Participatory approaches and citizen science -

Participatory approaches and citizen science

UMMISCO develops models to describe, understand, and explore the evolution of complex socio-environmental systems. In recent years, increasing attention has been given to the participation of stakeholders and citizens in these processes, whether in model design, their use, or the exploration of the scenarios they produce. The theme “Participatory Approaches and Citizen Science” is part of this evolution. It aims to better integrate non-scientific actors into modeling processes and to turn models into tools for dialogue, mediation, and co-construction. These participatory approaches represent a key lever for sustainability science by fostering genuinely transdisciplinary approaches. In this context, models are no longer only analytical tools but become shared objects used to discuss, negotiate, and build common visions. They support activities such as mediation, training, consultation, and foresight, by explicitly integrating interactions between social, environmental, and decision-making dynamics.

Scientific objectives

Complex socio-environmental systems

Simulations for gamification and serious games

Coupling modeling with virtual and augmented reality

Citizen science and data acquisition

Complex socio-environmental systems

Simulations for gamification and serious games

Coupling modeling with virtual and augmented reality

Citizen science and data acquisition

Scientific challenges

Participatory approaches applied to modeling—whether participatory modeling, interactive simulations, or serious games—have been made possible by advances in simulation platforms, particularly agent-based ones. However, they remain relatively underdeveloped. Their design requires specific skills at the intersection of modeling, social sciences, interaction design, and scientific mediation. Moreover, these approaches cover a wide range of situations: awareness-raising, knowledge production, scenario co-construction, or decision support, involving diverse audiences (citizens, experts, decision-makers) with varying levels of engagement and roles.

These challenges highlight two major barriers to the development of the theme: – the design of participatory systems adapted to specific objectives and audiences; – the methodological implementation of these systems (organization of interactions, collection and use of contributions, integration with models). To address these issues, the theme emphasizes the development of interfaces that facilitate interaction between users and models. These interfaces must enable non-specialists to appropriate simulations, while also allowing them to actively contribute to their exploration by influencing scenarios and generating data, particularly qualitative data (behaviors, decisions, perceptions).

Finally, visualization and interaction represent a third central challenge. Simulation visualization is often the main entry point for understanding model dynamics (spatio-temporal structures, emergent phenomena, collective behaviors). The theme therefore explores the contributions of modern visualization environments (interactive 2D/3D interfaces, immersive environments, tangible interfaces), as well as abstraction and synthesis mechanisms. The objective is to design adaptive interfaces capable of adjusting to user profiles (age, culture, expertise) and facilitating a transition from observer to active participant in model exploration.

Applications

Gamification and serious games.

Tangible interfaces

Virtual and augmented reality

Gamification and serious games.

Tangible interfaces

Virtual and augmented reality

Activities

Complementing the unit's cross-disciplinary activities, this theme aims to structure and strengthen collaborations around participatory and transdisciplinary approaches.
In particular, it relies on partnerships with specialized players, such as the Learning Planet Institute (LPI) and the MIT Media Lab's CityScience team, with whom collaborations have already been initiated (projects, training courses, workshops). These partnerships combine scientific expertise, educational innovation and civic commitment.
The theme also encourages the development of collaborative projects, the organization of workshops and training courses, and the dissemination of innovative methodologies to academic and institutional partners and local communities.