Deadline: 13-Mar-23
Ars Electronica has launched the applications for the European Union Prize for Citizen Science that recognizes outstanding achievements in the advancement of knowledge through the empowerment of civil society in the development of the future.
The Prize honors Citizen Science Initiatives in the European Research Area that enact change, expand knowledge, and demonstrate innovative Open Science processes that rethink existing practices while addressing social, cultural, environmental, educational, and political advancement.
Prize Categories
- European Union Prize for Citizen Science – Grand Prize
- Diversity & Collaboration Award
- Digital Communities Award.
Scope
- The Prize is open to initiatives operating within a wide-ranging scope of scientific and social activities that engage citizens and aim to deliver scientific advancement and social benefits, support communities, and foster an open and inclusive civil society.
- The Prize is awarded annually by Ars Electronica on behalf of the European Commission. The Prize ceremony takes place at Ars Electronica Festival in September. No fees are charged to enter the competition. Each application has to refer to a project that, at the time of submission, is either completed or advanced enough as indicated by e.g. preliminary outcomes to allow the jury to assess its merit. Further on, the submitted initiatives/projects should not be older than two years or, if completed more than two years ago, must still show a significant update or further development through active work within the last two years.
Prizes
- Grand Prize: € 60.000
- Diversity & Collaboration Award: € 20.000
- Digital Communities Award: € 20.000.
Eligibility Criteria
- The competition is open to Citizen Science Initiatives in the European Research Area. This includes the European Union, all overseas countries and territories linked to EU member states (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Territories, Greenland, New Caledonia, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, St Pierre and Miquelon), and all third countries associated to or currently negotiating an association agreement with Horizon Europe (for the 2023 iteration of the Prize: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom).
- The competition is open to applications from natural persons (such as individual researchers, creatives, artists, and other professionals), groups of natural persons, legal entities (such as associations, research and higher education institutions, public bodies, NGOs, companies, and other legally established organizations), and groups of legal entities (such as research consortia).
- Community initiatives may be submitted only by an authorized representative. This may be an individual or an organization as specified.
- Initiatives must be at the time of submission either be ongoing, completed or far enough along in their design for the jury to be able to assess its quality and impact and the likelihood of it being successfully implemented. The same applies to collaborative arrangements – at the time they are submitted, they must already be up-and-running and in the implementation stage. No consideration will be given to entries that are purely concepts, ideas or proposals for collaboration. Entries must be no older than two years or, if completed more than two years ago, must still show a significant update or further development through active work within the last two years.
- Initiatives that have received funding from Horizon Europe or other European Union funding schemes are eligible to receive the European Union Prize for Citizen Science.
- Initiatives participating in the IMPETUS Accelerator Program are eligible to receive the European Union Prize for Citizen Science if they fulfill the eligibility criteria.
- Citizen Science Initiatives consisting of or benefitting entities subject to EU sanctions are not eligible to apply.
Examples of types of eligible initiatives include:
- (Digital) humanities research engaging with citizens
- Science engagement for and with citizens
- Science and research communication with citizens as well as citizen engagement in science and research communication
- Participatory and participatory artistic-led research
- Science education that engages citizens
- And other outstanding initiatives in the field of citizen science e.g. in terms of activities and results, stakeholders involved, or policy impact.
For more information, visit Ars Electronica.