Search
On 4-5 June 2025, the Citizen Science Seminar in the framework of the CORYA Project was successfully held at Destil Creative Hub in Tirana. The event brought together around 60 participants, including youth workers, young researchers, educators, civil society representatives, and institutional actors. Organised by Beyond Barriers Association (BBA) in partnership with Zentrum für Soziale Innovation (ZSI) from Austria, the seminar of the CORYA Project was implemented as part of the REINFORCING Project, funded by the European Union under Horizon Europe.
The seminar aimed to deepen understanding and practical knowledge around Citizen Science and Open and Responsible Research and Innovation (ORRI), particularly in the context of youth work and grassroots engagement.
Agenda Overview
Over the course of two days, participants engaged in a dynamic agenda designed to blend theory with practical exercises. The agenda included:
- An introduction to the concepts and values of Citizen Science and ORRI
- Persona creation and recruitment strategy workshop
- Input sessions on real-life Citizen Science projects in Albania
- Communication strategy development activities
- Group work on outreach and evaluation tools
- A presentation of the CORYA E-learning Module
- Closing session and certificate ceremony for course completers
Facilitation was led by Carmen Siller and Samire Gurgurovci from ZSI, with guest contributions by Kejt Dhrami (Co-PLAN Institute) and Valbona Mazreku (Milieukontakt Albania).
Key Highlights
- Participants actively co-created recruitment personas and communication plans tailored to different community contexts.
- A “gallery walk” exercise allowed attendees to reflect on participant motivations and engagement methods.
- Inspirational presentations showcased how Citizen Science can be implemented in environmental and urban governance contexts in Albania.
- The seminar fostered cross-sector dialogue between academia, civil society, and youth stakeholders on the ethical and inclusive aspects of participatory research.
- The CORYA E-learning Module, a training course on Citizen Science and ORRI adapted to youth work, was officially introduced and discussed with the group.
Next Steps
Open Call: An English-language version of the CORYA E-learning Module is now available, and applications are open to young researchers, youth workers, and civil society actors across Europe. This course provides foundational and practical knowledge on how to integrate Citizen Science into community work and research initiatives. Interested participants can apply via this link or contact Beyond Barriers Association for further information (rafaela.mborja@beyondbarriers.org)
This seminar marks an important milestone in expanding the reach of the CORYA initiative and strengthening the role of youth in shaping more open, ethical, and collaborative research practices.
*Funded by The European Union through the REINFORCING Project #ORRI
