Organised by CHARM-EU and coordinated by Prof. Josep Perelló (University of Barcelona), this three-day Winter School was designed for PhD candidates from all disciplines who are interested in strengthening the social dimension of their research. The programme is a certified training programme, via a CHARM-EU digital credential, for PhD students and took place at the Faculty of Economics and Business from the University of Barcelona. Lecturers from across the CHARM-EU partner universities contributed with their expertise, offering participants a rich, multidisciplinary and distinctly European perspective on citizen science.

Creating a shared European space for citizen science 

According to Josep Perelló, Professor at the Faculty of Physics,  University of Barcelona, and the organiser of the Winter School responded to a clear need: 

“The aim of this school was essentially to find spaces where students working on their doctoral thesis related to citizen science could meet one another – and do so at the CHARM-EU alliance level, rather than solely within the University of Barcelona.” 

Beyond logistics, CHARM-EU plays a strategic role in enabling collaboration at scale: 

“What CHARM-EU facilitates is not only making this possible logistically but also enabling a European-level perspective. Citizen-centred approaches differ greatly across contexts – what we see in Finland, Hungary or the Netherlands is completely different from Barcelona. This diversity is precisely the strength of working within the alliance.” 

A successful and revealing experience 

The response to the Winter School exceeded expectations, highlighting the growing interest in citizen-centred research approaches: 

“It was surprising to see the level of demand. At the University of Barcelona alone, an open call received over 30 proposals, and we could only select four. Similar things happened across partner universities. It showed us that there is far more socially engaged research happening than we often realise.” — Josep Perelló 

For many participants, the Winter School offered a rare opportunity to step outside disciplinary silos and connect with peers from different backgrounds but facing similar challenges. 

Skills, inspiration and long-term connections 

From a training perspective, the Winter School delivered both methodological inspiration and meaningful networking opportunities. As Mia Åkerfelt (Professor at Åbo Akademi University) explains: 

“Students gain inspiration to use their methodologies in more varied and inclusive ways, while learning from others who are working on similar challenges. Just as importantly, they build networks that can last long after the Winter School ends.” 

This combination of learning and connection was echoed strongly by participants. 

Learning with – and for – society 

Maya Berggreen-Clausen ( Åbo Akademi University), Jonathan Jakob Scheler ( Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg), Leonie Copraij (Utrecht University) and Balázs Szigeti (Eötvös Loránd University Budapest), PhD candidates, the Winter School reshaped how they think about engagement and impact: 

“What stayed with us most was inclusion and giving back to the people involved in our research. Not just learning from them but making sure they also gain something meaningful from the research process.” 

They also reflected on moving beyond impact “on paper”: 

“We often write that our research benefits society, but it stays theoretical. Through the Winter School and learning more about citizen science, I discovered concrete methodologies to make that impact real.”

An open, non-hierarchical learning environment 

Participants highlighted the Winter School’s open and personal atmosphere: 

“It’s not about status or hierarchy. It’s about meeting people, having open conversations, and learning from different countries, disciplines and perspectives.” 

The diversity of projects and backgrounds broadened perspectives and sparked reflection: 

“Seeing so many different projects were incredibly inspiring. You simply can’t get this kind of experience without bringing people together like this.” 

For Niclas Freding, PhD Candidate from Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences, the experience was not only intellectually stimulating, but also personally uplifting:

While concrete collaborations may take time to emerge, many participants emphasised the value of knowing they now have a trusted European peer network to turn to. 

A fully funded opportunity for PhD candidates 

The CHARM-EU Winter School 2026 was a fully funded opportunity for a selected cohort of PhD candidates. Tuition, travel, accommodation and meals were covered, with each CHARM-EU partner institution nominating up to four doctoral researchers through its internal selection process. 

By bringing together early-career researchers committed to socially engaged research, the CHARM-EU Winter School 2026 fostered new skills, ideas and connections — placing citizens at the heart of scientific inquiry and reinforcing CHARM-EU’s ambition to shape the future of inclusive, impact-driven research in Europe.