4th SLOVENIAN CITIZEN SCIENCE DAY

“From People to Policies”

Citizen Science Day will take place in Maribor this year. On Thursday, November 5, we will meet at the Maribor University Library (UKM), Slovenia.

This year’s 4th Citizens’ Science Day will be held under the theme “From People to Policies”. We will focus on the question of how the knowledge, experiences, and data generated through collaboration between citizens and researchers can contribute to social change and the development of better public policies.

Citizen science is not merely a method of data collection. Residents can participate in identifying problems in their communities, formulating research questions, collecting and interpreting data, and seeking solutions. But how can the findings of such projects reach municipalities, government institutions, and other decision-makers? And how can collaboration among researchers, residents, and policymakers contribute to a better quality of life?

We will devote the central part of this year’s event to these very questions.

From International Experiences to Slovenian Projects

We will begin the morning program with two keynote lectures by international guests, who will present current perspectives, experiences, and developments in citizen science across Europe.

This will be followed by a roundtable discussion aimed at exploring how citizen science projects can influence the formulation and reform of policies at the local and national levels. We aim to bring together researchers, representatives of government institutions, funders, local communities, and other organizations around the same table to collectively reflect on the path from public participation and research findings to concrete social change.

The afternoon session will be dedicated to presentations of diverse citizen science projects and initiatives. We will learn how citizens are participating in research on nature and the environment, forest health, the energy transition, changes in urban spaces, cultural heritage and monuments, and the Slovenian language.

The projects presented will demonstrate the breadth of the field of citizen science and the many different ways the public can participate in creating new knowledge.

Citizen Science Takes to the Streets of Maribor

This year’s event will not be confined to the library.

On the 4th Day of Citizen Science, an exhibition will be on display at Slomškov Trg in Maribor from October 30 to November 23, 2026, introducing visitors to citizen science, its development, and projects in which anyone can participate in research.

The exhibition also aims to introduce citizen science to passersby and demonstrate that research is not limited solely to universities, laboratories, and research institutes. We can also explore our own street, city, nature, and the environment in which we live.

Following the conclusion of the main program, accompanying activities will also be available to participants.

Join us

Citizen Science Day is intended for researchers, librarians, teachers, students, non-governmental organizations, representatives of local communities and public institutions, and all curious individuals interested in public participation in research.

The event is also an opportunity for members and partners of the Citizen Science Network to meet, exchange experiences, network, and generate new ideas and collaborations.

You are cordially invited to join us in Maribor and reflect with us on how knowledge and public participation can become a driving force for change—from research questions to public policy.

Participation in the event is free of charge.