Citizen Science Projects in Slovakia

Beekeepers across Europe collaborate within the COLOSS consortium, where they annually report winter colony losses and investigate their causes. The results are regularly published, for example, in this article. The national coordinator for Slovakia is Róbert Chlebo from the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra.

Within the COLOSS framework, Slovak beekeepers have also joined the C.S.I. Pollen study on pollen diversity. Because bees collect nectar and pollen across large areas, they can be used as environmental bioindicators. Analysing pollen diversity, scientists can assess local biodiversity. Using APIStrips (Absorbing

Pesticides In-hive Strips), they can also detect the presence of pesticides and their concentrations in the environment.

Beekeepers are not only data collectors but also co-developers of the methods–helping refine procedures to make them effective, minimally invasive (harmless to bees), and reproducible. So far, 10 Slovak beekeepers have joined the project.

More information:

• COLOSS Project: https://coloss.org/activities/coreprojects/monitoring/
• INSIGNIA-EU Project: https://www.insignia-bee.eu/
  

The goal of the project is to map the biodiversity of the Malá Fatra National Park with the help of visitors. The project was launched on June 6th, 2022, and it has already collected over 4,000 observations through the iNaturalist platform.

You can find the project at https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/biodiverzita-narodneho-parku-mala-fatra-58884b0d-70f0-4d0b-92ae-f180d1aee9f0

Employees of the Malá Fatra National Park have created a video about the use of citizen science in their area:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktlYHqVuO_k

They also published an article about the results: https://www.npmalafatra.sk/aj-vdaka-navstevnikom-narodneho-parku-mala-fatra-sa-nam-dari-lepsie-mapovat-rastliny-a-zivocichy/

Winter bird counts at feeders, using data from the general public, have been organized by the Slovak Ornithological Society – BirdLife Slovakia in the form of Bird Watch since 2024, although it has been conducting other forms of feeder counts since 2015.

Similar to long-standing winter bird counts in other countries, volunteers across Slovakia spend one hour observing birds at feeders during a designated weekend in early January. Participants record the highest number of individual birds seen at one time for each bird species visiting the feeder or its surroundings.

The data are then submitted via an online form and contribute to tracking population trends of common wintering birds. In 2024, more than 2,500 participants recorded over 73,000 individual birds from 87 species. The great tit (Parus major) was the most frequently observed species.

More information: https://vtaciahodinka.vtaky.sk/

The Butterfly Half an Hour citizen science initiative, organized by the Czech conservation group JARO, is coming to Slovakia in 2025 thanks to the BROZ organization.

Butterflies are sensitive indicators of the health of our environment, and from May 26 to June 1, anyone interested can take part in a collective butterfly observation event. How to join:

1. Choose any outdoor location – a meadow, pasture, forest edge, garden, or park.
2. Between May 26 and June 1, 2025, spend 30 minutes observing butterflies during the day. A second summer count will take place from July 14 to July 20.
3. Observe butterflies ideally between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on a sunny day with temperatures between 20 and 30 °C.
4. Record the number and species of butterflies you see. You can use the observation form and simple identification keys available at www.motyliapolhodinka.sk, the Atlas of Slovak Butterflies (https://lepidoptera.sk/), or the iNaturalist app.
5. Submit your results (even if you didn’t see any butterflies) through the online form on www.motyliapolhodinka.sk. Even “zero” data are valuable — they help identify areas where biodiversity support is needed.

Project website:  https://skupinajaro.cz/motylia-polhodinka-sk/

A citizen science project led by the Institute of Landscape Ecology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences and the Wetlands Conservation Society – SOM Vážka. The project’s goal is to map the distribution of dragonflies (Odonata) throughout Slovakia using the iNaturalist platform.

This long-term monitoring helps better understand the aquatic ecosystems and trends of biodiversity in Slovakia.

Project’s website: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/vazky-odonata-slovenska

The Drought Monitoring project coordinated by Mgr. Katarína Mikulová, PhD, from the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute, with the help of the networks of volunteers from the field of agriculture and forestry, monitors drought (soil water deficiency) in Slovakia.

“The SHMI (SHMU) has been monitoring drought since 2017. The aim is to monitor indicators signalling the beginning of water scarcity in Slovakia. Drought monitoring is classified into several types: hydrological drought monitoring, meteorological drought monitoring, and agricultural (soil) drought monitoring. From 2017 to 2019, the SHMI was part of the DriDanube international project, Drought Risk in the Danube Region. One of its aims was to build a network of volunteers to report the drought impacts. The volunteers shall report to us weekly in a questionnaire the drought status and its effects on vegetation (crops, grapevines, fruit trees, forestry) in their cadastral area, “as Mikulová explains.

She added with a note of surprise, “I was familiar with the term citizen science, but I didn’t expect that our project could also be included in this category.”

