On 12 September, we organised the third Citizen Science Inspiratino and Networking Day together with FARO, Histories, and the AfricaMuseum. This time, we had the pleasure of welcoming over 200 citizen science enthusiasts at Lamot in Mechelen. On our website, we look back at this successful edition and have gathered all the presentations from the day

Scivil has launched Belgium's first-ever Citizen Science Scan. The report offers insights into the current state, characteristics, and developments of citizen science in Belgium, and includes recommendations for policymakers and researchers.

The underlying data of the Citizen Science Scan is also publicly available for anyone interested in conducting further analyses or in-depth research. You can download the dataset here.

The Citizen Science Scan 2023 was just the first edition - we plan to update the Scan periodically with new projects. Does your project have at least one Belgian partner and would you like your initiative to be included in the next edition? Fill out the survey here (you can change the language of the survey at the top of the page).

Scivil has added a new page to its website: we've gathered a variety of fillable templates specifically designed for citizen science projects. Here, you will find templates such as the one accompanying our communication guide, as well as a brand-new data management template. These templates - complementing our existing range of guides and manuals - support you in various project phases, including communication, data management, and developing new project ideas. Additionally, we provide links to useful templates from external organisations. Want to set up your project in a professional and organised way? Start on our website!

The 'Citizen Science Champions' podcast, part of the European CROPS project, showcases a collection of stories from the people behind European citizen science projects. Several Belgian projects have already been featured, including Telraam and BEL-Landschap.

Stickydot published a blog post titled 'Beyond Books', highlighting the role of public libraries in citizen science and public engagement.

The guide 'Using citizen science with alien species: a practical guide for project initiators', developed under the COST Action Alien CSI, has been translated into 23 languages and is openly available via Zenodo. Scivil also had the opportunity to contribute to this publication.

There is growing attention for citizen science at the federal level in Belgium. Recently, Belspo launched a webpage dedicated to citizen science initiatives within the Federal Scientific Institutes (FSI).

On 1 July, Citizen Science Netherlands (CS-NL) was officially launched with a celebratory gathering and meetings of various working and thematic groups. These sessions sparked lively discussions about the goals, needs, and activities of the groups. CS-NL plans to organise more exciting events in the future. Those who wish to stay informed can subscribe to their newsletter or follow them on X and LinkedIn.

In her latest blog post 'Diversity and inclusion: a reflection', Simona Cerrato critically examines the assumption that science is a neutral and inclusive environment. Read the post and discover how science can become more inclusive and diverse.

In each newsletter we want to inspire you through an interview with a researcher, practitioner or citizen involved in citizen science. This way, we want to share good practices, innovative approaches and success stories of citizen science projects. This time, Scivil spoke with lacemaker and volunteer Linda Coolen, lace researcher Sofie Wilder and lace registrar Marnix Steenackers about their collaborative work with the unique lace collection of the Taxandria Museum in Turnhout.

On 2 October, Ent.r.e.novators is hosting an engaging workshop dedicated to advancing citizen science, featuring representatives from ECSA, Scivil, and several leading universities and institutions.

On 7 October, Prof. Mordechai Muki Haklay will give a lecture on 'Citizen science: from the margins to the mainstream - opportunities and costs', followed by the public defence of the PhD dissertation of Mercy Gloria Ashepet.

The Plastic Pirates - Go Europe! Summit 2024 will present the results of one of the largest citizen science projects aimed at involving young Europeans in combating plastic pollution.

From 12 to 15 November, OpenLab.brussels will host the international conference "Creating Knowledge Through Participatory Research".

From 19 to 24 January, the Citizen Science School will welcome novice researchers and citizen scientists to a new edition of the Citizen Science Winter School. Registrations open in June 2024.

From 27 to 30 May 2025, the Conference for Advancing Participatory Sciences will take place in Portland, Oregon, USA. This multidisciplinary event will bring together people designing, researching, and facilitating citizen science, community science, volunteer monitoring, and other related research initiatives.

The Citizen Science 4 Water (CS4Water) Conference will be held from 3 to 5 June 2025 in Delft, Netherlands. The conference will focus on the crucial role of citizen science in monitoring, managing, and governing water resources, as well as community-based actions.