Education and the involvement of schools were among the key topics discussed. The conference showed that citizen science is not only a tool for data collection, but also a powerful way to bring science closer to students and to develop their critical thinking, information literacy, and engagement with current societal issues. By participating in real research projects, students gain experience that goes beyond traditional teaching and strengthens both their motivation and their understanding of the scientific process.
Educational activities and tools also play an important role in this area, supporting teachers and project organisers. ECSA, for example, offers open working groups focused on topics such as education, collaboration with universities, and open science. At the same time, it manages the ECS Academy learning platform, which provides e-learning courses for both beginners and advanced users – from the basics of citizen science to practical guidance on project communication and public engagement. Similar educational resources are also available through the SciStarter platform, which connects thousands of projects and supports both participants and organisers.
One particularly valuable resource is the comprehensive course Addressing Societal Challenges through Citizen Science for Teachers offered by the European Schoolnet Academy. It guides participants from the fundamentals of citizen science through to the development of teaching materials, sharing best practices, and sample lessons for educators.
Opportunities for engagement are not limited to international platforms. Activities connecting students, science, and education are also developing in the Czech Republic. One example is Citizen Science Day, which will take place on 4 May at IT4Innovations in Ostrava. The event will offer students and teachers the opportunity to explore specific projects and experience citizen science in practice.
