There is a growing acknowledgement that citizen observatories, and other forms of citizen-generated data, have a significant role in tracking progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. This is evident in the increasing number of Sustainable Development Goals’ indicators for which such data are already being used and in the high-level recognition of the potential role that citizen science can play. In this article, we argue that networks of citizen observatories will help realise this potential. Drawing on the Cos4Cloud project as an example, we highlight how such networks can make citizen-generated data more interoperable and accessible (among other qualities), increasing their impact and usefulness. Furthermore, we highlight other, perhaps overlooked, advantages of citizen observatories and citizen-generated data: educating and informing citizen scientists about the Sustainable Development Goals and co-creating solutions to the global challenges they address.

Citizen observatories (COs) have emerged as essential research infrastructures for participatory science, supporting data collection and community engagement. They enable communities to monitor their environments, actively track indicators aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and contribute valuable data to scientific research and evidence-based, informed policy-making. Despite their growing importance, COs remain conceptually fluid, with varying interpretations across disciplines and contexts. This paper examines the evolution of COs from their origins in the early 2010s to their current multifaceted roles, revealing three key dimensions: descriptively as socio-technical systems, instrumentally as research infrastructures, and normatively as advanced participatory science initiatives. We specifically highlight the critical role of COs as research infrastructures and propose a set of essential functions and characteristics. These functions range from providing technical capabilities for data collection and quality assurance to social dimensions, including community building and governance frameworks. Additionally, our analysis identifies two operational models: tailored COs designed for specific projects and open COs supporting multiple initiatives. Reframing COs as research infrastructures rather than isolated initiatives emphasizes the need for long-term institutional support, shared services, and coordinated policies to ensure their sustainability and maximize their contribution to both scientific knowledge and public participation, ultimately strengthening the foundations of participatory science.

Citizen science platforms (CSPs) and citizen observatories (COs) are rapidly expanding research infrastructures (RIs) that support the growth of citizen science. These systems have boosted data collection capabilities and broadened participant engagement across spatial and demographic dimensions. Despite their essential role in advancing citizen science, the current state of knowledge of these infrastructures remains largely unexplored, affecting both theoretical understanding and practical implementation. The study discussed herein addresses this knowledge gap through a systematic review of 474 articles, with in-depth analysis of 72 publications spanning a 15-year period across multiple disciplinary domains. The methodological framework integrates bibliometric analysis with qualitative investigation, utilizing Web of Science and Scopus databases, supplemented by grey literature from Zenodo and Google Scholar. Findings indicate that research in this field has developed across three main waves: technological development and engagement, monitoring systems and openness, and frontiers technologies. This evolution reflects a progression in the CSP body of knowledge from technical documentation to complex socio-technological systems. Analysis of 450 articles identified 98 unique terms referring to CSPs, highlighting conceptual fragmentation. To clarify the landscape of overlapping, we propose a CSP purpose-based taxonomic framework comprising nine platform categories, contributing to a clearer understanding of the CSPs’ role in citizen science. Additionally, our systematic analysis reveals key research trajectories essential for strengthening CSPs and COs as sustainable infrastructures.

Information about the paper titled "INTEGRATING CITIZEN OBSERVATORIES INTO SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY: DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF A CASE STUDY ENGAGING STUDENTS WITH PL@NTNET AND ODOURCOLLECT" at IATED Digital Library

Citizen observatories (COs) have emerged as essential research infrastructures that support data collection and community engagement in participatory sciences, empowering communities to monitor their environments while generating valuable data for scientific research and policy-making. Despite their growing importance, COs remain conceptually fluid, with varying interpretations across disciplines and contexts. This paper examines the evolution of COs from their origins in the early 2010s to their current multifaceted roles, revealing three key dimensions: descriptively as socio-technical systems, instrumentally as research infrastructures, and normatively as advanced participatory science initiatives. We specifically highlight the critical yet underexplored role of COs as research infrastructures and propose a set of essential functions and characteristics that define COs in this infrastructure role. These functions range from providing technical capabilities for data collection and quality assurance to social dimensions including community building and governance frameworks. Our analysis identifies two operational models: tailored COs designed for specific projects and open COs supporting multiple initiatives. Reframing COs as research infrastructures rather than isolated initiatives emphasizes the need for long-term institutional support, shared services, and coordinated policies to ensure their sustainability and maximize their contribution to both scientific knowledge and public participation, ultimately strengthening the foundations of participatory sciences.