Open Science Programme Public Engagement Seed Fund winners

On Friday, 5 December 2026, the fourth edition of the Public Engagement Seed Fund of the Open Science Programme awarded nine public engagement projects with funding of up to €5,000 per project. The call received 32 applications, from which a jury selected nine projects as eligible. Thanks to sufficient available resources, all nine eligible projects were awarded funding.

Through this seed fund, the selected researchers (listed below) will develop initiatives in which the public is not only involved as a study subject, but actively engaged as partners. These projects are designed to foster reciprocal benefit, creating meaningful interaction between researchers and the communities they seek to serve or involve.

Public engagement in research requires significant time, creativity, and effort. With this fund, we aim to recognize University of Groningen and UMCG staff members who are committed to involving society in research, and to encourage others to explore similar opportunities.

We warmly congratulate the winners of this round and welcome everyone interested in public engagement to join our growing community (by emailing to pe@rug.nl). The seed fund will open again in 2026 for the fifth round of the PE seed fund!

Winners of the fourth round of the Public Engagement Seed Fund:

Empowering Immigrant Communities through Digital Healthcare Engagement
Esther Metting, Faculty of Economics and Business, Faculty of Medical SciencesÇigdem Bozdag Bucak, Faculty of Arts

The Inclusion Game – dialogues about inclusion in citizen science
Marit Bogert, Faculty of Science and Engineering
Mohammad Gharesifard, Faculty of Science and Engineering

Co-creating a Climate–Health Research Agenda in Katakwi
Rik Lubbers, Faculty of Medical Sciences
Regien Biesma-Blanco, Faculty of Medical Sciences
Gerd Weitkamp, Faculty of Spatial Sciences
Ronald Wasswa
Peter Waiswa

GrunNL: De Opkomst van het Internet in Groningen
Nathalie Fridzema, Faculty of Arts
Susan Aasman, Faculty of Arts
Jesper Verhoef, Faculty of Arts
Rik Smit, Faculty of Arts

Play for Change – Understanding and stimulating citizens to promote systemic change through an interactive board game
Ellen van der Werff, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences
Isabel Pacheco, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences
Linda Steg, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences

Ignite change: Empowering young people to take part in climate action
Ina Horlings, Faculty of Spatial Sciences
Gwenda van der Vaart, Faculty of Spatial Sciences
Lisa Hof, Faculty of Spatial Sciences

The City Talks 
Marian Counihan, University College Groningen
Yorick Karseboom, Faculty of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts

Why the Hate? Exploring the Drivers of Anti-LGBTQIA+ Attitudes and Behaviors among Youth in Groningen
Wouter Kiekens, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences
Lucia Canora Flores
Manuel Reyes, Stichting Inclusive Action North
Lieuwe Rozema, Gemeente Groningen

TakeRoot Talks: American Roots and Northern Routes
Mark Thompson, Faculty of Arts
Maarten Zwiers, Faculty of Arts

For questions, please contact pe rug.nl.