Reflections from CS4Health 2025: advancing health research with society
The Citizen Science for Health 2025 conference brought together a global community committed to reimagining how health research is done. Over two days, participants explored new ways of collaborating across disciplines, sectors, and societies, highlighting the growing influence of Citizen Science in shaping equitable and impactful health systems. This blog reflects on the energy, insights, and shared purpose that shaped this inspiring gathering.
Author: Rosy Mondardini
Photos: Christian Merz
The second global Citizen Science for Health conference brought together a vibrant international community committed to transforming how health research is created and shared. The event was held in Zurich on 6-7 November, hosted at ETH Zurich and organized by Citizen Science Zurich with the support of the ECSA Working Group on Citizen Science for health. Around 150 participants gathered from across the world, including researchers, healthcare professionals, patient advocates, policymakers, and citizen scientists united by a shared conviction that progress in health depends on collaboration, trust, and partnership between science and society.
Across two days, the gathering created a space rich with dialogue, curiosity, and collaboration. Participants described the atmosphere as warm, energizing, and remarkably open, an environment where conversations extended naturally from the conference rooms to hallways, poster galleries, and even strolls through misty Swiss forests.
A gathering defined by exchanges and interactions
From the outset, the event showcased the breadth and creativity of Citizen Science in health. Nearly fifty posters, fast-paced pitch sessions, interactive workshops, and experience rooms highlighted projects driven by community engagement, patient values, and transdisciplinary teamwork. These formats and dynamic participation mirrored the essence of Citizen Science itself: collective intelligence, shared ownership, and practical action toward real-world solutions.
The programme encouraged hands-on exchange and invited participants not just to listen but to actively shape discussions. Sessions showcased how participatory approaches are reshaping research on chronic diseases, prevention, data governance, community health, and more.
Key themes that emerged
Citizen Science for health is rooted in the powerful idea that research becomes more relevant, inclusive, and transformative when citizens, patients, families, and communities participate as active partners rather than passive subjects. The shift from research done for society to research carried out with and by society marks one of the most meaningful evolutions in contemporary science. The CS4Health 2025 conference was a vivid expression of how this transition is happening on multiple thematic fronts. Here a few examples.
- Reimagining how health research is done
Societal engagement deepens our collective sense of responsibility. It uncovers inequalities, promotes inclusion and fairness, and ensures that research truly mirrors the lived realities of individuals and communities. A central message echoed throughout many contributions: involving citizens and patients meaningfully leads to research that is more relevant, inclusive, and impactful. Participants shared how experiential knowledge challenges assumptions, surfaces overlooked barriers, and fosters new pathways for innovation. - Bridging the gap between science and society with transdisciplinary
Throughout the conference, discussions demonstrated how Citizen Science complements traditional fields like medicine, engineering, social sciences, and computer science by adding a crucial dimension: the lived experience of citizens themselves. Projects demonstrated what becomes possible when different kinds of knowledge - e.g. scientific, experiential, technical, and community-based - are treated with equal respect. The need to recognize and rebalance power dynamics in health research was a recurring theme. - Addressing ethical and epistemological challenges
Discussions on ethics and governance revealed an important truth: participatory research demands new ways of thinking about responsibility, data stewardship, and the roles of institutions. Many attendees engaged in exploring how ethics committees, researchers, and communities can adapt together. To allow non-experts to contribute confidently though, there is a need for communication that is clear and accessible, as well as for research structures that support citizen participation on fair and practical terms. - Impact beyond academic outputs
A recurring message was that research must generate tangible benefits for society. Attendees discussed how to measure impact not only through publications but through improved care pathways, empowered communities, and strengthened policy. This shift toward meaningful, real-world outcomes reflects a broader commitment to aligning science with societal needs.
A motivated and expanding community
The enthusiasm surrounding the conference was visible not only onsite but also online: more than forty participants shared reflections on social media, highlighting lessons learned and renewed motivation for their work. The sense of community was a recurring sentiment, and attendees spoke of feeling inspired, supported, and encouraged to continue building participatory approaches in their respective fields.
A significant number of participants also joined the ECSA Citizen Science for Health Working Group after the event, demonstrating a strong commitment to staying connected and advancing the field collaboratively. You can find more information about the group, including how to join, here.
Looking ahead: the future is participatory
The CS4Health 2025 conference reaffirmed that Citizen Science is not a niche approach, but a powerful, evolving movement reshaping how we understand and improve health. By bringing together diverse voices and fostering genuine collaboration, the event showed what becomes possible when science opens its doors more widely.
Staying true to this participatory spirit, the question of where the next edition will take place was announced and calls for collective input. After the first gathering in Twente in 2023 and the second in Zurich this year, the next chapter remains intentionally open, inviting institutions around the world to help carry the movement forward.
What is already clear is that the momentum is strong. Whether through collaborative research, new partnerships, or refined methodologies, we hope that the ideas generated during these two days will continue to resonate long after everyone has returned home, sparking new innovations, inspiring future work, and strengthening the global citizen science community.