OECD publishes Report on the Implementation of Public Policies in Citizen Science

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has released OECD Policy Paper No. 175: Embedding Citizen Science into Research Policy in April 2025. This report addresses the implementation of Public Policy in Citizen Science, highlighting the benefits of active citizen involvement in the co-creation of scientific knowledge and offering recommendations for research policy makers.

Citizen Science, a component of Open Science, involves the active participation of citizens in the co-creation of scientific knowledge in all areas and phases of the scientific process. This research method stands out for increasing data coverage and analysis, accelerating scientific discoveries, more effectively addressing society's needs and challenges, and promoting democratization, legitimacy and the adoption of policies informed by scientific knowledge.

The report is primarily aimed at research policymakers, such as ministries and funding agencies, helping them to recognize the potential of Citizen Science and to plan, implement and evaluate effective public policies. It includes general recommendations, a policy framework and policy options, as well as analysis of national and international initiatives. This work is the result of collaboration in the OECD Expert Group of the project "Citizen science: policies to promote citizen engagement in the production of scientific knowledge", which began in 2023, with the participation of the Foundation for Science and Technology.