Video: Let’s Start with Citizen Science (Drought Monitoring)

More information on the website of SHMÚ and Intersucho (FAQ).

The European BMS (Butterfly Monitoring Schemes) project has its roots in the United Kingdom. Today, with the help of volunteers, it monitors butterflies in more than 20 European countries — and since 2023, Slovakia has also been participating.

Butterflies are a suitable indicator group because the level of their diversity and trends in their abundance reveal a great deal about the state of the landscape (or the degree of insect decline). At the same time, their beauty attracts many volunteers willing to dedicate their time to the project.

The main monitoring schemes are:

1. Transect – the Pollard Walk method:
   The recorder walks along a defined route about 1 km long and notes all butterflies seen within an area approximately 5 meters ahead, 5 meters above, and 2.5 meters to each side. The transect should be visited regularly at least 10 times per season (roughly once every 1–2 weeks, depending on an individual`s availability).
2. 15-minute count:
   A single observation session that can also be carried out while on holiday or in locations that the recorder cannot visit repeatedly (although repeated visits naturally provide more information). During a 15-minute walk or while staying in one place, the recorder notes butterflies observed within an “imaginary box” — 5 meters ahead and above, and 2.5 meters to each side.
3. Night moth monitoring using an LED trap:
   This method has not yet been implemented within the project in Slovakia.

Monitoring is carried out only in suitable weather conditions (not in rain or strong winds). Observations are recorded on a monitoring sheet available for download from the project website or via the eBMS mobile application. If you are unsure about identifying a species, it is recommended to photograph the butterfly and determine it later at home using literature or by consulting an expert.

The national coordinator for BMS in Slovakia is Lucia Benešová. Those interested in contributing to butterfly mapping in Slovakia can contact her at: 📧 bms.slovensko@gmail.com

More information: https://butterfly-monitoring.net/sk/vitajte

The Slovak field guide for identifying the most common butterfly species: 

https://butterfly-monitoring.net/sites/default/files/Pdf/Field%20Guides/Slovak%20FG%20eBMS%20commonSp%20-%20Slovakv1%20final.pdf

Frog Taxi (Žabie taxi) Prietrž is a collaborative conservation initiative involving local NGOs, primary schools, and scouts from the Senica region. It operates within the school environmental programme “We’re in the Same Boat” (Sme na jednej lodi). The project helps amphibians during their spring migration, when frogs and newts move toward water bodies to breed.

Volunteers assist them to cross roads and other barriers safely. At the same time, students, scouts, and active citizens collect data on species and population numbers, creating statistics used in their scientific projects.

The data are also shared with the State Nature Conservancy of Slovakia, which uses them to propose wildlife corridors that make amphibian migration safer.

Contact: Ondrej Odokienko (odokienko.ondrej@gmail.com)

The Globe at Night project is coordinated by RNDr. Jaroslav Merc from the Slovak Astronomical Society at the Slovak Academy of Sciences.

The project is an international scientific campaign to raise public awareness of the impact of light pollution by inviting citizen scientists to measure & submit their night sky brightness observations. The project involves people from 180 countries worldwide.

In Slovakia, the project is managed by the Slovak Astronomical Society at the Slovak Academy of Sciences.

Video: Let’s Start with Citizen Science (Globe at Night)

More information: Facebook Globe at Night.

The GLOBE Program (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) is an international scientific and educational program, focused on inquiry-based learning. It provides students and the public worldwide with the opportunity to participate in data collection and the scientific process, significantly contributing to our understanding of the Earth system and the global environment.

Students, together with their teachers, can explore the area around their school through studies in meteorology, hydrology, the carbon cycle, and phenology (the natural changes, such as those in trees throughout the seasons).

In Slovakia, the GLOBE program is coordinated by the DAPHNE – Institute of Applied Ecology.

More information: https://www.globeslovakia.sk/

The Green School project is part of the international Eco-Schools programme and is implemented in Slovakia by CEEV Živica. It involves primary, secondary, and special schools across the country.

The initiative is based on the idea that environmental education should go beyond theory—it should be practised in everyday life. Within the project, the entire school community (students, teachers, non-teaching staff, parents, etc.) examines the school’s environmental impact, identifies one key issue, and works together to solve it following a structured methodology including an action plan, monitoring, public engagement, and communication activities.

Each school creates its own eco-code, and upon fulfilling the programme’s criteria, it can earn the international Green School certificate. However, the process does not end there—the goal is to make environmental awareness and participatory problem-solving a natural part of school culture.

More information: https://zivica.sk/projekt/zelena-skola/

Harvestmen (Opiliones) resemble spiders but lack venom glands and silk-spinning organs. They are often found near human dwellings, for example, on the façades of houses. They feed on organic matter such as dead insects, decaying plant parts, pollen, plant seeds, or rotting fruit. Only a few species can catch small live insects. This makes them the “cleaners” of gardens, and they are completely harmless to humans.

