Citizen Science Incubator
Expanding NC State's research capacity by helping design and launch participatory sciences projects in pursuit of new discoveries
What research is possible in your field with hundreds, or thousands, of volunteers?
Application for the Fall 2026 Incubator has closed. Recipients will be notified soon.
The incubator moves cohorts through a series of four workshops and consultations, into the researcher community of practice. We provide small project supply funds to help project leaders pilot test, beta test, and launch their projects.
Citizen science and other participatory sciences are a range of approaches in which science and society co-produce new knowledge. Many disciplines do citizen science a little differently, and the incubator helps researchers design effective ways to gather data for complex and widespread challenges.
Projects from each cohort receive priority for being featured in our signature partnership programs, including:
- The Pack Science Challenge
- Wicked Problems, Wolfpack Solutions
- SciStarter’s Citizen Science Month
- Other partners for pilot-testing your project (e.g. undergraduate courses, residential communities, student organizations, alumni communities, etc.)
Projects selected for the programs above may also receive:
- Up to $500 for purchasing project supplies
- Advertising and participant recruitment
- A custom SciStarter webpage to host the project
- Assistance from undergraduate and graduate students
Every field needs participatory science – how can you use it to advance YOUR research?
About Our Incubator Workshop Series
This series of four workshops is offered exclusively to applicants selected to be part of a Citizen Science Incubator cohort. If selected, applicants are required to attend all four workshops to receive training, and consultative support for launching their participatory science project at NC State.
Lunch provided at each workshop. Workshops occur sequentially across four weeks.
After completion of this workshop series, participants are invited to join our Citizen Science Community of Practice. This group meets approximately every three months to check in, revisit timelines & project management, and get support from Citizen Science Campus through pilot testing, beta testing, and recruitment.
Workshop 1
Project Design & Protocol Development
Project Design & Protocol Development
This workshop is structured to assist with developing research questions that are appropriate for citizen science engagement, designing participatory methods and volunteer tasks, and estimating “who” and “how many” participants are needed for your citizen science project.
Workshop 2
Data Ethics: Sharing & Reporting Data
Data Ethics: Sharing & Reporting Data
Gain clarity on citizen science data ethics and your obligations to both science and participants within the context of your project. Together we’ll work through plans for data integrity and draft ideas for report-outs and report-backs to participants.
Workshop 3
Evaluation & Assessment of Project Outcomes
Evaluation & Assessment of Project Outcomes
In this workshop we’ll discuss how to recruit and engage community participants. Consider – why would someone want to voluntarily participate in your project? We’ll also integrate evaluation and assessments into report backs
Workshop 4
Launching, Partnerships, & Resources
Launching, Partnerships, & Resources
Together we’ll workshop launching the “large-scale” vision of your citizen science project. In addition to guidance on branding and graphic development, you’ll create a timeline that works backwards from your ideal launch date, covering elements like beta-testing, web development, data collection protocols, training, report-back plans and communication, partnerships, and volunteer management.
Spring 2026 Incubator Cohort
2025 Incubator Cohort
2024 Incubator Cohort
Citizen Science Incubator is supported by NC State University Libraries
