ECSA2026 News

With just one week to go until the 6th European Citizen Science Association (ECSA) conference kicks off, this email aims to help you reach the university reception desk, navigate the conference week, and ensure you have a successful conference experience.

Reserve your spot at the Early Career Researchers Workshop!

A growing number of Early Career Researchers (ECRs) are using citizen science, either as a core component of their research or as an outreach tool. Despite the multiple forms these citizen science projects may take, ECRs face common challenges in their implementation: limited network, language barriers, time and budget constraints, etc.

This workshop offers ECRs a platform to discuss the challenges, issues, and possible solutions for organizing citizen science projects at early academic stages (master’s to PhD). It will take place on the first day of the conference, and will also be an opportunity to network. The workshop will mix open and focus discussion, and showcase concrete tips for successful implementation of citizen science.

Who can join: All early career researchers
Cost: Free
When: Monday March 2nd, 13:00-16:00
Where: University of Oulu, Tellus Stage
Duration: 3h

Side events with open slots

Most side events are now fully booked however there are some that are still open. Please check out: Saturday slot for Poro Panuma Reindeer Farm, Morning Snow Yoga and a few slots for Tuesday 3rd of March, 20:30-22:00 Riverside Koivuranta Sauna.

Travel

The website's travel page has comprehensive information; it includes tips on how to use the local public transport system and locate the venues. If you key ‘University of Oulu’ into Google Maps, it should also give you adequate travel options for when you arrive at Oulu airport or train/bus station. Please note that the conference is being held at the university’s main Linnanmaa Campus, roughly 5km north of downtown. Please make sure you do not go to the Kontinkangas Campus (medical sciences), as this isn’t where the conference will take place. We also recommend you take out travel insurance.

What to bring (or procure on the spot)

Bring a USB or another portable device to transfer your presentation files on the day. You cannot use your own laptop to present!

Weather: Early March in Oulu is still wintry, so warm, layered clothing is essential. For short walks—such as from the hotel to the bus or the University of Oulu—a lightweight base layer, a warm mid‑layer, and an insulated winter coat will keep you comfortable. A knitted hat, insulated gloves, and a scarf or neck warmer are recommended, and winter boots with good grip are important as pavements can be icy. For longer outdoor activities, such as tours or light hiking, plan on thermal base layers, a fleece or wool mid‑layer, and a windproof, waterproof winter jacket. Insulated trousers or shell pants over warm leggings help with colder conditions. Choose winter boots with solid insulation, waterproofing, and non‑slip soles, and pair them with thermal or wool socks.

Formal clothing: the final party will be at the Toivo space at the RadissonBlu Hotel with a buffet dinner included.No black tie required - ,although any expression of free spirit, great style and good dress sense are encouraged.

Adapter: Those not from the EU should bring an adaptor for the EU standard electrical sockets (two-pole, round-pin domestic). Remember to bring chargers for all your various devices (and perhaps a battery bank), as you’ll need this to navigate the programme.

Buses to the venue

Bus routes #1, 2, 3, 5, 8 and 52 depart every few minutes from various stops downtown for the University. These take contactless payments as well as buying tickets through the OSL app. Note that Bus #8 operates a direct route between the airport and the University, taking just under an hour.

Arrival - where to go and when?

If you arrive on Monday and would like to beat the Tuesday morning rush, we are running an early registration desk from 13:00 - 18:00 at the Green Coat Rack Area in the University of Oulu, Linnanmaa Campus.

If arriving on Tuesday and your panel isn’t on that day, we recommend going to your accommodation first, leaving your luggage, andthen coming to the conference venue to check-in, thus avoiding the stressed crowd waiting to check-in and disappear to their panels before 10 o’clock. If you have time, it might be worth going for a walk around the campus to get your bearings. The venue map PDF can be downloaded from the conference website, and there is also a handy online campus map (a guide on how to install the app version of this same map can be found on the university website).

If your panel IS on Tuesday, make sure you come to check in from 08:00 to 09:45 so that you’ll be ‘badged’ by the time you need to start looking for your panel room. As this is the first day of the conference please be aware that there will most likely be queues at the registration desk.

Reception and NomadIT office opening hours

The reception desk (in the Green Coat Rack Area of Linnanmaa campus) will be open: Monday 13:00-18:00, Tuesday 08:00-14:45, Wednesday 08:00-16:30, Thursday 08:00-16:15 and Friday 08:00-13:00.

Once you've reached the Reception desk, the volunteer team will check if you have registered and are paid-up, and if all is in order, check you in and hand you your badge. You can then go on to enjoy the conference.

Please use the timetable page on the ECSA2026 website. For quick reference as to when, where and how long a particular panel is, check the Panels view in the timetable.

If you are yet to settle the fees: PLEASE, pretty please - try to do this before Friday 27th of February by card or inform us as soon as possible of the special circumstances why you need to pay at the conference. Those needing to settle their conference fees will need to come to the conference organisers' office called Frost (on the ground floor in the Tellus area near reception), only receiving their badge from Reception after the debt is settled at the office. The office is small and filled with busy and stressed-out organisers, so it will benefit us all if you settle the fees before the event.

Catering

Registration includes coffee/tea and lunch, as well as food & drinks at the social event. To attend Thursday’s final party you need to have purchased a ticket with your registration (this will be indicated on your badge). If you still haven’t bought a ticket, but would like to, please email info@ecsa2026.ngo. There will be two lunch points at the university, one at Mustikka and the other at Hilla. Signs will direct you to these spaces.

WiFi

The best way to access the internet at the university is via your own Eduroam credentials. Those without Eduroam can make use of panOULU, the city of Oulu’s free wifi service.

Printing

If you need to print out your talk or another document, please be sure to do this at your hotel, as the university does not have printing available for non-university employees. If you have an emergency printing need, the NomadIT office can print small documents at a pinch for €0.50 per page (cash).

Image of Oulu university Tellus sitting area

Parent and child room, quiet room, working room

For those who need a quiet place to go with their child, please head to the Aspire room in the central Tellus area (next to registration). The room has six classic Nordic designed rocking chairs, a long table, and a large living plant wall. There is also a childcare room with a changing table near L6 under the stairs.

For those who need some peace and quiet or a place to meditate etc, please go to the Horizon room in the central Tellus area (next to registration).

Please note - you cannot work on your computer in the quiet room, no matter what your keystrokes are like. If you need to work, please head to the Galaxy room in the central Tellus area (next to registration).

Those presenting

Please have any files you wish to present on your portable device (or USB) and bring to your panel room 15 minutes before the session, to upload and check. We strongly recommend against presenting from your own computer as the tech can often be unreliable. There will be a student volunteer team member present to assist - so all will be well.

Those convening/chairing

Please arrive 15 mins early for your panel to meet the conference volunteer. Presenters will arrive early to upload their presentations to the presentation computer. Please ensure you’ve read these guidelines and do your best to treat all participants fairly.

Strict time-keeping is crucial to a good conference and is one of your responsibilities as convenor or chair: please ensure that each presenter gets their fair share of the time and do not run over into the breaks; this will only turn your audience against you.

Timing of papers/sessions

Sessions are 105 mins long with up to five papers or fewer per session. It is up to the convenors of each panel to decide how much time they want for discussion, how long papers can be (we recommend 15 mins if there are five papers) and if they want papers or PowerPoints pre-circulated.

ECSA2026: One week to go!