Fryske Akademy talks about future working community and Citizen Science

What should the Fryske Akademy's working community look like to make it future-proof? Representatives of working associations and working groups discussed this in early June.

The meeting was led by Jantine van der West of the Fryske Akademy. She was appointed to Citizen science and knowledge utilization in September 2024 and is working on this working community (wurkmienskip). "How can we facilitate a dynamic citizen science network where academics, citizen scientists and other interested parties can come together? How do we succeed in creating a sustainable bridge between science and the broader Frisian society? What will such a network look like?"

What is Citizen Science?

Citizen Science is a form of scientific research where citizens actively contribute to scientific work. This method contributes to the democratization of science by opening up the process of knowledge production to citizens. Researchers and citizens work together to produce new knowledge and reduce the distance between science and society. By focusing more on citizen science, the Fryske Akademy wants to open its doors to the wider community. What is unique about the Fryske Akademy is that since its founding in 1938, the scientific institute has been building on this group of people, who are enormously committed to developing and disseminating new (scientific) knowledge.

In the meeting, Jantine presented her plans of what the working community could look like in the future. Attendees could react to it and also share their ideas about it. In the coming time, further thought will be given to the interpretation of such a new network for Citizen Science and further discussions will be held with other stakeholders and interested parties.

(In Ut de Smidte (December 2024), Jantine van der West introduces herself and talks about the new position).