ULALABS at ECSA 2026: Exploring Participation, Co Creation, and Citizen Generated Knowledge

On March 4, Karin Eliasson had the opportunity to represent ULALABS at the 6th European Citizen Science Association (ECSA) Conference, hosted at the University of Oulu from 3–6 March 2026. The conference, themed Citizen Science between Centre and Periphery, brought together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and community organisations to explore how citizen science reshapes knowledge production and decision‑making across diverse regions.

In Karin’s presentation, “Co‑creation and Co‑learning for Resilient and Sustainable Urban Areas,” she shared insights from the work in ULALABS and GreenInCities, focusing on how participation unfolds within publicly governed Living Labs. Drawing on experiences from several European cities, a research team from Linköping University, engaged in ULALABS, examined who participates, how participatory arenas are structured, and why participation is mobilised in urban greening and climate adaptation processes.

The results show that Living Labs operate as negotiated spaces, where municipalities, citizens, intermediaries, technical partners, and often schools co‑shape problem framings and design ideas. Yet, decision‑making often remains bounded by municipal rules, timelines, and feasibility constraints. The findings highlight both the potential and limitations of participatory approaches in delivering inclusive and sustainable urban transformations.

The presentation was part of the panel “From Source to System: Participatory Mapping and Monitoring for Equitable Science”, convened by Aziza Baubekova (University of Oulu) and Silviya Korpilo (University of Helsinki). The panel explored how citizen science and participatory mapping enable environmental monitoring in under‑studied or under‑monitored areas, an issue closely connected to climate resilience and equitable planning. Discussions centred on how mobile tools, low‑cost sensors, and community‑led observation are expanding who can generate data; the importance of data ethics, quality, and inclusivity; how participatory approaches can bridge scientific, geographic, and cultural divides; and power distribution in projects involving citizens, researchers and public sector.

These conversations resonated strongly with the ULALABS mission: building shared, interconnected infrastructures that empower diverse communities to co‑create knowledge for sustainable urban development.