Date: 27 March 2026 (10:00–12:00 CET)
Mode: Online
Short Description
This seminar explores the evolving landscape of scholarly communication and the transformative potential of Citizen Science in higher education. Focusing on innovative alternatives to traditional publishing, the session examines how community-governed infrastructures, such as open repositories and overlay journals, are reshaping research evaluation and dissemination. Drawing on the French Open Science ecosystem and through the lens of the University of Innsbruck’s “Viel-Falter” project, the session will demonstrate practical strategies for communicating research and fostering public engagement. Following the presentations, a roundtable discussion will provide a collaborative space to share strategies for embedding these Citizen Science methodologies directly into university courses and curricula.
Core Topics Covered
Practical Citizen Science Communication: Discover how to bridge the gap between specialized monitoring and societal involvement, turning students and citizens into active scientific collaborators.
Open and Community-Based Peer Review: Discover how to move beyond conventional, closed-door evaluation toward transparent, community-governed systems, prioritizing academic integrity and accessibility.
Integrating Citizen Science in the Classroom: Participate in a strategic discussion on the practicalities of bringing collaborative research methods into diverse degree programs to foster student participation and institutional change.
Speakers
- Alban Decaux (UPEC) on Alternatives to Traditional Publishing: The French Open Science Model.
- Florian Westreicher (UIBK) on Citizen Science at the University of Innsbruck: How to Communicate Citizen Science.
- Chair: Maria Helena Cruz de Carvalho (UPEC)
Alban Décaux is a research support specialist at Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC), where he plays an active role in the development and promotion of Open Science practices across the institution. Working within the Research Support Service, he supports the academic community in navigating the evolving landscape of open access publishing and the effective dissemination of research outputs. He is also involved in bibliometric analysis and develops specialized training programs and workshops for researchers and doctoral candidates, focusing on integrating open science principles into academic workflows. His work is instrumental in fostering a transition toward more transparent and accessible publishing models, facilitating the adoption of innovative tools for the enhancement of institutional research.
Florian Westreicher is a specialist in citizen science and educational transition at the University of Innsbruck, where he has dedicated over a decade to bridging the gap between secondary education and the academic world. Serving as the university’s primary point of contact for Citizen Science, he provides comprehensive support for projects from their initial conceptualization through to successful implementation. His expertise lies in science communication, with a particular focus on engaging the public and schools, as well as providing high-quality study information. In recent years, his commitment to social impact has been recognized with several awards for his work in equal opportunity and educational equity in Austria. By fostering collaboration between researchers and the community, he plays a vital role in making scientific inquiry more inclusive and accessible.
Register to join the online training on 27 March 2026.