Communication plays a fundamental role in citizen science projects, where researchers and citizens collaborate in the production of knowledge. However, its function goes far beyond the dissemination of information. In the chapter "Comunicación en proyectos de ciencia ciudadana: análisis comparativo de tres casos europeos", Carolina Llorente and Gema Revuelta, coordinator and director of the Centre for Studies on Science, Communication and Society (CCS-UPF) at Pompeu Fabra University, show how communication acts as a true infrastructure for participation, organising relationships between different actors and supporting the continuity of projects.

The study compares three European citizen science initiatives operating at international, national and local levels, combining interviews, surveys and document analysis. The findings show that projects incorporating interaction spaces, mediation roles and diverse communication strategies tend to foster more sustained and collaborative forms of participation. They also highlight that communication should be considered a core element of project design rather than a complementary activity.

The research further identifies a mismatch between the communication channels prioritised by project coordinators and those preferred by participants. While project teams tend to focus on websites and social media, participants show a clear preference for more direct channels such as email and newsletters. These findings underscore the importance of designing communication strategies that address the actual practices and needs of participant communities.

The chapter is part of the book Ciencia para la Sociedad, edited by Norina R. Dinu and Tomàs Baiget. It presents results obtained within the framework of the European project ISEED (Inclusive Science and European Democracies), funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 programme.

Reference

Llorente, C.; Revuelta, G. (2026). Comunicación en proyectos de ciencia ciudadana: análisis comparativo de tres casos europeos. In: Dinu, N. R.; Baiget, T. (eds.), Ciencia para la Sociedad. Granada: Ediciones Profesionales de la Información. https://doi.org/10.3145/codi2026/015