BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//pretalx//ifkw.rz.tu-bs.de//citizen-science-communication-trust-20 26//speaker//H7Q39E BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:CET BEGIN:STANDARD DTSTART:20001029T040000 RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYDAY=-1SU;BYMONTH=10 TZNAME:CET TZOFFSETFROM:+0200 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20000326T030000 RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYDAY=-1SU;BYMONTH=3 TZNAME:CEST TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0200 END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT UID:pretalx-citizen-science-communication-trust-2026-HSGJK9@ifkw.rz.tu-bs.d e DTSTART;TZID=CET:20261005T133000 DTEND;TZID=CET:20261005T134500 DESCRIPTION:Background:\nCardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. Individuals with lower income or experiencing financia l hardship face a significantly higher risk of developing CVD. However\, t here is a lack of in-depth insight into their experiences with CVD\, and s pecific attention to women is essential. It is difficult to gain in-depth insight into experiences with financial hardship if you have not experienc ed this yourself. Moreover\, people with financial hardship do not always trust institutions and professional scientists enough to participate in re search and share their full story. Citizen science with people with this l ived experience gives the opportunity to build knowledge on cardiovascular health among people experiencing financial hardship.\nIn the “In a Hear tbeat” project\, nine citizen scientists with lived experience and five professional scientists work together as equal partners. The presenter\, a certified expert by experience\, is also the first author of the peer-rev iewed study protocol\, marking a milestone in recognizing citizen science and experiential knowledge as equally valued sources of knowledge and poss ibilities for growth for the citizen scientists and professional scientist s.\n\nObjective:\nThe study aims to understand the relationship between CV D and financial hardship to enable earlier recognition and prevention amon g both women and men.\nIn our citizen science study\, we unravel the mecha nisms and contexts through which financial problems lead to the developmen t and late recognition of CVD.\n\nThis contribution focuses on the communi cative and relational dimensions: the role of citizen scientists—includi ng as co-project leader and first author—and how trust\, reciprocity\, l anguage choices\, and shared ownership/authorship shape participation and confidence in science.\n\nMethods:\nThe project builds on a long-term coll aboration with 8 of the 9 citizen scientists (in a citizen advisory group in the Netherlands) where mutual trust grew\, leading members to “climb the participation ladder” to become co-researchers.\nAdditionally\, a ce rtified expert by experience (the presenter of this abstract) became inter ested in doing citizen science in the area of women’s health and heart d isease. A funding call for citizen science in cardiovascular health allowe d us to work together with this team of nine citizen scientists and five p rofessional scientists.\nThe main data are collected through qualitative l ifeline interviews conducted in duos (citizen–professional)\, where shar ed lived experience helps with gaining trust and openness of interviewees. \nWeekly meetings utilize methods like photo elicitation\, design thinking \, and a dynamic learning agenda. We deliberately invest in accessible lan guage and regular evaluations that explicitly address issues of trust\, po wer\, recognition\, and safety.\n\nResults:\nData collection through quali tative lifeline interviews began in November 2025 and is expected to end b y mid-2026. Consequently\, some preliminary results about financial hardsh ip and cardiovascular health will be shared during the symposium. Furtherm ore\, by the time of the conference\, we will have completed four rounds o f individual and group evaluations with both the citizen scientists and pr ofessional scientists. Based on these evaluations\, and enriched by the li ved experiences and stories of the presenting author—a certified expert by experience—we will share insights into the citizen science process. W e will focus on how trust\, participation\, and inclusive communication we re fostered within this collaborative partnership\, highlighting both succ esses and practical challenges.\n\nConclusions:\nToward the end of the stu dy in 2027\, the project will yield concrete recommendations for individua ls experiencing financial hardship\, health and social professionals\, hea lth promoters\, and policymakers to improve the early recognition and prev ention of CVD. In all our analyses and recommendations\, we will consider sex and gender differences. Our study could eventually contribute to a red uction in health inequalities.\nSimultaneously\, the project offers deep i nsights into how participatory research can strengthen the bond between ci tizens and science\, specifically when working with communities that often have low trust in institutional research.\nWe will share lessons on which communication strategies\, support structures\, and authorship practices —such as the milestone of a citizen scientist serving as first author— allow individuals in vulnerable situations to participate meaningfully and safely as knowledge producers in their own right. By presenting these exp eriences at the PCST Symposium\, we aim to foster a dialogue on how inclus ive science communication can build trust and equity with communities that usually remain unheard.\nWe intend to leave room for audience questions a nd discussion\, enabling a collaborative learning experience during the se ssion. DTSTAMP:20260721T202342Z LOCATION:Tagungsraum SUMMARY:Building knowledge on cardiovascular health and financial hardship: experiences of a citizen scientist - Gera Nagelhout\, Dagmar Niewold URL:https://ifkw.rz.tu-bs.de/citizen-science-communication-trust-2026/talk/ HSGJK9/ END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR