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Call for Projects

Call for transdisciplinary and citizen science projects conducting impact-oriented sustainability research

We are looking for projects that, ideally, combine transdisciplinary approaches with citizen science in order to conduct sustainability research with the aim of achieving societal impact. Don’t worry too much about these umbrella terms. Answering the questions in the form below, you will see which characteristics of your project we consider important. We encourage you to respond even if not everything applies 100% to your project.

What’s the reason?

Firstly, we are interested in how citizen science and transdisciplinary approaches for impact-oriented sustainability research work together on the ground. We see the potential for achieving impact by combining these two participatory approaches, and wish to explore how that might be feasible. Secondly, we would like to give a platform to such ambitious projects and present them to stakeholders from scientific communities. We want to show the added value of such projects and suggest how the framework conditions should be changed to realise their full potential. Lastly, we would like to acknowledge the contributions your project makes to citizen science, transdisciplinary research, and impact-oriented sustainability research and reinforce your decision to have chosen these approaches.

Who did you say you were?

We are the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences’ networks for citizen science (Schweiz forscht) and transdisciplinary research(td-net). In addition, the Sustainability Research Initiative of the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) is providing us with expertise for this call.

What happens if I get in touch? What will my project gain from this?

We would be happy to contact you to find out more about your project. After this, we will jointly assess which digital and real-world showcasing forms would suit you and us. In addition, we will develop a concise slide deck (not a report!) to serve as a basis for discussion among relevant stakeholders such as decision-makers, public and private funding bodies, higher education institutions, scientific communities. If you are interested, your project will be featured alongside others to demonstrate what good examples of such projects might look like and what they need to realise their full potential. This way, you will be provided with appropriate platforms[1] and your project would benefit from greater reach and resonance.

How do I get in touch and when will I hear back?

You can submit your project in response to our call by completing the form below. Once we have reviewed your responses, we will gladly contact you with information on how we will proceed with showcasing your project and featuring it in the slide deck.

[1] An exemplary selection of the digital and real-world platforms we can provide: in-person events CitSciHelvetia, ITD Conference, Science After Noon and Sustainability Science Forum; newsletters Citizen Science Netzwerk Schweiz, ITD Alliance News Bulletin, Sustainability Research Initiative and td-info; our LinkedIn profiles and groups, as well as our websites.

contact form

The following questions raise issues that seem particularly pertinent to us when doing and combining CS and TD in practice. Your answers help us understand the challenges and possibilities that will be the basis for the material we compile. Please answer Questions 1–5 below to the best of your ability, providing no more than five concise sentences for each answer (we will not read anything beyond that), using English, French or German. Thank you, and we look forward to hearing about your project. Please submit your response by 31 March.

Preferred langauge

Please let us know in which langauge you would like us to contact you

Please enter the link to your project page here.

1. What is the sustainability problem/issue that your research project addresses?

2. How does your project contribute to positive societal impact?

3. How does your project organize collaborative research between diverse academic actors, citizens, and other non-academic actors?

4. How does your project pursue an exploratory approach, allowing you to remain adaptable and open to results?

5. How does your project valorise joint exchange, reflection and learning as results in their own right?

Contact

td-net

House of Academies
Laupenstrasse 7
P.O. Box
3001 Bern