Research for and with society
Engaging citizens and civil-society organisations in scientific research strengthens the link between knowledge and real-world practice. It helps build trust and understanding in science, while offering people practical ways to address issues they encounter in daily life. It also enriches the scientific process itself by bringing together diverse perspectives and various knowledge domains, in this way we generate more inclusive and applicable insights that contribute to tackling today’s complex challenges.
Active citizenship through citizen science
Citizen science combines the strengths of active citizenship with the value of academic research. People from a wide range of backgrounds and interests are invited to participate in activities such as shaping research questions, collecting and analysing data, and identifying actions that can help, for instance, to influence policy. Citizens and researchers work closely together to develop solutions that make a positive contribution to society.
Wageningen University & Research has long been involved in a broad range of citizen science initiatives. These projects focus on monitoring, evaluating and addressing local and regional sustainable development challenges related to health and wellbeing, climate change, air, water and soil quality, and the conservation and restoration of biodiversity.
An overview of ongoing and completed projects is available at research.wur.nl.
Watch the video of Citizen Science.
The Science Shop – making science accessible
The Science Shop at Wageningen University & Research offers citizens and civil-society organisations easy access to scientific expertise. They can bring forward questions that relate to their daily work or living environment, and receive support in identifying and applying relevant research findings.
The Science Shop connects societal questions to scientific expertise within WUR and helps interpret existing research results. In doing so, it makes scientific knowledge more accessible and allows insights to be applied directly to societal challenges.
An overview of completed projects can be found at research.wur.nl. Also view some videos about recent projects:
Watch the video about 'De Hangar' from the Science Shop