If you would like to help Slovak scientists Adrián Purkart and Juraj Litavský from the Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, with their research on harvestmen, you can send photographs of your observations along with location details (city, street, GPS coordinates) and the date of observation to hladamekosce@gmail.com.

More information: https://www.zahrada.sk/magazine/mate-na-fasade-domu-kosce-odfotte-ich-vedcom-a-zistite-ci-su-nebezpecne

INCREASE is an international citizen science project dedicated to agrobiodiversity – the genetic diversity of agricultural crops. Due to climate change and human land-use practices, agrobiodiversity is constantly declining.

The goal of the INCREASE project is to actively support agrobiodiversity by transferring knowledge and crop genetic variability from seed banks back into gardens — closer to people — and to create a living network for exchanging crops, starting with beans.

Citizens from across Europe can register for the project and grow various bean varieties on their balconies, fields, or in their gardens. Through the mobile application, participants — including growers from Slovakia — record information about how their bean varieties perform under local geographic conditions, when they flower, what their yield is, and other observations. Participants can also share their experiences within the community — including successes and failures, favourite recipes, and personal stories.

In 2024, the project received the European Prize for Citizen Science (https://calls.ars.electronica.art/2024/prix/winners/12961/).

More information: https://www.pulsesincrease.eu/experiment

The activity of ticks (and the risk of tick-borne diseases) is expanding compared to the past, now reaching higher altitudes and even urban areas, mainly due to changes in land use and climate change. Non-native tick species have also started to appear in Slovakia.

The InfoTick project, run by the Institute of Zoology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS), aims to map these changes with the help of volunteers and artificial intelligence. Participants can report tick occurrences and share photographs. Using these data and zoological expertise, researchers from the Institute of Informatics SAS are training an AI model to help identify tick species.

The resulting mobile application is expected to be available in 2027. Within the project, it is also possible — for a fee — to have a tick tested to determine whether it carries pathogens.

More information: https://www.infokliest.sk/

The Centre of Environmental and Ethical Education, Živica, with Ing. František Cimerman, has created an online course for teachers, “Hurá von s Pl@ntNetom.” It consists of three individual videos, showing how to engage modern technologies in outdoor teaching at primary and secondary schools, using Pl@ntNet, a mobile application to identify plants.

“I see citizen science as an opportunity to involve the citizens in scientific research or the collection of useful information and data that scientists can use in their work,” said Ing. František Cimerman.

“Although I don’t know specific projects, I do know that citizen science involves, for example, observing nesting birds, observing amphibians and reptiles, amateur astronomy, meteorological observations, phenology, or environmental monitoring,” added Ing. František Cimerman.

Video: Let’s Start with Citizen Science (Hurá von s Pl@ntNetom – Živica)

More information: Živica and Hurá von s Pl@ntnetom.

Lively Bratislava (Živá Bratislava) is a project of the DAPHNE Institute of Applied Ecology, focused on monitoring the biodiversity of Bratislava with the help of its residents through the iNaturalist platform.

Participants can participate in excursions to interesting natural areas around the city, attend webinars and challenges, and access educational materials for schools created within the project.

An overview of current biodiversity observations in Bratislava is available here: https://daphne.sk/zb/

More information: https://daphne.sk/ziva-bratislava/

A student, Alica Kubeková from the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Comenius University in Bratislava, under the supervision of zoologist Adrián Purkart, is studying the shifting habitats of the European mantis (Mantis religiosa).

This predatory insect has been found so far only in the southern regions of Slovakia, but with ongoing global warming, it is beginning to spread further north.

Scientists are tracking its progress with the help of the public.

They are collecting observation data and require a photo of the mantis (to determine its age and sex) along with the date and location of the sighting (GPS coordinates are preferred, but the name of the municipality is sufficient if coordinates are unavailable). Observers can send their data to the email address: modlivky1@gmail.com.

More information.

Mačkast® is the first Slovak podcast dedicated to sharing expert knowledge about cats with the general public.

Veterinarian Dr. Noema Gajdoš Kmecová, PhD, and her guests, interpret findings from research in feline medicine and behaviour, including practical tips on how listeners can apply these insights in their everyday lives with cats.

Through its social media profiles, Mačkast® also provides followers with useful and entertaining visual content about humankind’s best companions. Mačkast was nominated for the Falling Walls Engage 2021 Award for public engagement and was ranked among the top 50 projects worldwide.

More information at Spotify Mačkast

The conservation organization BROZ invites volunteers from the general public to help map protected butterfly species as part of the LIFE Metamorphosis project

The first species the project focuses on is the Danube Clouded Yellow (Colias myrmidone), in the Bošácka and Moravsko-Lieskovská valleys.

