Participatory research and citizen science

Participatory research and citizen science have developed in recent years into important approaches to open, dialogue-oriented science and research. Internationally, but also in Germany, interest in research approaches that bring science and society closer together has been growing steadily for several years. In Europe, for example, this development is supported by networks such as the European Citizen Science Association (ECSA) and EU funding lines that promote citizen science as a building block of open, responsive, and democratic science. The Netherlands is considered particularly active in this area, where research institutes, government agencies, museums, and civil society organizations work closely together on large-scale urban sensing projects and public health initiatives, for example. In Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia, participatory approaches are often linked to social, environmental, or political transformation processes in the respective societies. Community-based approaches or local knowledge systems often play an important role there, especially in contexts where research is directly linked to issues of land rights, resource management, cultural resilience, or health care. These international perspectives broaden the European discussion to include relevant dimensions concerning issues of epistemic justice, sustainable development, and the protection and utilization of local knowledge.  

These developments are not only driven by science itself, but are also an expression of far-reaching social changes: multiple crises, complex transformation processes, growing expectations of transparency and participation, and the question of how scientific knowledge can be made socially effective are shaping the genesis of new research approaches and profoundly changing science. For example, addressing complex contemporary challenges—from climate change and biodiversity loss to social inequalities and digital transformation—requires new approaches that closely link scientific knowledge, practical expertise, and societal perspectives. Such approaches are changing the way knowledge is generated, research processes are designed, and science is integrated into societal contexts.  

However, as these approaches become increasingly established at universities and research institutions, new questions are coming to the fore: How can the frequently touted potential of participatory research and citizen science—in terms of scientific quality, social relevance, and impact—be realized in an evidence-based manner and presented in a transparent and comprehensible way? And what forms of effectiveness confirmation are suitable or necessary to establish participatory research permanently in the scientific landscape and strengthen its recognition in primarily disciplinary research contexts? These questions mark a central step in the development of the field. In the international discussion, but also in German-speaking countries, a turning point is becoming apparent: questions of scientific quality, evidence-based impact, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary governance at universities, inclusion, and social and ethical responsibility are increasingly coming to the fore. They require spaces in which young scientists can reflect on these challenges in exchange with experienced actors from science and practice and develop them further in a methodologically sound manner with reference to international expert discourse. 

At the Transformation Summer Camp 2026, we will therefore address the following questions:

• The tension between science and practice: How can participatory research and citizen science be designed in such a way that they are scientifically valid, comprehensible, and compatible with established academic discourse and methods?
• Inclusion and justice: How can participatory knowledge production be made inclusive and diverse, especially with regard to groups of actors who are less familiar with science, marginalized, or vulnerable?
• Reflection on key potential benefits: What added value do participatory research and citizen science generate? How can this added value be described in a differentiated manner and made comprehensible and verifiable?
• New methods: Which methods and models of participatory research from the international discussion (e.g., transition research, transdisciplinarity, design, or arts-based research) offer new impetus for the further development of participatory approaches?
• Institutional framework conditions for continuity: What administrative, legal, and ethical framework conditions are important for the establishment of participatory research and citizen science in order to enable its long-term establishment at universities?

Your application portfolio consist of three documents:

1) Résumé, 2) proof of academic achievement and 3) a one-page idea sketch.

• In the one-page idea outline, please explain your professional and personal interest in participating in the Summer Camp. To do this, you should clearly highlight your connection to the topics of the Transformation Summer Camp and explain which research idea you would like to develop further as part of the camp.
• Being a committed University, we attach great importance to personal commitment: We are therefore particularly looking for young people who are actively committed to a sustainable social development beyond their academic interests. Please tell us why sustainable and diverse development of our societies is important to you and how you are committed to this.

If you have any questions about this, please do not hesitate to contact us!

Please send all application documents as a PDF document by April 19, 2026 to

Dr. Thomas Metten: tsc(at)ku.de 

Participants are selected by a selection committee shortly after the submission deadline. The committee consists of a group of researchers who are actively involved in the Transformation Summer Camp.

The basis for selection is a list of criteria that takes into account in particular the subject-related suitability, academic performance, the originality of the idea presented and your personal commitment.

Researchers from the fields of sociology, health and nursing science, medicine, psychology and education, geography, sustainability science, philosophy and ethics are involved. They will present current findings at the intersection of health, well-being and climate protection and present future issues and challenges from their own research. Subsequent discussion rounds allow participants to further develop their own research ideas in a targeted manner through personal exchange.

The main topics of the camp are:

• Climate crisis & Well-being
• Sustainable living and natural spaces
• The future and digitalization of care
• Enhancement & medical ethics
• Prevention & healthy regions
• Lifestyles & social justice

The development of innovative approaches and new ideas during the camp is based on the Design Thinking method. Our aim is to promote the creativity and independence of all participants in order to develop innovative research ideas in a targeted manner. At the end, these are presented in the form of a scientific poster.

Today, research for sustainable development is only possible with the active participation of people from the field. In exchange with partner organizations, all participants can experience how active cooperation with citizens, municipalities or companies can be shaped.

The supporting program provides an opportunity for networking and community building in order to intensify personal encounters and exchanges between all participants. Get to know the Ingolstadt region – be it through a shared breakfast, a barbecue evening or during a company visit.

All participants will be accommodated together in a hotel in the city center of Ingolstadt. From there, it is only a short walk to the lecture and workshop rooms at the Ingolstadt School of Management (WFI) and to the KU's new Future Campus.

The new campus is located in the middle of the pedestrian zone and includes the historic buildings of the first state university of Bavaria (1472-1800). In addition to the Mathematical Institute for Machine Learning and Data Science, the new Faculty of Transformation and Sustainability is also located there.

Participants arrive one day before the start of the program, on September 20. The Transformation Summer Camp program starts on Monday, September 21, at 8.30 a.m. and ends on 2 p.m. on Friday, September 20. Participants depart on this day after a joint lunch.

Breakfast will be provided daily at the hotel. During the event, all participants will be catered for during breaks and lunch. In the evenings, catering will vary depending on the occasion (e.g. barbecue evening on the city beach, reception at the School of Transformation & Sustainability).

Accommodation and travel costs will be covered by the Catholic University.