to move closer to society?

Citizen science seeks to promote collaboration between researchers and citizens at different stages of the scientific process. It is based on the principle of mutual benefit, the active involvement of participants, the recognition of citizens’ contributions, as well as respect for ethical and legal principles. These aspects must be carefully considered and discussed when developing projects of this nature.

Interdisciplinarity and collective thinking are fundamental to enhancing these practices. The political, scientific and social contributions of citizen science have been gaining visibility, but it is important to ask: what, in fact, are its potential and its challenges? How do community contexts receive these projects? And what legacies remain once the researchers have left the field?

In light of these questions, this workshop aims to promote dialogue on the paths of citizen science, highlighting the role of collective thinking, its potential, and the challenges inherent in developing projects in this field.

Using a participatory methodological approach, the workshop will be structured as follows:

1. Awareness-raising and team-building activity
Participants will be divided into groups of 4 to 6 people. They will be given mission cards (issues to investigate), potential cards (advantages of citizen science) and challenge cards (limitations of citizen science).
Each group selects one mission card, two potentials cards and two challenges cards. They have 5 minutes to discuss strategies to maximise the benefits and overcome the challenges.
Each card includes a negative score, which can be cancelled out depending on the group’s ability to justify and articulate solutions.

2. Problem-posing
Building on the initial activity, the following guiding question will be discussed:
How can we expand the potential and address the challenges of citizen science?

3. Theoretical framework
Guest researchers with experience in citizen science initiatives in the field of health will present their projects and perspectives, contributing to the initial framework of the discussion. The remaining participants will also be invited to share experiences, projects or ideas relating to citizen science in other fields of knowledge, fostering an open and interdisciplinary dialogue.

4. Summary
Creating a wall of meanings: at the end of the workshop, participants will be able to record their reflections on the topics discussed, thereby helping to create a network of new concepts or to validate existing ideas.

Event organised as part of the ‘Building Educational Communities’ Workshop Series by CC.EDU | Working Group on Citizen Science and Education, in collaboration with the Portuguese Citizen Science Network – the ‘Health’ and ‘Best Practices, Training and Capacity Building’ working groups