Volunteers can submit their observations by filling out an online form (link here) or by sending an email to: mapovanie.motylov@broz.sk.

Please note: Protected butterflies must not be captured. Only observation and photography are allowed as part of this monitoring activity.

More information: https://broz.sk/vyzva-pomozte-nam-s-mapovanim-motylov/

Since 2017, members of the AMAVET Club 962, in cooperation with various institutions — such as the Faculty of Medicine of Comenius University, the Department of Geography and Regional Development of Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, and the Faculty of Security Engineering of the University of Žilina — have been organizing several Mapathons each year.

During these events, students and volunteers from Slovakia and the Czech Republic help map parts of the world where maps are currently missing (e.g., Nigeria, Malawi, or Madagascar) using satellite imagery and the OpenStreetMap platform.

Volunteers from the mapped regions later add local names and details, ensuring that the final maps can help humanitarian organizations, such as Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) and the Red Cross, respond more effectively to disasters and plan humanitarian programs.

Slovak volunteers who learn to use OpenStreetMap during mapathons can later apply their skills in other geospatial applications or help map their local environment, improving the open map of Slovakia itself.

The collaboration of Czech and Slovak humanitarian mappers within the Facebook group “Missing Maps from Czechia and Slovakia” is described by Štampach et al. (2021).

More information:

•     Article on how AMAVET 962 members became involved in organizing mapathons
•     International Missing Maps project (since 2014)
•     OpenStreetMap – the open, collaboratively built world map
•     About the project Missing Maps

This bachelor’s project by student Lucia Glajšeková from the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, involves monitoring the occurrence of mud daubers (solitary wasps of the genus Sceliphron) across different regions of Slovakia with the help of the public.

There are six species of the genus Sceliphron found in Slovakia, two of which are not native. The distribution mapping of the non-native species is one of the project’s key goals. These wasps are not dangerous to humans. They are spider parasitoids — they capture and paralyze spiders, then carry them to their nests to serve as food for their larvae.

Mud dauber nests look like small clay pots. They can often be found near human dwellings and sometimes even indoors, especially in August, when people frequently leave their windows open.

Anyone can contribute to the research by sending their observations to Lucia Glajšeková kutavkynaslovensku@gmail.com, including:

1. Location (GPS coordinates, municipality, street name)
2. Photograph of the wasp or nest (to help determine the species)
3. If the finding is a nest, include information about its placement (interior/exterior, height, floor, etc.)

More about the project: https://vedanadosah.cvtisr.sk/priroda/biologia/lucia-glajsekova-skuma-tajomne-kutavky-pomozete-mladej-vedkyni-aj-vy/

MykoLOM is a citizen science initiative founded by Jonáš Gruska, who maps fungi and lichens in the Petržalka district using the iNaturalist platform. MykoLOM is both a web platform and a festival (organized under the patronage of the Slovak Mycological Society) that connects scientific, amateur, and artistic communities.

Its goal is to raise public awareness about the world of fungi and to foster new connections between artists, innovators, and mycologists. The project explores fungi, their environmental roles, and their relationships to art, medicine, food, and biodegradable materials.

Simona Špačková from the Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, involves the general public in the research on blindworms (Anguis fragilis).

Blindworms are legless lizards, not snakes. They are harmless to humans and can actually help maintain natural balance by regulating populations of slugs and snails, which are often considered garden pests.

Anyone who spots a slow worm in their garden or during a walk is invited to send a photograph of the animal along with the location details (city, street, or GPS coordinates) and the date of observation to slepuchy@gmail.com.

More information: Instagram post

The mapping of Orthoptera (grasshoppers and crickets) in Slovakia is a long-term citizen science project led by Anton Krištín from the Institute of Forest Ecology in Zvolen.

Through the project website and a dedicated Facebook group, citizens can share their observations, get help identifying species, and learn more about these fascinating insects. The collected data contribute to a comprehensive picture of Orthoptera distribution across Slovakia and help scientists track the impacts of climate change on ecosystems.

As A. Krištín explains: “Human activity is changing our environment, and these changes need to be recorded over time. Insects are sensitive bioindicators of such changes, and Orthoptera (grasshoppers and crickets) are among the key indicators even in small areas. Scientists cannot be everywhere—that’s why the help of the public is essential in documenting this attractive insect group and the state of Slovak habitats.”

Since 1994, Orthoptera species have been mapped in Slovakia, and since 2006, with the help of the public. The project´s results are regularly updated on the website: Mapping of crickets, grasshoppers, and their allies in Slovakia.

With the help of the public, new species have been discovered in Slovakia, and the level of knowledge about the distribution of rare, European significant, and common species and their habitats has significantly advanced.

