The civic science platform iesaisties.lv receives European-level recognition
On 12 June 2024, the winners of the European Union Citizen Science Award were announced. For the first time, recognition was also given to a project from the Baltics – the digital citizen science platform iesaisties.lv of the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art of the University of Latvia (ILFA). The platform invites public participation in citizen science initiatives in the humanities and cultural heritage fields – from exploring and discovering new knowledge together with researchers to contributing through activities such as manuscript transcription, fact-checking, or sharing personal experience and knowledge.
The international jury, composed of leading experts in citizen science, emphasized:
“As jury members, we reviewed numerous projects, which gave us a unique insight into the transformative potential of citizen science in shaping Europe’s future. These awards celebrate not only the achievements of individual scientists but also the collective spirit of collaboration and discovery that drives this movement forward. We commend the dedication and passion of all participants, while highlighting those projects that have reached excellence in citizen science.”
Organized for the second time with the support of the European Commission, the EU Citizen Science Award is the most important international recognition for citizen science projects. Its goal is to honor, support, and highlight outstanding initiatives that engage the public in research, innovation, and scientific creativity – empowering individuals and strengthening the citizen science community as a whole. This year, 288 projects from 49 countries were submitted. Three received the main award, and 27 – including ILFA’s project – received recognition.
Digital citizen science is one of ILFA’s strategic directions within the digital humanities. The iesaisties.lv platform encompasses numerous initiatives developed in collaboration with researchers from various humanities fields, IT specialists, artists, and communication professionals. Several initiatives have been carried out in partnership with the Latvian National Commission for UNESCO, the National Library of Latvia, the University of Latvia Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science, the Latvian Open Technology Association, and others.
Sanita Reinsone, Head of ILFA’s Digital Humanities Group and Citizen Science Projects, noted:
“This is a very important recognition of the work carried out at ILFA over the last ten years, and the greatest thanks go to the several thousand people who have responded to our call and participated in our projects. Citizen science in the digital humanities is a new research and development field requiring diverse skills and interdisciplinary collaboration. It demands not only deep knowledge of humanities and cultural heritage materials but also expertise in project design, science communication, IT development, and, crucially, daily work with enthusiastic citizen scientists of all generations. We are truly delighted that our work has been recognized internationally.”
The jury highlighted iesaisties.lv as a platform that:
“Promotes public engagement in humanities and arts research, fostering collaboration between scientists and society while safeguarding cultural heritage. It offers diverse activities – from historical manuscript transcription to creative campaigns – encouraging interdisciplinary cooperation and participation across age groups and environments. It demonstrates the potential impact and community involvement in cultural preservation, building partnerships with NGOs, media, and governmental institutions such as UNESCO.”
Edvards Francis Kuks, Head of the RIS3 Unit at the Higher Education, Science and Innovation Department of the Ministry of Education and Science, added:
“ILFA can be proud that iesaisties.lv has gained recognition not only in Latvia but also among European citizen science initiatives. Since 2020, the Ministry of Education and Science has implemented the National Research Program for the development of digital humanities, providing targeted support for maintaining and advancing Latvia’s digital resources in the humanities. The recognition awarded to ILFA confirms the international significance of digital humanities and will hopefully open new opportunities for collaboration for Latvian researchers.”
About iesaisties.lv: Ars Electronica winners page
Full list of recognized projects: Ars Electronica Citizen Science Award 2024