This spring, from April 8 to 9, the Computing Research Association’s (CRA) Computing Community Consortium (CCC) hosted its influential “Grand Challenges for the Convergence of Computational and Citizen Science Research” workshop in Washington, D.C. More than a traditional symposium, the event served as a catalyst for defining the next frontiers in citizen science, with a sharp focus on the role of computational systems in expanding public engagement and scientific discovery.

The CCC is known not only for convening academic conversations but also for building research infrastructure and shaping future visions. Through workshops like this one, researchers gain a platform to address technological and societal challenges, identify limitations, and develop forward-thinking strategies. These highly-selective workshops produce white papers that influence research agendas, guide funding, and spark cross-disciplinary inquiry. This workshop brought together leaders in human computing and citizen science to explore crowdsourcing, participatory sensing, trust in digital participation, and AI’s role in citizen engagement. Viewing constraints as catalysts, participants brainstormed to pinpoint gaps in current knowledge and methods, helping steer national research and foster leadership in emerging fields.

Prof. Nitin Agarwal, Director of COSMOS, was invited to the workshop, where he spoke on “Cognitive Security Challenges and Opportunities to Computational Citizen Science.” His talk discussed the challenges and opportunities posed by AI for citizen science, and how the ongoing research can contribute to detecting and mitigating cognitive threats, while also presenting frameworks for enhancing resilience in societies through collaborative digital engagement. COSMOS’ participation reflected the center’s growing influence in computational social science and its commitment to advancing public-good applications of computing research.

Participation in CCC visioning workshops offers researchers early exposure. Being part of a CCC visioning workshop means your ideas are surfaced at the national level and included in conversations that shape policy and future funding. The white papers and reports that result from these events often form the basis of new research solicitations from major funding agencies. For early-career researchers or those looking to pivot into high-impact areas, the CCC provides not only visibility but also momentum.

At the Grand Challenges workshop, participants didn’t just explore future possibilities. They defined urgent problems and framed scalable solutions. From rethinking how communities participate in the scientific process to integrating citizen contributions into national research infrastructures, the workshop served as both a think tank and an accelerator. COSMOS’ contributions, alongside those from other nationally recognized research teams, helped ensure that cognitive security remains central to the conversation about the future of participatory science.

To learn more and follow updates on CCC events, visit: https://cra.org/ccc/events