17 September 2026 | 13:00 CEST
(In conjunction with the PCST Symposium)
To give PCST Network members around the world a preview of the upcoming PCST Symposium: Trust in Citizen Science, taking place in Berlin from 5 to 6 October 2026, the PCST Network is hosting a webinar and speed networking session on the theme of “Citizen Science, Communication, and Trust”.
Bringing together both research and practice perspectives, the webinar will explore the role of citizen science in fostering trust, participation, and dialogue between science and society.
Moderator
Joshua Schlichting is a PhD student at Technische Universität Braunschweig whose research focuses on the public reception of science and media. As part of the Trust in Citizen Science research project, he investigates how the composition and coordination of research teams influence their perceived trustworthiness, with a particular focus on public perceptions of participatory and interdisciplinary research.
Speakers
Julia Rizzo has more than a decade of experience at the intersection of science communication, strategic positioning, and institutional branding. As Head of Science Communication at the Laimburg Research Centre (Italy), she supports research institutions, public bodies, and executives in transforming complex expertise into clear, compelling, and impactful communication. She leads the Centre’s corporate communication strategy, manages a multidisciplinary team, and oversees digital and traditional media, project communication, and citizen science initiatives to connect research with society and stakeholders.
Kirsten Vegt is a Senior Researcher at the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and is completing her PhD at Leiden University. Her research focuses on citizen science, public participation, and the relationship between science and society. She investigates how different approaches to scientific knowledge production can contribute to the social robustness of policy-relevant science, and how psychological distance from, and trust in, science are shaped both within and beyond participatory contexts.
About the PCST Symposium: Trust in Citizen Science
The research project Trust in Citizen Science (TiCS) is pleased to invite you to the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin for the symposium Building Knowledge Together. Citizen Science, Communication, and Trust, taking place on 5 and 6 October 2026.
Funded by the German Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space, and organised in cooperation with the PCST Network and the German citizen science platform mit!, the symposium will bring together researchers and practitioners to explore trust in the context of citizen science.
The programme features a keynote address by Dana Mahr (KIT ITAS), alongside presentations from researchers and practitioners, as well as interactive workshops and discussions on citizen science, communication, and trust.
