Faciliator: TBC
Paula Pastor Andrés, Patricia Martínez Galisteo, Isabel García Soler, Andrea Carbonell Pastor and Dámaso Moreno Ramírez – Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region (FISABIO), Valencia, Spain
EQUILAB – an innovation citizen lab to reduce health inequities: Keys to boost citizen science from Primary Care Centres
EQUILAB aims at defining, developing and validating an innovation citizen lab to boost public engagement in the co-creation of new solutions contributing to reduce health inequities that have been aggravated as a consequence of COVID-19.
EQUILAB is located in a Valencia Primary Care Center (Spain) and it is coordinated by FISABIO, an entity that promotes the R&D in the Valencia Healthcare Sector. Open Science Unit at Fisabio boosts the Citizen Science Strategy in the entity and EQUILAB is one of its initiatives to promote public engagement for tackling healthcare challenges.
This is an opportunity to share with the audience the route for the participatory research process that we are establishing as well as to share an innovation citizen lab methodology putting in place as a powerful tool to improve real collaboration between citizens, healthcare services and other actors involved in local communities to co-create solutions allowing to reduce health inequities after COVID-19 pandemic.
Patricia Martínez Galisteo, Dámaso Moreno Ramírez, Paula Pastor Andrés, Andrea Carbonell Pastor and Isabel García Soler – Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region (FISABIO), Valencia, Spain.
MULTI-stakeholders ENGAGEment programme to create inclusive R&D ecosystems around Cancer EU Mission – Sharing the experience of the MULTI-ENGAGE project
MULTI-ENGAGE is an innovative project designed to define, implement, and assess a multi-stakeholder engagement programme, including citizens, in cancer research and innovation (R&I) within the Cancer EU Mission. Coordinated by FISABIO, a leading R&D entity in the Valencia Healthcare Sector, the project aims to foster inclusive participation in cancer research.
This poster pitch presents the project’s approach:
Developing a training and capacity-building programme to address the lack of knowledge and experience in multi-stakeholder engagement in cancer R&I.
Creating a roadmap to identify, engage, and mobilize diverse stakeholders, ensuring inclusion and representation in citizen engagement.
By supporting cancer research groups, MULTI-ENGAGE promotes an inclusive R&I ecosystem, facilitating new approaches to research and innovation within the Cancer EU Mission.
Isabel Sá, Nathália Borges Bartoli Ferreira, Clotilde Nogueira, Ivone Fachada, Cristina Sousa Coutinho Calheiros, Ana Maria Antão Geraldes and Ana Isabel Pereira
Bragança Living Science Center, Ciência Viva – National Agency for Scientific and Technological Culture; CeDRI, Interdisciplinary Center for Marine and Environmental Research (CIMAR); University of Porto, CIMO, LA SusTEC, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Research Center for Digitalization and Intelligent Robotics (CeDRI); LA SusTEC, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança.
Biodiversity, Science, and Community: The Impact of Nature-Based Solutions in Urban Contexts
Nature-based solutions (NbS) are innovative strategies to enhance urban biodiversity, promote community science and improve environmental literacy. The integration of NbS, such as floating islands, can provide habitats for diverse species and improve ecosystem connectivity, while addressing challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss. These solutions engage local residents in citizen science initiatives, allowing them to monitor local biodiversity and contribute valuable data. NbS also serves as living laboratories for environmental education, providing hands-on experiences that enhance understanding of ecological processes. In addition, collaborative community planning fosters social cohesion and empowers residents to shape their environment. Ultimately, NbS is a powerful tool for creating resilient urban ecosystems that benefit both people and nature, fostering a deeper connection with the environment and supporting sustainable urban development.
Anne Kearns – Co-Centre for Climate, Biodiversity and Water, Jessica Leonard – Trinity College Dublin and Amanda Mathieson – BiOrbic, SFI Bioeconomy Research Centre
A Compass for Impact: Evaluations in Science Engagement
In this workshop a group of transdisciplinary researchers and practitioners will put forward a new evaluative framework to our peers to address the need for an ‘Innovative Evaluation Compass to Master Rough Sea’. We aim to assess whether the proposed framework could meet some of our profession’s changing needs more effectively.
Talia Arcari, Sarah Carroll, Sarah-Beth Bradley, Jennifer DeWitt and Muriel Grenon – University of Galway
Building Science Capital in Schools: Evaluating the Impact of ‘Fantastic DNA in a Box’ Outreach activity
Cell Explorers (CE) is an outreach program that delivers STEM activities across Ireland. Its Fantastic DNA in a Box (FDIAB) kit provides resources for hands-on DNA extraction experiments, engaging primary school students while offering science communication training to student volunteers. Although hands-on activities are part of the curriculum, many pupils report limited exposure to experimental work. FDAIB aims to enhance children’s science capital—their knowledge, attitudes, experiences, and networks in science—by providing authentic experiments, interactions with real scientists, and positive science experiences.
