CROPS MOOC visual

From Classroom to Impact: Addressing Societal Challenges with Citizen Science MOOC

 

About

Young people spend a large part of their lives in school — but too often, what they learn in science feels disconnected from the world around them. Experiments are often predictable, results discarded, and concepts can seem distant from everyday life. But what if their efforts truly mattered? What if the data they gathered helped advance scientific research and tackle real-world problems?

That’s the power of citizen science. Everyone can take part in meaningful research and make a difference. This online course From Classroom to Impact: Addressing Societal Challenges with Citizen Science, created by the CROPS project in collaboration with Scientix®, supports you in bringing citizen science into your teaching.

 

Objectives

During this MOOC, you will learn to:

  • Explain the core principles of citizen science and its value for science, society and student learning.
  • Evaluate citizen science projects using a variety of criteria to determine their relevance and suitability for your teaching context.
  • Investigate how citizen science supports and connects to the five EU Missions: oceans, smart cities, cancer, climate, and soil.
  • Select a citizen science project and explore how students can meaningfully contribute to an EU Mission through their participation.
  • Design a Learning Scenario based on an active citizen science project and the scientific inquiry process.

 

Date and registration

The online course will run from 13 October to 19 November 2025 , with an estimated workload of 3 to 5 hours per module.

  • Module 1 opens on 13 October 2025.
  • Module 2 opens on 20 October 2025.
  • Module 3 opens on 27 October 2025.
  • Module 4 opens on 03 November 2025.

The final deadline to complete all activities is 19 November 2025.

Register

 

Promotional Materials

Whether you are a course participant, a Ministry of Education, or a network organisation in the educational field: we welcome your support in spreading the message on this free online course.

You can do this in various ways, including:

  • Use the suggested social media messages and visuals for the dissemination of the course and registration information on your social media channels, which you can download in the promotional pack below.
  • Use the information provided in the promotional pack to promote the MOOC via any other dissemination channels you may have available to you (for example, newsletters, bulletins, digests, blog articles).
  • Circulate information to relevant contacts: members of your network, organisations that you know are active on the topic and individual contacts.

To find all the promotional materials combined in a document please click on the button below. This promotional pack (in English) includes detailed information on how to promote the course in communications with your networks and audiences, as well as all visuals and suggested social media messages. 

 

Promotional Pack

 

 

Info Sheet

CROPS MOOC one-pager

 

Social media

Useful X (former Twitter) handles and hashtags:

  • Course hashtag #cropsCSMOOC
  • Project handle/hashtag @eu_schoolnet, @scientix_eu, @CropsCS
  • Service hashtag #EUNAcademy
  • Funder handles/hashtags @eu_schoolnet, @scientix_eu, @CropsCS, @HorizonEU

 

Visuals

You can use the following visuals to promote the MOOC:

 

Behind the MOOC

CROPS is an EU-funded Horizon Europe project that will help citizen science projects grow and have a greater impact across Europe. The project will identify citizen science initiatives with the potential to expand their impact across the 5 EU Missions — Climate Change Adaptation; Cancer; Healthy Oceans and Seas; Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities; and Soil Health — and develop practical tools, protocols, and strategies to support the expansion of these initiatives. By connecting research with society, CROPS aims to tackle major challenges and contribute to Horizon Europe’s vision of open, impactful innovation.

Scientix®, the community for science education in Europe, promotes and supports a Europe-wide collaboration among STEM teachers, education researchers, policymakers and other STEM education professionals.

European Schoolnet (EUN) is the network of 30+ European Ministries of Education, based in Brussels. EUN aims to bring innovation in teaching and learning to its key stakeholders: Ministries of Education, schools, teachers, researchers, and industry partners.

 

Disclaimer

Funded by the European UnionProject funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the granting authority (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. This MOOC is also supported by Scientix®, an initiative of European Schoolnet®.