IMPETUS intends to support and give recognition to Citizen Science by providing access to the Innovation Fund for several initiatives, bringing this theme closer to society and political decision-makers.
Maria João Leão was recently re-elected member of the IMPETUS Citizen Panel — the project which aims to acknowledge and enable Citizen Science initiatives in Europe.
The initiative intends to increase the impact that Citizen Science has on policies, particularly in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). IMPETUS intends to support and give recognition to Citizen Science by providing access to the Innovation Fund for several initiatives, bringing this matter closer to society and political decision-makers. The project also highlights its commitment to the European Green Deal and the UN’s SDGs.
The members of IMPETUS Citizen Panel have the mission of defining the challenges to boost IMPETUS, being the initiative’s ambassadors and appointing projects and one member of the jury for the Citizen Science European award.
At present, Maria João Leão is the coordinator of the program Ciência + Cidadã, the outcome of a partnership between the Instituto Gulbenkian da Ciência, the António Xavier Institute of Chemical and Biological Technology and the Municipality of Oeiras.
Citizen Science refers to the general public engagement “in scientific research activities where citizens actively contribute to science either with their intellectual effort or surrounding knowledge, or with their tools and resources” (European Commission, 2014)
