EUSEA - EUROPAISCHE GESELLSCHAFT FUR WISSENSCHAFTSVERANSTALTUNGEN

Their core work

EUSEA is the European Science Events Association, a Vienna-based network organization that helps research institutions engage the public with science. They specialize in designing and evaluating participatory formats — from science festivals to citizen science campaigns — that bring researchers and citizens together. Their practical contribution to EU projects centers on public engagement strategy, event design, outreach coordination, and building frameworks for responsible research and innovation (RRI) across institutions.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their earlier projects (2015–2018), EUSEA focused on foundational public engagement — how universities communicate science, how to reach young people through arts and performance, and how governance structures support societal engagement. From 2020 onward, their work shifted decisively toward institutional transformation: embedding open science, citizen science, and RRI into organizational DNA, with explicit attention to gender, ethics, and open access. The trajectory moves from "how do we engage the public?" to "how do we change research institutions so engagement becomes the default?"

EUSEA is moving from event-based public engagement toward systemic institutional reform for open and responsible science, making them increasingly relevant for projects requiring genuine citizen participation frameworks.

How they like to work

EUSEA always participates as a partner, never as coordinator — they bring specialized engagement and dissemination expertise to consortia led by others. With 57 unique partners across 22 countries in just 5 projects, they work in large, diverse consortia rather than small focused teams. This broad network and consistent partner role suggest they are a trusted "go-to" organization when a consortium needs a credible public engagement and science events partner.

Remarkably wide network for a small association: 57 unique partners across 22 countries from just 5 projects. Their reach spans most of the EU, indicating they are well-connected across European research and science communication communities.

What sets them apart

EUSEA is not a research institute — it is the membership association for science event organizers across Europe, giving it unmatched access to on-the-ground public engagement infrastructure in dozens of countries. Where most partners offer expertise in a scientific domain, EUSEA offers the methodology and networks to bring that science to citizens at scale. For any consortium needing genuine public participation (not just a dissemination checkbox), EUSEA brings both the know-how and the pan-European event network to deliver.

Highlights from their portfolio

• STEP CHANGE
  Their most recent and ambitious project — citizen science across three major societal challenges (health, conservation, energy) with RRI integration, signaling their current strategic direction.
• PERFORM
  Unique approach combining performing arts with science education for secondary school students — demonstrates creative, non-traditional engagement methods.
• NUCLEUS
  Their first H2020 project and longest-running (4 years), focused on transforming how universities approach public engagement — foundational to their later institutional change work.