Citizen Science

Citizen science is a form of research in which non-experts – individuals, communities, or organizations – actively participate. They contribute, for example, by collecting data, analyzing it, or sharing their knowledge. In practice, this can involve counting birds at feeders, mapping drought conditions, or transcribing historical texts.

However, it is not just about data collection. Participants can also contribute to formulating research questions, interpreting results, and sharing them. Citizen science thus not only popularizes research but, above all, connects scientists and the public, strengthening the openness of science and mutual understanding.

How Citizen Science Projects Work

The success of citizen science projects depends on a combination of well-designed projects, appropriate tools, and participant motivation. Above all, it is crucial that participation be simple and the entire process be easy to understand. 

The commonly used tools are: 

web and mobile apps – for collecting and sharing data in the field 
online platforms and databases – for storing and managing data
communities and social networks – for sharing experiences and long-term motivation 
traditional media – for reaching new participants 
workshops and meetings – for building a connection to the project and the quality of participation 

Feedback is also an important component – participants should know how their data contributes to the research and what real impact it has.

Why Citizen Science Matters

Citizen science enables the public to participate actively in the creation of knowledge. It strengthens collaboration between scientists and society, increases understanding of scientific methods, and fosters trust in science. At the same time, participants learn to work with data, verify information, and navigate complex topics, which contributes to greater scientific literacy and resilience against misinformation.

Citizen science is also a natural part of open science.
Data sharing, transparency, and public engagement are among the key principles of both approaches. At the European level, it is being developed within the EOSC (European Open Science Cloud) initiative (represented in the Czech Republic by the EOSC CZ initiative), which connects research data and services across Europe. 

The European Citizen Science Association (ECSA) also plays an important role, promoting quality, ethics, and development in this field and connecting the community across Europe. Masaryk University has been an institutional member since 2025. 

Citizen Science in the Czech Republic 

An ecosystem of citizen science is gradually developing in the Czech Republic, connecting universities, research institutions, non-profit organizations, and enthusiast communities. So far, projects in the natural sciences – particularly ecology and nature conservation –have predominated. Still, activities are gradually expanding into other areas, such as urban environment monitoring, cultural heritage mapping, and education. 

In 2025, the Czech and Slovak Citizen Science Platform was established to support the sharing of experiences and the development of this field. It serves as a meeting place for scientists and the public and strives to make public engagement a standard part of research. 

An overview of current projects you can join is available in the Czech Citizen Science database. 

Citizen Science at Masaryk University

Masaryk University is one of the leading institutions in the field of citizen science. One of its prominent figures is Jakub Trojan, who has long been dedicated to its development and promotion. Methodological support is provided by the Central Open Science Support Unit at the ICS MU, which assists researchers with the preparation and implementation of projects.