H2LLab at national roundtable on funding citizen science projects in Slovenia / 12.03.2026

H2LLab contributes to national discussions on improving funding mechanisms for citizen science through participation in a high-level roundtable.

On 12 March 2026, representatives of the Healthy Habitats Living Lab (H2LLab) at the Jožef Stefan Institute participated in a national roundtable titled “Citizen Science in the Hands of People: Can We Also Finance It?”, focused on improving funding opportunities for citizen science projects in Slovenia.

Dr. David Kocman from H2LLab and an experienced practitioner in participatory environmental research, contributed to the discussion by sharing insights from projects such as the Urban Cycling Lab Ljubljana and other citizen science initiatives conducted within the lab. His contribution highlighted practical challenges in implementing participatory research, particularly in relation to funding structures, project design, and long-term sustainability.

The roundtable brought together representatives from major funding and policy institutions, including ARIS and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, alongside researchers and civil society organisations active in citizen science. Discussions focused on how existing funding mechanisms can be adapted to better support participatory approaches, where to access funding, and how to improve future calls based on real project experience.

The event builds on prior work of the Slovenian Citizen Science Network and aims to translate identified gaps into concrete recommendations for funders and policymakers. H2LLab’s participation reflects its active role not only in implementing citizen science projects, but also in shaping the broader ecosystem in which such projects are developed and funded.

The event was organised by the Slovenian Citizen Science Network in collaboration with the Central Technical Library of the University of Ljubljana and was held online.

More information: https://citizenscience.si/okrogla-miza-znanost-v-rokah-ljudi-ali-jo-znamo-tudi-financirati/