29.9.2025
The International Social Innovation Research Conference (ISIRC) 2025 in Calgary, Canada, was a significant opportunity for the InChildHealth project to showcase its innovative approach to improving children’s health through citizen science. At the heart of the presentation, Dr. Elisabeth Unterfrauner from the Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI) in Vienna highlighted the intersection of citizen science (CS) and social innovation (SI) and how these fields contribute to addressing public health challenges.
The ZSI team, Elisabeth Unterfrauer, Teresa Schäfer and Claudia M. Fabian has submitted the abstract to the conference. In her presentation titled “Young Citizen Scientists in Health: Can the Involvement of Pupils in Citizen Science Become a Social Innovation?“, Dr. Unterfrauner explored the potential of citizen science initiatives to not only engage children in scientific research but also to drive social change. By involving pupils in air quality monitoring within school environments, the InChildHealth project fosters practical scientific skills while also contributing to a broader societal impact.
The study, part of the EU-funded Horizon Europe InChildHealth project, examines the transformation of social practices through citizen science activities. It reveals how collaboration between researchers, teachers, pupils, and parents can break traditional research boundaries and create active participants in scientific inquiry. Pupils engage in various hands-on activities such as sampling, microscopy, and data analysis, providing them with real-world scientific experience while empowering them to take charge of the air quality in their school environments.
The InChildHealth project’s citizen science activities offer a unique blend of education, health, and social innovation, illustrating the power of collaborative science in shaping healthier, more informed communities. The session at ISIRC 2025 emphasised the potential of such projects to drive social change by engaging young people in scientific inquiry, while also impacting policies and practices in the school system.
Reflections on the Future of Citizen Science and Social Innovation:
The presentation underscored the growing importance of citizen science in addressing complex societal challenges, particularly in the health and environmental sectors. The InChildHealth project exemplifies how engaging citizens, especially young people, in scientific research not only enriches the learning experience but also drives meaningful social change. The long-term impact of such initiatives will depend on their sustainability and the continued institutional support for integrating citizen science into educational curricula.
As the field of social innovation continues to evolve, the InChildHealth project’s work at ISIRC 2025 serves as a powerful example of how science can be a tool for empowerment, education, and social transformation.