Building Knowledge Together: Citizen Science, Communication, and Trust | 5 - 6 October 2026, Berlin

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most urgent global health threats, demanding not only scientific innovation but also meaningful public engagement and trust in science. Addressing this challenge depends on informed and engaged citizens who understand both the risks and the scientific processes through which antimicrobial discovery is produced. In this context, citizen science initiatives offer a promising strategy by directly involving participants in reserach processes, thereby connecting knowledge production, learning and engagement (1,2).
MicroMundo@UPorto (1) is part of a global citizen science initiative that engages school and university students in the discovery of antimicrobial-producing microorganisms from environmental samples. Grounded in a service-learning framework, the project combines research, education, and community engagement, positioning students as contributors to a real-world scientific challenge while developing scientific and transversal competences. Participants are involved in real research workflows, including soil sampling, microbial isolation, and screening for antimicrobial activity, providing hands-on experience and direct engagement with scientific practices.
Since 2018, more than 500 students have contributed to the collection and analysis of 1200 environmental isolates, 80 of which showed antimicrobial activity. Among these isolates, one particularly promising strain is currently under in-depth investigation due to its broad-spectrum activity against clinically relevant pathogens, highlighting the potential of citizen science to generate scientifically relevant data that can contribute to antimicrobial discovery and innovation pipelines. Moreover, by directly involving participants in research practices, such initiatives can reduce the perceived distance between science and society, promote transparency, and position participants as active contributors rather than passive recipients of knowledge.
We propose an interactive 60-minute workshop that immerses participants in a simplified version of the MicroMundo discovery pipeline, positioning them as citizen scientists engaged in the search for new antibiotics. Working in small groups, participants will take on the role of researchers, engaging in hands-on activities that simulate key stages of the discovery process—from soil sampling to the interpretation of antibiosis assays. Through problem-solving and real-time decision-making, they will experience how scientific knowledge is generated and evaluated in practice, supported by real examples from the project. Beyond the experimental activities, the workshop will also create space for reflection on how citizen science can contribute to addressing complex societal challenges such as AMR. Participants will critically explore how participatory approaches mobilize diverse forms of knowledge and actors, and how these processes shape learning, engagement, and science communication in real-world contexts.
In particular, the session invites participants to reflect on how trust in science may emerge through direct engagement with scientific practices, including processes of experimentation, uncertainty and interpretation. By experiencing how knowledge is produced, evaluated, and discussed, participants are encouraged to consider trust as a relational and situated process shaped through participation and transparency.
By translating an ongoing citizen science initiative into an immersive, participatory experience, this workshop demonstrates how scientific research processes can be integrated into science communication and engagement practices. It offers participants a concrete and adaptable approach to designing initiatives that connect scientific knowledge production with public engagement, particularly when addressing complex societal challenges such as AMR.