In 2023, FDIAB sessions reached 2716 children, facilitated by CE volunteers via Zoom or in-person, or independently by teachers using tailored resources. Feedback from 933 children and 41 teachers indicated positive impacts on pupils’ attitudes toward science, measured through nine statements on a three-point scale. The findings suggest that FDIAB contributes to building science capital and represents a high-quality outreach activity that benefits pupils, teachers, and CE volunteers.
Chiara De Robertis -University of Turin
How to engage? The experience of the University of Turin’s Law Department
Over the past three years, the University of Turin’s Law Department has invested time, energy and resources in public engagement and established an interdisciplinary commission dedicated to the purpose. The choice has been to increase institutional communication to the “outside world”, creating a website, opening five social media channels and organising free, open to the public, events, in collaboration with stakeholders, on specific topics in relation to four macro-themes (gender equality and inclusion, fundamental rights and deprivation of liberty, law and ethics, enterprise and innovation). The aim of this presentation is to take stock of the Turin experience by presenting some quantitative data on the events, on the website accesses and on the level of interaction achieved through social media. At the same time, the presentation seeks to highlight the difficulties in reaching some specific target audiences and in interacting with them, both online and offline.
Karen Fiorini, Emma Clarke, Edward Duca, Erika Puglisevich, Valentina Delconte and Katya Debono
University of Malta, Malta Chamber of Scientists, Friends of the Dweja (Victoria) Lines
The Dwejra Lines Citizen Science project to preserve a national, natural heritage site
The Dwejra Lines (DL) project brings together stakeholders, researchers and citizens work together to safeguard a historical and environmental area in Malta. Neurodiverse youths (13–18) are being engaged to co-design research with scientists and collect data on the flora and fauna, invasive species and historical sites in DL, Malta. The DL is a popular recreational site due to its natural beauty and tranquillity however, it is not being monitored and increasing human activity is affecting biodiversity and destroying the historic fortifications (on the tentative list to become a UNESCO site). The project is using the collected data to create a strategy to better manage the space, this will be done with the local authorities. The team will also develop a strategy to guide visitors on how they can protect the place while continuing to enjoy its benefits. The project aims to empower an underserved population to help preserve and protect the environment, to ensure that it continues to sustain us in the future in line with the European Green Deal priority of protecting biodiversity and ecosystems. This talk Is aligned with Tackling local challenges globally since the DL project is very local to Malta, but addresses the issue of safeguarding national heritage in rapidly changing times, while being inclusive, diverse and developing trust with community stakeholders—a worldwide issue.
Maddie Wildridge – ISIS Neutron and Muon Source- STFC
A multi-intervention approach to engagement with students from low socio-economic areas
Providing engaging STEM experiences is important to develop students’ science capital and provide equal opportunity. However, this can become challenging when working with those from low socioeconomic areas. To address this, I have developed an outreach programme which is the first of its kind at our scientific facility. This innovative programme will involve delivering multiple sessions to a school in a low socioeconomic area. The activities will cover various topics including the interdisciplinary nature of STEM careers, varied routes into STEM roles and skills students share with people in STEM jobs. My talk will cover various frameworks I have used to structure this programme including the Gatsby Benchmarks (career-based learning) and the Science Capital Teaching Approach. Looking at how I have integrated methods from these frameworks into the session activities, I hope to share my experiences and inspire discussion around ways to engage with those from low socioeconomic areas.
Jennifer Donnelly – Centre for Positive Health Sciences
Making the Invisible Visible: The Use of Art in Scientific Communication of qualitative research for people experiencing Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria
Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (CSU) is a long-term condition causing recurring, unpredictable hives, significantly affecting quality of life. However, its impact is often underrepresented in clinical and research settings due to its invisible and complex nature, making it difficult to quantify. While qualitative research captures these experiences, its findings rarely influence clinical practice or public awareness.
This project, conducted at the Centre for Positive Health Sciences, translates patient experiences into visual narratives by integrating qualitative research with art. Interview data is transformed into representative portraits, illustrating both the psychological and physical effects of CSU. By collaborating with artists, the project enhances public engagement, making complex health information more accessible and fostering empathy among diverse audiences.
Through an interdisciplinary approach, this initiative highlights the power of art-science collaboration in advancing innovative science communication and addressing broader global health challenges.