The European Commission recently awarded the winners of its 2024 citizen science awards, which aimed to promote public engagement and trust in research. The Increase project, which focused on identifying and preserving genetic diversity in agricultural crop species such as chickpeas, beans, lentils, and lupins, received the top prize of €60,000. This project involved civil society bodies and citizens from rural areas in identifying characteristics needed to produce better crop varieties.
Another winning project, CoAct for Mental Health, received the Digital Communities prize of €20,000. This project utilized digital technologies to develop personalized approaches to improve the quality of life for individuals with mental health issues. The third prize, Diversity and Collaboration, also worth €20,000, was awarded to the SeaPaCS project. SeaPaCS focused on investigating the impacts of plastic pollution on marine environments around the Mediterranean Sea by bringing together scientists and volunteers from local communities.
EU R&I commissioner Iliana Ivanova congratulated the winning teams for their initiatives addressing pressing challenges and showcasing the transformative potential of citizen science. She highlighted how these projects not only enhance the excellence and impact of research but also strengthen the relationship and trust between science and society.
