Get involved in participatory science

As an incubator for participatory research and science projects, the Labo citoyen has the following key missions:

• Serving as a point of contact for people across Alsace who have questions for the research community
• Acting as an intermediary between members of the public and researchers
• Supporting projects by providing advice and methodological tools
• Training and supporting the university community
• Building a network to share experiences and support one another, as well as establishing a learning community through its network of contacts
• Raising awareness and providing tools and resources through the Rencontres du Labo citoyen

1. Get in touch: whether you're working alone or as part of a group, contact the Labo citoyen with a question or an idea.
2. Meet up: the Labo citoyen can visit your group to discuss your ideas, get to know you better and identify your needs.
3. Confirm the approach: a committee meets to determine what support the Labo citoyen can provide.
4. Define the research question: work with the Labo citoyen to clarify your question. Could it be explored through a participatory approach? Is this approach suited to your needs? This stage also helps define the scope of the project and brings together the people who will take part.
5. Develop the project together: the Labo citoyen brings together the research team, the group initiating the project and any other stakeholders involved. Together, they define everyone’s role and level of involvement.
6. Identify funding opportunities: the Labo citoyen helps the group apply for funding through the Research and Participatory Science Committee (commission Recherches et sciences participatives) and identify other sources of funding.
7. Support the research: throughout the research process, the Labo citoyen supports the group according to the specific needs of the project, from methodological advice to helping the different parties work together.
8. Share the project and its findings: from start to finish, the Labo citoyen works with everyone involved to find the best ways to showcase the project and share it with the scientific community and the wider public.

The Labo Citoyen is part of three international networks that bring together people and organisations working in participatory research, encouraging exchange to improve practices and expand perspectives.

• The Réseau international universités-société (Réiunis)
• The European Partnership for an Innovative Campus Unifying Regions (EPICUR), a European university alliance
• The League of European Research Universities (LERU)

The Labo Citoyen receives support from the Fondation de France and coordinates an annual call for proposals to fund participatory research and science projects that bring researchers and members of the public together.

The Labo citoyen co-leads the Tactus project and the initiative that earned the University of Strasbourg the "Science with and for society" label in 2024.

Immersive placements give students the opportunity to learn from experience and critically examine local issues in Alsace, in close connection with existing local initiatives and university activities. These placements bring together one or two Master’s cohorts, their academic coordinators and a range of local stakeholders. Each placement is designed collaboratively and can be adapted to the learning objectives. They can be integrated at different points in the degree programme: before the start of term, as part of seminars or practical sessions, or within modules focused on fieldwork and research methods.

Objectives

• The main objective is to connect students with stakeholders in the field, helping them gain a practical understanding of local issues and encouraging knowledge exchange.
• These experiences also introduce students to participatory research and science, while encouraging them to begin framing real-world situations as scientific questions.
• They encourage students to apply their academic knowledge to local and regional challenges, work together across disciplines and strengthen cohesion within their groups.
• They help build and strengthen ties between the university and local stakeholders, paving the way for long-term participatory research projects.

A second, longer immersion can also be organised in collaboration with academic coordinators.

Objectives

• Developed jointly by the academic department, the host organisation and the Labo citoyen, participatory research placements address real-world issues brought to academic research, using a transdisciplinary approach.
• These placements complement students’ education by helping them develop transferable skills, bridging the gap between the world of work, academic rigour and being a member of society.

How it works:

• A call for expressions of interest to turn an academic or real-world issue into a participatory research placement topic
• Joint supervision by three parties: an academic supervisor, the Labo Citoyen and the host organisation
• The Labo Citoyen covers the placement stipend and the costs associated with the participatory research process

Held four times a year, the Rencontres du Labo citoyen are open to anyone looking to get involved in participatory research and science. These events provide opportunities to exchange ideas, share experiences and develop new collaborations.

Alongside these events, the Intermediation Network (Réseau de l’intermédiation) connects people across Alsace who work to build links between research and society through participatory research.

This open, informal regional network gives people space to reflect together and gain perspective on their work, something that can be difficult to do alone. It is a place to share experiences, discuss different practices and support one another.

Find out more about the programme and sign up to the Open University of Strasbourg (OPUS) newsletter to find out about upcoming events.

The University of Strasbourg offers training that combines theory and practice, with contributions from the Labo citoyen team and professionals from the research community and voluntary sector who are involved in participatory research and science. Topics include jointly creating knowledge and developing practices, intermediation, and developing participatory research projects. The university offers around six sessions each semester for PhD students, lecturers and researchers.

Tailored training sessions can also be arranged on request.

Find out more about the programme and sign up to the Open University of Strasbourg (OPUS) newsletter to find out about upcoming events.

The Labo citoyen provides a collaborative toolkit that brings together a wide range of multimedia resources covering different disciplines and topics.

Designed for people developing projects, project participants and anyone interested in participatory approaches, the toolkit offers:

• Methodological guidance to help plan and guide participatory research projects
• Interactive and engaging tools and facilitation activities to encourage collaboration and creativity
• Bibliographies, practical guides and other resources to deepen knowledge and develop skills

This growing collection aims to enrich participatory research initiatives and support anyone looking to take part in research that is open, collaborative and innovative.