More information: http://www.orthoptera.sk/

The Populair Project (LIFE IP–Improving Air Quality) brings citizen science activities not only to the general public but also directly to schools. The school activities aim to engage students in practical investigations of factors that influence the air quality in their surroundings, and to develop their understanding of the links between emissions from transport and household heating and their impact on the environment.

As part of the “Walk to School” campaign, students focus on mapping traffic conditions around their school. The goal is to ensure safe travel to school for children, reduce the intensity of car traffic, promote sustainable modes of transport, and improve air quality in the immediate vicinity of schools.

One of the activities within this campaign is the short-term measurement of particulate matter (PM) concentrations using portable measuring devices. These measurements complement traffic observations, allowing students to compare measured values with real-life environmental conditions.

The number and types of vehicles passing near the school can be recorded using the Telraam S2 traffic monitoring device or through manual counting. These data can then be used to indirectly estimate nitrogen oxide (NOx) concentrations by recalculating according to emission factors, and serve as a basis for discussions about traffic load and air quality.

In connection with the energy performance of buildings and emissions from heating, a thermal camera can be used to detect heat losses and recommend measures to improve energy efficiency. By using a moisture meter, students can determine the humidity of firewood, which should not exceed 20% to reduce emissions from local heating sources.

In the past, the project carried out a month-long nitrogen oxide (NOx) measurement campaign, during which upper primary school students and lower-grade grammar school students installed passive samplers in their local areas to monitor changes in air quality. After the measurement period, the tubes were collected and sent to a laboratory in the Netherlands for analysis, providing students with valuable hands-on experience in environmental monitoring.

More information: www.populair.sk and www.dnesdycham.sk

The Radon GPS Project, part of the wider European RadoNorm network, is a collaborative effort between the NatuRadon civic association, the Regional Public Health Authority in Banská Bystrica, and the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava.

The project aims to:

1. Foster collaboration between citizens interested in measuring indoor radon levels in their homes and future construction professionals (students). The goal is to address citizens’ questions about radon mitigation measures and to create an open-access database of projects focused on corrective anti-radon interventions.
2. Compare short-term (2-week) and long-term (3-month) radon measurements in homes across municipalities near Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, and involve secondary construction school students in designing customized mitigation solutions for houses with high radon concentrations.

More information: https://www.radonorm.eu/activities/radonorm-citizen-science/

The State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic calls on citizens to report any sightings of the Asian hornet (Vespa velutina), an invasive species spreading across Europe. The first confirmed individuals and nests were already recorded in Slovakia in 2024.

The Asian hornet poses a threat to pollinators and beekeepers (it attacks and feeds on bees and other smaller insects), fruit growers (it damages fruit by feeding on it), and represents a potential risk for allergy sufferers.

The Asian hornet is slightly smaller than the European hornet (Vespa crabro). It has distinctly yellow legs, and its head and thorax are mostly black, with a broad orange band on the abdomen. A visual guide on how to distinguish the two species can be found here: https://invaznedruhy.sopsr.sk/srsen-azijsky-vespa…/.

Citizens who discover a hornet nest should never attempt to remove it themselves. Instead, they should contact experts from the State Nature Conservancy, who have specific procedures for safe removal.

Sightings can be reported through the Rapid Alert System:
 https://invaznedruhy.sopsr.sk/system-rychleho-varovania/

More information: https://www.sopsr.sk/web/?cl=20990

The Facebook group, Lienky Slovenska (Slovak Ladybirds), was founded by a Slovak scientist, Sandra Viglášová, during her doctoral study at the Institute of Forest Ecology, the SAS in Zvolen. It was focused on the ecology of ladybirds.

Between 2015 and 2017, using citizen science methods and the help of fans, she obtained data on the occurrence of various ladybird species in Slovakia, their abundance, and population dynamics.

Thanks to the samples sent by community members, she confirmed the occurrence of the fungal ectoparasite Hespesomyces virescens on the harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) for the first time in Slovakia. She and her foreign colleagues published this information in the BioControl journal (Haelewaters et al. 2017).

Sandra Viglášová also co-created an international application – European Ladybirds (with Jiří Skohrovec and Karolis Kazlaukis, under the supervision of Dr Helen Roy from the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, UK), thanks to which the application with the names and characteristics of European Ladybirds is also available in the Slovak language.

People can use the application to learn to identify ladybird species found in Europe. Furthermore, scientists can use the data obtained by citizens to monitor the population of European species and the spread of non-native ladybird species (such as the harlequin ladybird).

More information: the European Ladybirds project.

Slovak Flora is a project of the Slovak Botanical Society at the Slovak Academy of Sciences, hosted on the iNaturalist platform. It was inspired by the Czech Flora project of the Czech Botanical Society and initiated by Adam Kantor. The project administrators are professional botanists from Slovak research institutions.

With the help of volunteers, the project collects data on the distribution of wild and naturalized vascular plants across Slovakia; all data are documented with a photograph and location coordinates.

