Citizen Science Award 2024: Participate in research and win a prize!

In addition to school classes, individuals and families youth groups can also take part for the first time in 2024 and win cash prizes of up to 1,000 euros.

On behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) Austria's education agency OeAD invites committed citizen scientists of all ages and population groups to take part in eight selected projects throughout Austria during the research period from 1 April to 31 July. There are cash prizes (for school classes/youth groups) and non-cash prizes (for adults and families) to be won.

Communicating science to a large audience with Citizen Science
Surveys and studies such as the Eurobarometer survey 2021 or the ÖAW (Austrian Academy of Sciences) Science Barometer 2023 have shown that Austria needs a deeper understanding of science and research, and also of democratic processes.

The BMBWF implements numerous measures to build and strengthen the population's trust in science and democracy. One successful method is the citizen science research approach – the involvement of citizens in research processes. This allows interested parties to come into contact with researchers and learn in direct dialogue how science works and how knowledge is gained.

"It is very important to me that as many people as possible in our country have the opportunity to come into contact with scientists, participate in research processes and experience research at first hand. Regardless of age, gender or social background. We have offered this opportunity since 2015 with the Citizen Science Award, in which more than 22,500 pupils, individuals and families from all over Austria have already participated and supported research with more than 192,000 contributions," says the Minister for Education, Science and Research, Martin Polaschek.

From youth groups to senior citizens: Everyone can get involved in research!
In addition to school classes, individuals and families youth groups can also take part for the first time in 2024 and win cash prizes of up to 1,000 euros. So if you want to get involved in science with your local boy scout / girl guide group, Christian children’s and youth group or rural youth group, or if you are looking for a meaningful volunteer activity for park supervision, you can choose from a wide range of projects on offer.

Science education for schoolchildren is already well established in Austria, which is why the OeAD is very keen to use its programmes and initiatives to give people of all ages – and increasingly also people in the post-work phase of life – the opportunity to get involved in science and research. The OeAD’s managing director Jakob Calice: "I would like to particularly invite adults and older people to get involved in socially relevant topics via the Citizen Science Award. They can contribute their detailed knowledge of specialised topics, often acquired over many years, to research and provide valuable data."

An overview of the projects
The projects range from natural sciences, humanities and social sciences to medicine and health. The citizen scientists can, for example, transcribe dialect words, research the effects of heat in the city on their everyday lives, critically scrutinise their dealing with food, create short information videos on human papilloma viruses, observe four specific insect species, research the biodiversity of green roofs, explore and break down stereotypes about scientific researchers or report the effects of weather events on the soil.

Award ceremony on 24 October at the 3rd Young Science Congress
The prizes will be awarded at a ceremony that is part of the 3rd Young Science Congress. This will take place on 24 October in cooperation with the University College of Teacher Education Vienna/Krems in Vienna Strebersdorf. In the morning pupils and youth groups will be able to immerse themselves once again in science and research in workshops and lectures and engage in dialogue with researchers. The winners will be awarded their prizes in the afternoon.

Further information on the Citizen Science Award and the projects can be found on the OeAD’s Young Science website: www.youngscience.at/csa