From data to belonging: citizen science, urban friction, and institutional response in Siena

Citizen science initiatives in Siena, Italy, transcend data collection to foster relational practices that challenge urban governance hierarchies. By engaging diverse groups—students, residents, migrants, volunteers, and researchers—in documenting everyday life and river ecosystems, these projects become platforms for negotiating belonging and presence. Ethnographic engagement, data walks, and interviews reveal how digital tools, while enabling participation, also act as epistemic gatekeepers, creating 'urban friction' that can drive more responsive knowledge practices. This study highlights citizen science as a transformative force in urban politics, bridging gaps between communities and institutions.

Sepehr, P., & Sanna, V. S. (2026). From data to belonging: citizen science, urban friction, and institutional response in Siena. Urban Research & Practice, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/17535069.2026.2685319