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 Policies 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 stages of the scientific process. This research method stands out for increasing data coverage and analysis, accelerating scientific discoveries, addressing society's needs and challenges more effectively, and promoting the democratization, legitimacy, and adoption of policies informed by scientific knowledge.

The report is primarily intended for research policy makers, 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 analyses of national and international initiatives. This work is the result of collaboration within the OECD Expert Group on 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.