Citizen science is emerging as a new form of interaction between scientists and citizens, allowing for social participation and involvement in scientific activities. It has a great potential for social engagement with science, through the participation in real science projects, interacting directly with scientists and acquiring a perception of the scientific activity, or by the educational and engaging value that these projects can have in particular circumstances. Citizen science can assume many forms, provided citizens are voluntarily involved in it, constituting a major change in the way research is conducted in several areas, while opening new possibilities. Many projects deal with great societal challenges and threats, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, habitat destruction, or health quality.
CIBIO-InBIO is a responsible research institute which has always been concerned with issues of social relevance and that constitute today major future challenges, turning around biodiversity and the preservation of conditions for life, as well as with science communication with society. As a consequence, in recent years several citizen science projects have developed in CIBIO-InBIO, showing a great interest of both scientists and citizens in this collaborative research for a better future.
