About Us
“Citizen Science Zurich” is a scientific center for participatory research and Citizen Science at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Zurich and is currently supported by the Mercator Switzerland Foundation. The center aims to promote, support, and coordinate research and teaching in the field of Citizen Science, and to enable interested citizens to participate in research projects at the University of Zurich.
Our vision and mission
We strive for an open, diverse, and inclusive science, where research is conducted together with and for society. Our goal is to ensure that Citizen Science is widely known and used in a variety of ways at the University of Zurich. Furthermore, we want to help ensure that Citizen Science is recognized as a general research approach in Switzerland and is supported accordingly.
As an advisory center, we inspire and support people who are committed to participatory research and are interested in the field of Citizen Science. We assist with the conceptual planning and practical implementation of Citizen Science projects, offer a wide range of training and continuing education opportunities, and create spaces for exchange and networking. We are committed to fostering effective collaboration between science and society and to enabling more citizens to participate in science. To this end, we work closely with partners from academia, civil society, and the public and private sectors, and we promote dialogue and exchange on socially relevant topics.
Our values
Our activities are guided by the following principles:
- Participation: Citizens should be able to actively participate in as many phases of research projects as possible, provided that doing so is meaningful.
- Added Value: Citizen Science projects generate scientific insights and offer added value to participating citizens. This value can take the form of, for example, learning experiences, personal skill development, networking with like-minded individuals, or the joy of contributing to scientific discovery.
- Excellence: Citizen Science projects should reflect the highest possible standards of scientific excellence, data security, and research ethics.
- Openness: The principles of Open Science – that is, open access to data and publications – and transparent research practices should be upheld, ensuring the general public benefits from the research findings.
Our support
We offer a wide range of support to anyone interested in Citizen Science – including citizens, students, and researchers at the University of Zurich and beyond.
+ Services
Designing, planning, and implementing Citizen Science projects can be challenging, especially when you’re working with participatory methods for the first time. We advise and support you from the conception to the implementation of your projects. In addition to consultation services, we offer support in facilitating co-creative formats, evaluating projects, and designing communication materials. Get in touch with us today!
+ Trainings
We offer a variety of trainings for students, researchers, citizens and professionals such as staff of museums, archives, libraries or science centers. Our trainings range from an introduction to Citizen Science to the development of specific skills necessary for planning, conducting and evaluating participatory Citizen Science projects.
We also support organizations and projects with customized courses and e-learning programs tailored to your specific needs. Reach out to us and tell us what you need!
+ Community & Network
We are part of a growing and dedicated Citizen Science community in Zurich and beyond. Through online formats and local events, we create an open, creative, and productive environment for Citizen Science – spaces where experts can share their knowledge and experiences and network across research groups, institutions, and fields of research. We collaborate with key national and international Citizen Science networks and build bridges between practitioners in Switzerland and beyond.
We are always happy to brainstorm and discuss how we can change the world with Citizen Science!
Our history
The Citizen Science Competence Center was established in 2017 by the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich. A year later, thanks to the Mercator Foundation Switzerland, the Participatory Science Academy (PWA) was founded. While the Competence Center focused on supporting Citizen Science projects, particularly through the development of digital tools, the PWA was active in the areas of education and training, consulting, and Seed Grants.
Since 2023, we have been jointly promoting and supporting Citizen Science projects as "Citizen Science Zurich", contributing to the national and international development of this type of research . Since January 2026, we are affiliated with the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Zurich as a permanent center.
