PReCISE Citizen Science Summer School: a week in the heart of citizen science

The PReCISE summer school held in July at the Earth and Life Institute in Louvain-la-Neuve was a resounding success. For five days, from 7 to 11 July, there were many rich exchanges and encounters.

From stimulating talks to hands-on outdoor sessions, every day has been filled with learning and reflection on the role of citizen science in society.

Participation was very good, with just over 50 participants, including 30 students present on site and around 20 students online. Coming from many different countries, the participants brought a wonderful diversity of backgrounds and perspectives, beyond the universities of the Circle U. alliance.

This summer school helped train a new generation of researchers in integrating participatory approaches into their research projects, while strengthening links between institutions, disciplines, and practices.

Stimulating discussions focused on the challenges, methods and prospects of citizen science, in the welcoming environment of the Earth and Life Institute, with valuable support from partners such as Scivil and the Royal Museum for Central Africa.

The summer school was led by an interdisciplinary and international team: Caroline Michellier (UCLouvain, AfricaMuseum), Muki Haklay (University Paris Cité), Mercy-Gloria Ashepet (AfricaMuseum), Didone Frigerio (Universität Wien), Gitte Kragh (Aarhus University), Jaqui Goldin (University of the Western Cape), Cléa Montanari (University Paris Cité).

Our colleagues Patrick Bogaert and Yannick Agnan from the Earth and Life Institute were also part of the team.

This summer school was made possible thanks to the support of Circle U., ENVITAM, and the FSR.

Want to read more about the summer school and learn more about citizen science? Read the weekly review written by Muki Haklay.