Online Course on Citizen Science in Global Health
SPHERE Project launches an inclusive online course on Citizen Science in Global Health, running from February to June 2026. This initiative responds to the growing need for inclusive, participatory research approaches in Global Health.
About the course
The course consists of 10 free online lessons, held twice a month on the second and fourth Fridays from 3:00 to 4:30 PM (CET), totaling 15 hours of training. It combines expert-led lectures with real-world case studies presented by practitioners from academic and non-academic sectors.
Each session features an internationally recognized expert followed by a 15-minute presentation from a guest speaker sharing direct experience in citizen science projects, enriching the course with concrete examples and best practices.
Schedule
- I. Introduction to Citizen Science
- Friday, 13 Feb 2026 - 3:00–4:30 PM (CET): Introduction to Citizen Science. Teacher: Muki Haklay, Team Lead Citizen Science and ECS Academy
- Friday, 27 Feb 2026 - 3:00–4:30 PM (CET): Citizen engagement. Teacher: Andrea Sforzi, President of Citizen Science Italia Association
- II. Social Aspects of Citizen Science
- Friday, 13 Mar 2026 - 3:00–4:30 PM (CET): Open data and data ethics in Citizen Science. Teacher: Gefion Thuermer, Freelance Research Consultant and Research Fellow at King's College London
- Friday, 27 Mar 2026 - 3:00–4:30 PM (CET): Impact Assessment and Social Inclusion in Citizen Science. Teacher: Antonella Passani, Partner and Head of Research at T6 Ecosystems
- III. Methods and Tools for Citizen Science
- Friday, 10 Apr 2026 - 3:00–4:30 PM (CET): Technologies and Citizen Science. Teacher: Fermín Serrano Sanz, research and project management of Ibercivis Foundation
- Friday, 24 Apr 2026 - 3:00–4:30 PM (CET): Ensuring Data Quality in Citizen Science. Teacher: Jaume Piera Fernández, research group leader of Environmental and Sustainability Participatory Information Systems at the Institute of Marine Sciences
- IV. Citizen Science for Global Health
- Friday, 8 May 2026 - 3:00–4:30 PM (CET): Agri-food and Citizen Science. Teacher: Laurent Hazard, Directeur UMR AGIR (AGroécologie, Innovations et teRritoires)
- Friday, 22 May 2026 - 3:00–4:30 PM (CET): Environmental Citizen Science. Teacher: Diego Casado Mansilla, Faculty of Engineering of the University of Deusto
- Friday, 12 Jun 2026 - 3:00–4:30 PM (CET): Patient-based citizen science. Teacher: Maya Fedeli, Citizen Science & EU project communication officer of the Vita-Salute San Raffaele University
- V. Writing and Publishing in Citizen Science
- Friday, 26 Jun 2026 - 3:00–4:30 PM (CET): Writing and publishing in Citizen Science. Teacher: Norbert Steinhaus, founder WILA - Bonn Science Shop
Accessibility and Inclusion
In line with WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), the course is designed to ensure learning materials and online delivery are accessible, perceivable, understandable, and usable for all participants. Live sessions will be recorded and made available for asynchronous access to support different learning needs and schedules.
Target Audience
The course is open to the UNITA academic community, including:
- Master, Professional Degree, and PhD students
- Researchers and teaching staff
- Technical and administrative staff
- Non-academic partners and members of the wider international scientific community
Certification
Participants who attend at least 6 of the 10 sessions and complete the required activities will receive a digital Open Badge issued by BESTR, certifying their competencies in Citizen Science and Global Health.
Registration
Applications will be submitted via a Google Form distributed through UNITA institutional channels. It is also possible to attend individual sessions without obtaining the Open Badge. The language of instruction is English.
Registration opens: 21 January 2026
Registration closes: 10 February 2026
Click here to register
Updated information: https://www.clinbio.unito.it/do/avvisi.pl/Show?_id=ud9d
Contact: sphere@unito.it