The Computing Community Consortium’s (CCC) latest report, Grand Challenges for the Convergence of Computational and Citizen Science Research, lays out the potential of citizen science research and advanced computing technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), when brought together, to revolutionize the contemporary scientific research landscape. Co-authors Lucy Fortson (University of Minnesota), Lea Shanley (International Computer Science Institute and GNIES, University of Wisconsin-Madison), Tanya Berger-Wolf (The Ohio State University), Kevin Crowston (Syracuse University), Haley Griffin (Computing Research Association), Corey Jackson (University of Wisconsin-Madison), and Saiph Savage (Northeastern University) also demonstrate the broader applications of this union for challenges across ecological, infrastructural, clinical, and other domains — plus how to make it a reality.
In this new brief, Key Takeaways for the Convergence of Computational and Citizen Science Research, read the essential findings and recommendations from the full workshop report in an abbreviated form. The brief covers three primary areas of recommendations:
- National Infrastructure for Convergence: The sustained platforms, governance systems, and physical/cyber architecture required to support scalable, trustworthy, and nationwide convergence efforts.
- Core Research for Convergence: The foundational scientific and socio-technical investigations required to advance the field, focusing on developing new models, metrics, and frameworks for human-AI interaction, trust, and accountability.
- Training and Capacity Building: Developing the human capital — the skills, knowledge, and organizational structures — needed to create, manage, and participate in convergence projects across all sectors.
Read the Brief Now
View the Key Takeaways for the Convergence of Computational and Citizen Science Research brief below. You can also read the full Grand Challenges for the Convergence of Computational and Citizen Science report here.
Read the Brief Here
Learn More at the Upcoming Community Chat
For another way to engage with the findings in this report, join us for an upcoming CCC Community Chat on May 20th, 2026 at 3:30pm. This 45-minute Zoom webinar, hosted by the report’s authors, will dive into key findings, follow up with a series of lightning talks with experts from citizen and computational science, and end with a Q&A. Featuring guest speaker Marc Kuchner, Citizen Science Officer at NASA!
