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CALL. (Closed)

The 2023 Austrian Citizen Science Conference

During times of large-scale social, ecological, and digital change, in many ways we - as a society - are being called upon to not only respond to these new circumstances and find solutions through alternative approaches, but also exercise a formative role when it comes to shaping these processes. There is a high degree of responsibility and science and education play a key role. These complex change processes not only require a partnership between different academic/scientific disciplines and fields of education, but also - and above all - building bridges between science, academia, the community, the artistic community, the business community, and the government.

DETAILED INFO AT A GLANCE

APPLICANTS

Researchers, scholars, experts, citizens, and interested professionals

SUBJECT AREA

Citizen Science

DATES

December 7, 2022: Submission deadline
February 15, 2023: Applicant Notification (Approval/Rejection)
April 19 - 21, 2023: Conference

The Austrian Citizen Science Conference focuses on the collaboration between academia and science with the community, thereby encouraging interaction between scholars, researchers, citizens, and professionals in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Supported by the Citizen Science Network Austria and the related online platform Österreich forscht, opens an external URL in a new window, the conference has served as a venue to not only engage in exchange beyond one's own discipline and explore and research new formats and methods, but also explore findings about - and arising from - collaboration efforts between science, academia, and the public.
 

Citizen Science can occur at different levels, such as "global-regional-local", as previously discussed at the 2022 Forum Citizen Science, opens an external URL in a new window in Germany. Citizen Science can also impact science, academia, and the community, as demonstrated in 2023 at the CitSciHelvetia 2023, opens an external URL in a new window under the theme "Impact By Participation". With increasing frequency, researchers, decision-makers, and citizens are asking: "Citizen Science - Why Not  (Really)?", as discussed during the last Austrian Citizen Science Conference, opens an external URL in a new window held in 2022. As part of the 2023 Austrian Citizen Science Conference, we would like to intentionally and consciously build a bridge to affiliated conferences in Germany and Switzerland in an effort to continue discussions, strengthen partnerships, and explore new ideas and methods.

THE TARGET GROUPS.

The Austrian Citizen Science Conference engages different target groups:
 

  • People who (would like to) conduct their own Citizen Science research project(s) or conduct research about Citizen Science.
  • People working at the crossroads of science/academia and with the community (i.e. schools, museums, libraries, adult education centers)
  • People who conduct research in their free time (alone or as part of a group), or who are already actively involved in Citizen Science projects 
  • People interested in learning more about Citizen Science (particularly on the third day of the conference where the public can engage with Citizen Science projects in a more hands-on way).

THE CATEGORIES.

In cooperation with Ars Electronica, the 8th annual 2023 Austrian Citizen Science Conference will take place at the Johannes Kepler University in Linz between April 19 - 21, 2023, under the motto "ver.suchen - ver.einen - ver.antworten". Those wishing to enter a submission are asked to align their submission to one of the three keywords in the conference theme as listed below. You may present both project concepts and project outcomes. Moreover, the target groups mentioned above - and to whom the submission is aimed at - ought to be clearly discernible.

 

Submissions in the category of ver.suchen (= Endeavor) should focus on new, innovative, and significantly different forms of Citizen Science as opposed to currently established Citizen Science projects. Submissions can focus on concrete projects and their corresponding outcomes, as well as radically new, never-before-seen concepts and ideas that have yet to be brought to fruition. This category also welcomes submissions regarding subaspects of Citizen Science, such as new communication platforms, or projects yet to be addressed by Citizen Science.

The ver.einen (=Unify) category welcomes submissions that address familiar Citizen Science issues yet introduce new insight. In regard to Citizen Science, what has worked well and what has been less successful? When it comes to taking part in a Citizen Science project, what tends to surface time and again? How do you build and maintain partnerships, cooperative ventures, and communities?

The category ver.antworten (=Responsibility) welcomes submissions that focus on the parameters in support of Citizen Science and related consequences. This can be just as much about institutional structures that support or obstruct Citizen Science and/or ethical and legal issues relating to Citizen Science that may come up during or following a project. We also welcome submissions regarding the impact and outcome(s) of Citizen Science projects related to policy or community decisions. The submission should include opportunities to introduce a meta-perspective regarding a new understanding, as well as raise questions in regard to democratic processes when it comes to generating knowledge and policies in science and academia.

IMPORTANT POINTS.

The applicant's submission should address the following points:

  • A brief description of the application's content
  • A brief, methodological description (workshops only)
  • The objective (workshops only)
  • Which category does your submission qualify for?
  • Why is your submission pertinent to the selected target group(s)?

EVALUATING SUBMISSIONS:

Submissions will be reviewed by the Scientific Advisory Board based on the following criteria:

  • Workshops: Is the content, along with the method(s) and objective(s), generally comprehensible and well-defined?
  • Does the applicant's submission correspond to the selected category?
  • Are the reasons regarding relevance to the selected target group plausible and well-defined?

POTENTIAL FORMATS

1 speaker, a 15 minute presentation + 5 minutes of Q&A

 1-2 workshop leaders, 1.5 hours

2-minute presentations on stage, followed by an in-depth discussions in a small, separate area (the available space is 1.5m², no posters!)

2-minute presentations on stage followed by in-depth discussions of your own poster.

Interactively present Citizen Science projects and invite Citizen Scientists to actively take part during the third day of the conference (April 21, 2023).

The Call is closed (December 7, 2022)

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