Welcome to a new episode of The ScienceUs Podcast, a series that explores how everyday observations become valuable data, and how collaboration between citizens and researchers helps tackle real-world challenges.

In this episode, we speak with Lucrina Ștefănescu about EcoVoce, a citizen science project in Romania that empowered local communities to document and monitor environmental issues in former mining regions. Using a mobile app and digital mapping tools, residents recorded illegal dumping, water pollution, and other long-standing ecological challenges, transforming everyday observations into valuable data that supports research and environmental action.

Together, we discuss how EcoVoce has helped reshape who gets to observe, record, and respond to environmental problems, the role of citizen science in amplifying community voices, and why inclusive participation is essential for more informed environmental decision-making.

Learn more:

EcoVoce: https://ecovoce.granturi.ubbcluj.ro/en/

ScienceUs: https://scienceus-project.eu/

The ScienceUs Podcast is part of the ScienceUs project, a Horizon Europe initiative funded by the European Union. ScienceUs supports citizen science projects across Europe, helping communities and researchers collaborate on solutions to climate adaptation challenges.

Follow us for more stories and insights from citizen science initiatives across Europe.