As of April 2024, the project has 52 members and approximately 4,700 observations. Both experts and amateurs are welcome to join, but observations must meet the quality criteria defined on the project webpage.

More information: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/slovenska-flora-projekt-slovenskej-botanickej-spolocnosti?tab=about

The Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (BMC SAV) is conducting a preliminary study focused on viruses infecting non-native plant species in Slovakia. The goal is to contribute to the protection of agricultural production and biodiversity.

Researchers have already identified several plant virus species previously not recorded in Slovakia.

A BMC team, led by Assoc. Prof. Miroslav Glasa, has long been studying plant virus diversity. They utilise the collected data to develop and optimize diagnostic methods and carry out epidemiological analyses.

The project also invites public participation—anyone can contribute to new findings on plant viruses by sending leaf samples of introduced or ornamental plants (such as fig trees) by mail.

More information: http://www.biomedcentrum.sav.sk/hladame-virusy-nepovodnych-rastlin-aby-sme-chranili-nase-ekosystemy/

White Stork–the Eco-educational Program was founded by RNDr. Miroslav Fulín, CSc from the School of Nature Protection in Varín.

Since 1976, M. Fulín has been developing a network of voluntary observers who report the presence and nesting of white storks in villages all over Slovakia. Thanks to the project database, the population trends of this species are known, and the eco-educational dimension of the project, in cooperation with schools, museums, and the State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic, helps spread awareness and implement measures to protect storks.

As Mr. Fulín explains, “I don’t use the term citizen science, but now, after you contacted me, I accept that it captures the essence. When we involve lay people in research, we can achieve that they will gradually become specialists able to compete or cooperate with a professional, an expert in the given field.”

He also adds, “Every year, during the scientific research of birds at the Drienovec Ornithological Centre, the ringers welcome participation and help from young people, some of whom, although not zoologists, have now become equal ringers–ornithologists.”

Video: Let’s Start with Citizen Science (Bocian/White Stork)

More information: Škola ochrany prírody Varín a Bociany.

A common Czech and Slovak project monitors the wild cat. The project is a cross-border collaboration of the National ZOO in Bojnice, the Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, and the Hnutí DUHA organization in Olomouc (Friends of the Earth Czech Republic in Olomouc).

The scientists were looking for the wild cat using camera traps and „fur traps “— wooden sticks covered with glue at some places and scented with a smell attractive to cats. Cats tend to rub against such an object and leave some fur that scientists can analyse in the lab. They can verify whether the cat is a wild cat (when identified based on camera traps, wild cats can be confused with domestic cats or crossbreeds of a domestic and wild cat) and map the genetic diversity of the population.

If citizens have seen a wild cat in the wild or have found a specimen with the signs of a wild cat hit by a car on the road, they can contribute to the project and report their sighting through a web form or write an email to this address: stopy@selmy.cz

More information: https://www.kockadivoka.cz/

The Winter Waterbird Census project is coordinated by RNDr. Michal Baláž, PhD. (the Slovak Ornithological Society/BirdLife Slovakia). The project uses an extensive network of volunteers to establish the number and species composition of waterbird populations in Slovakia in winter.

Ornithology has traditionally been a strong discipline for citizen science. Birdwatching is an appealing activity, attracting people’s attention for a long time.

A large group of amateur bird lovers, willing to engage in practical scientific and conservation activities, realised that it is necessary to know the life of birds to set effective measures and conditions for the protection of rare species.

Video: Let’s Start with Citizen Science (Winter Waterbird Census)

More information about Winter census.

Since 2002, the Czech organization Hnutí DUHA – Šelmy has been organizing field monitoring of large carnivores through Wolf and Lynx Patrols, involving numerous volunteers from both the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In 2024, the initiative received an honourable mention in the European Citizen Science Prize.

The Hnutí DUHA – Šelmy organisation, part of a nationwide Czech NGO, has been systematically engaged in large carnivore conservation since 1999. Instead of costly reintroductions, it promotes the natural return of wolves, lynx, and bears to the landscape. These top predators are key species that help maintain ecological balance, but their survival is threatened by poaching, habitat fragmentation, and negative public perception.

Throughout the year, volunteers take part in field patrols across carnivore habitats, tracking their movements and collecting important data on their ecology. Participants from Slovakia regularly join these patrols, including introductory training sessions and weekend field events.

The project also collaborates with protected area administrations and Slovak NGOs such as Carpathian Wilderness (o.z. Karpatská divočina) and Fatra Association (o.z. Fatranský spolok), especially in the Western Carpathians.

More information: https://www.selmy.cz/co-delame/vlci-rysi-hlidky/

The nationwide natural sciences competition BARS connects high school student teams (three students and one adult mentor) with the world of science through a unique multidisciplinary approach. Participants tackle open-ended questions related not only to the natural sciences but also to societal issues. The competition also includes a practical component, in which students improve their local environment (e.g., tree planting). The main organizer of the competition is Peter Vršanský (Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences).

