Citizen Science Award: People across Austria can get involved in current citizen science projects
Identifying native butterflies, creating personalised keepsakes or documenting mushroom finds using an app: the Citizen Science Award is once again inviting people across Austria to actively participate in scientific research in 2026. Between 1 April and 31 July, citizen scientists of all ages can take part in seven selected projects. Cash prizes are up for grabs for school classes and youth groups, as well as non-cash prizes for adults and families. The research competition is organised by Austria’s education agency OeAD on behalf of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Women, Science and Research (BMFWF).
A wide range of research topics
The projects cover a broad spectrum of natural and cultural sciences, technology and geoinformatics. Participants can, for example, measure the carbon storage capacity of trees, explore memories and future prospects using personal objects, or investigate cemeteries as habitats for plants and animals. Many projects use digital tools and apps, whilst others rely on traditional observation and on-site documentation.
The 2026 projects include:
Biodiversity in cemeteries: Participants document animals, plants and fungi during cemetery walks using photos, audio recordings and brief descriptions. The data is fed into an open database on urban biodiversity. Project lead: BOKU University
Climate Agents: Citizen scientists analyse social media posts or conduct interviews to compare personal observations with climate data. The results will form part of a research project and be presented as an interactive web map at the Ars Electronica Festival in Linz. Project lead: Interdisciplinary Transformation University Austria (IT:U)
Forest Groove: The Federal Research Centre for Forestry invites participants to explore forests with a microphone instead of a microscope. The project investigates how man-made noise affects biodiversity in urban forest areas.
My Chest of Memories: A digital research project on memory, identity and the future. Participants collect personal memories and ideas for the future – in analogue or digital form – and explore how technology is changing the way we remember. Project lead: vrisch multimediaproduction GmbH
ERINNERN:AT: Here, citizen scientists search for mushrooms, photograph them and document their finds. The data supports biodiversity research. Project lead: University of Vienna
Tracking butterflies: Participants observe and document Austrian butterflies, thereby contributing to nature and species conservation. Project lead: Austrian Nature Conservation Association
Tree-Quest: Using an app, citizen scientists capture trees via 3D scanning and calculate their biomass as well as the amount of CO₂ stored. The data helps to improve satellite-based biomass maps. Project lead: International Institute for Applied System Analysis (IIASA)
Experiencing science in a real-world context
In addition to school classes, individuals, families and youth groups are also invited to take part in the Citizen Science Award, such as Scouts, youth groups or rural youth organisations.
“By taking part in the research, lessons become more practical and relevant to pupils’ everyday lives,” says Karin Greimler-Stocker, a teacher at BG/BRG Perchtoldsdorf.
Science also benefits from collaboration with committed citizens: “For us, the Citizen Science Award represents a ‘Third Mission with a heart’: thanks to curious community scientists, we are gathering valuable data on mushroom distribution and creating a cheerful learning community,” emphasises researcher Irmgard Greilhuber, who is participating in the Citizen Science Award 2026 with the pilzfinder.at project.
Award ceremony at the Young Science Congress
The winners will be honoured on 17 November 2026 as part of the 5th Young Science Congress organised by the OeAD, which is taking place in cooperation with TU Wien. In the morning, school pupils and youth groups can look forward to a programme featuring workshops, lectures and guided tours. The formal award ceremony will follow in the afternoon.
Citizen science strengthens science and society
Citizen science – that is, the active participation of citizens in scientific projects – enables direct collaboration between research and society. It makes scientific processes transparent, promotes scientific skills and, in the long term, strengthens trust in science and democracy.
About the Citizen Science Award
The Citizen Science Award has been coordinated by the OeAD on behalf of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Women, Science and Research (BMFWF) since 2015. Since then, over 27,000 children, young people and adults from across Austria have taken part in 73 research projects.
Further information on the projects and how to take part (in German): www.youngscience.oead.at/citizenscienceaward/projekte
