FROM CLASSROOM TO IMPACT: Addressing societal challenges with citizen science

Young people spend a large part of their lives in school - but too often, what they learn in science feels disconnected from the world around them. Experiments are often predictable, results discarded, and concepts can seem distant from everyday life. But what if their efforts truly mattered? What if the data they gathered helped advance scientific research and tackle real-world problems? The CROPS MOOC - https://www.europeanschoolnetacademy.eu/courses/course-v1:CROPS+CitizenScience+2025/about That’s the power of citizen science. Anyone, anywhere — including you and your students — can take part in meaningful research and make a difference. To support teachers in bringing citizen science into their teaching, the CROPS project, in collaboration with Scientix®, is launching a new online course: From classroom to impact: Addressing societal challenges with citizen science. This course introduces participants to active citizen science initiatives and offers practical strategies for integrating them into teaching. Module 1: Introduction to citizen science and the five EU Missions covers the basics of citizen science and its growing role in science, society, and education. It also presents the five EU Missions focused on oceans, smart cities, cancer, climate, and soil. Module 2: Choosing the right citizen science project guides participants in selecting projects suitable for their classroom, considering curriculum fit, data methods, student skills, time, resources, and ethics. Module 3: Planning and implementing activities shares teacher experiences and Learning Scenarios linked to the EU Missions, supporting participants in designing engaging, inquiry-based activities — from planning and data collection to analysis and sharing of results. Module 4: Assessing learning and impact allows participants to put their newfound knowledge into action. Here, they design a Learning Scenario on a selected citizen science project, receiving support from peers throughout the process. The MOOC opens on October 13, 2025, and runs for five and a half weeks. Imagine your students monitoring ocean pollution, tracking local wildlife, testing air quality, analysing cancer data, or investigating soil health — all while actively contributing to scientific knowledge. Let’s make this happen. Register to the MOOC and start your journey from classroom to impact!

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