The word “bars” is an ancient Proto-Turkic term for a leopard or a large feline predator, and refers to the natural habitats of the snow leopard–the goal destinations of the expeditions that the competition winners have the opportunity to join. Winners are selected from among those who best answered the assigned questions during a final training camp, where they demonstrate not only knowledge but also the physical fitness and practical skills necessary to succeed in a field setting.

The winning team participates in an expedition to India or another exclusive UNESCO area, where the team members work with local researchers and students to address real research questions, search for fossils in the field, and, after analysing the collected data, may become co-authors of scientific publications resulting from the research.

More information about the competition: https://www.sav.sk/?lang=sk&doc=services-news&source_no=20&news_no=11696

The Civic Association Stromosvet (Ing. Alena Vaľková) has become a Slovak partner of the City Nature Challenge project. 2021 was the first year of the challenge in Bratislava to discover wildlife in the city (the app iNaturalist).

“Citizen Science means engaging citizens in collecting data for scientists. In the City Nature Challenge project, city residents document and share their observations of wildlife, plants, animals, or other organisms, thus creating data for biodiversity research,” explains Alena Vaľková.

Comparing the situation in Slovakia and abroad, she adds: “I am aware of some citizen science projects in Slovakia, but when compared with, e.g., the Czech Republic, there are not many yet.”

Video: Let’s Start with Citizen Science (Stromosvet)

More information: Stromosvet, iNaturalist, City Nature Challenge (SK), City Nature Challenge.

The Beagle project was led by RNDr. Jana Šimonovičová, PhD. (the Slovak Environment Agency). Beagle was a project focused on documenting phenophases of certain trees by primary school pupils and overlapping with climate change issues.

Beagle, an online project for biological diversity available to all schools in Europe, was launched on February 15th, 2010. Participants chose one or more trees to monitor throughout the year. They entered the records about the tree phenophases, along with documentation on the Beagle project website. They later compared their results with those of other schools and found out how the results in different European countries differed.

“For the project to work, it is necessary to have a good team: colleagues who are also graphic designers and IT specialists. We have a colleague who helps us. When you have a more complex project, it is vital to have a variety of people who can help you. Having a good team proved good for us; generally, it is simpler. It is essential to communicate with people, reach out to them, answer them, and gradually think of some new things so that the project does not stagnate,” explains Jana Šimonovičová.

Video: Let’s Start with Citizen Science (Beagle) and (Beagle 2)

This project, originating from the University of Tartu in Estonia, examines primrose flowers and their relationship with their environment. It has expanded to many countries across Europe and continues to seek new partners.

Citizens, students, teachers, professional botanists, and environmental NGOs can participate by observing flowering primroses in their natural habitat. There are two types of flowers: one showing stamens, the other pistils. Participants count the number of each type at a location—the ratio provides scientists with insights into the health of local primrose populations.

Observations were made at over 8,000 sites across Europe, with nearly 900,000 flowers studied over four years. The research results were published in the Journal of Ecology (Aavik et al., 2025, DOI).

One interesting finding is that in many European populations, the balance shifted strongly toward the S-type flowers, associated with higher summer rainfall and intensive land use, although an approximately equal ratio of L- and S-type flowers was initially expected.

The research on the occurrence of Aphis nerii is led by Mgr. Adrián Purkart, PhD. (the Department of Zoology at the Comenius University Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University). The author proved the northernmost occurrence of Aphis nerii using citizen science methods in cooperation with grower-producers.

Citizen science methods work well in large, widely publicized projects with their own mobile apps, but they can also help efficiently in smaller projects, as proved by the research of Dr. Adrián Purkart.

Video: Let’s Start with Citizen Science (The new northernmost occurrence of Aphis nerii)

More information: Citizen science reveals the current distribution of the new plant pest Aphis nerii in Slovakia

Led by Zuzana Okániková (OZ Pronatur) and Matyáš Adam (Tomas Bata University in Zlín), this project focused on sharing information about innovative tools for engaging local communities in nature conservation and networking organizations that use citizen science.

Citizen science helps protected area managers to improve the quality of decision-making and strengthen collaboration with local groups to protect and conserve local natural heritage. The project’s educational and information activities culminate in a May Bioblitz event, demonstrating citizen science in practice.

The initiative involves partners from Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia, and is supported by the Visegrad Fund.

More information: OZ Pronatur and Citizen Science in the Carpathians

The Current Images of Socialism project led by Mgr. Soňa Lutherová, PhD. (Institute of Ethnology and Social Anthropology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences). It focuses on qualitative basic research and includes interviews with people about their current understanding and idea of the period of communist party rule. The project also involves examining family history. Pupils and students choose a photograph from socialism from the photo album, discuss it with their relatives, and learn their story.

“It is an anthropological and ethnological project focused on researching current images/ideas, i.e., memories, ideas, and opinions about socialism. At the same time, it is rescue research because, unlike other countries in our region, especially the Czech Republic and Poland, we do not have well-documented memory narrations or biographic interviews related to socialism. But, in our research, we also examine how people perceive socialism today, that is, the view is not only into the past but also contemporary.”

Video: Let’s Start with Citizen Science (Current Images of Socialism)

More information: Obrazy socializmu.

Led by Mgr. Veronika Páričková (Slovak Environmental Agency), Enviróza engages students in locating and recording environmental burdens in their surroundings.

The program uses an outdoor game format to gather and share information about environmental issues across Slovakia. Students search for environmental burdens (treated as “treasures”), record their findings online, and score points. Only teachers or group leaders can register schools and manage student groups.

The game consists of three main steps, and students earn points by completing each step, encouraging both learning and gamification of environmental monitoring.

“The project was developed to gather information about environmental burdens. The goal was to visit beautiful and interesting places while searching for certain treasures. In Enviróza, however, the treasures being sought are environmental burdens. The program has three main steps. For completing these steps, the students earned points or scored, so it was a scoring competition,” as Veronika Páričková explains.

Video: Let’s Start with Citizen Science (Enviróza)

More information: Enviróza

Visitor (Mgr. Ladislav Pekárik, PhD.), Plant Biology and Biodiversity Centre of the Slovak Academy of Sciences–it maps the spread of non-native species in Slovakia and recently released the second version of the Visitor app, which allows citizens to record occurrences of these species.

Their inspiration for launching the app came from modern technologies and participation in the COST project (Increasing understanding of alien species through citizen science). The Plant Biology and Biodiversity Centre is a partner of this project. Smartphone applications are a good example of practical use in citizen science. Data are collected quickly and easily. The system they developed consists of multiple independent projects, and its development was influenced by current funding from projects and contributions.

Volunteers for the project were recruited through media and social networks; the university students were involved as part of their studies. Regarding the sustainability of participants’ engagement, some collaborate continually and remain actively involved, but some do not last long.

The monitoring outputs are freely available on the project’s website.

More information: Visitor

Initiated by the Polymer Institute SAS in collaboration with the European Night of Science, this project raises awareness about plastic pollution and microplastics, particularly in waterways.

Schools and community groups participated in a competition from May to September 2025, collecting and sorting plastic waste along local rivers or reservoirs. Participants filled out protocols detailing types and amounts of waste to support scientific analysis.

More information: Clean Your River

Led by Mgr. Petr Papežík (Department of Zoology, Comenius University)–the project collects data on the distribution of the Aesculapian snake, the largest and most endangered snake species in Slovakia, through a Facebook community platform.

At the Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences at Comenius University in Bratislava, several projects have been developed that use citizen science methods, involving the public in addressing scientific questions. The most well-known project is The Occurrence of the Aesculapian Snake in Bratislava, which uses social media to engage the broader public in herpetological research.

The authors published the results of the project in 2025 in an article Snakes among citizens: distribution and ecology of the Aesculapian snake, Zamenis longissimus (Laurenti, 1768) in Bratislava revealed by citizen science (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12862-025-02469-6).“

Video: Let’s Start with Citizen Science (Occurrence of the Aesculapian Snake in Bratislava)

More information: Facebook page of the Occurrence of the Aesculapian Snake

Scientists from the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra and the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, together with the State Nature Conservancy experts, local volunteers from Green Heritage – Zöld Örökség, and water management specialists from the Slovak Water Management Enterprise, collaborated to restore the Klátovské Rameno wetland and its tributaries—a disappearing inflow of the Little Danube on the Žitný Island.

The project, supported by the Ministry of Environment and ACCO4 ClimaLocal via the Norwegian Financial Mechanism, aimed to revitalize water circulation and restore habitats for rare plant and animal species characteristic of original floodplain forests.

The Klátovské arm is located in the middle of an agricultural landscape, where development is gradually expanding, leaving less and less space for nature. This location represents an excellent opportunity to engage children and the local community, helping them discover and learn about the area they live in and the surrounding environment, using elements of citizen science and behavioural change.

“In this way, we can not only obtain valuable data needed for the project, but we also strongly believe that we can teach the residents—especially children—to treat nature, aquatic environments, and the organisms living in them, as well as the slowly disappearing floodplain forests, in a much more “humane” and responsible manner.

For this purpose, we have designed a web application for data collection by residents and children. We would like to continue with additional engaging tasks developed in cooperation with secondary schools, universities, and the State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic.”

More information: Story of Wetlands and Improvement of the Wetland Condition at the Klátovské Rameno Nature Reserve