Florian Heigl

Florian Heigl is a Senior Scientist at the Institute of Zoology, Department of Ecosystem Management, Climate and Biodiversity, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU). He has been a key figure in advancing citizen science in Austria and Europe, leading major projects such as Roadkill and AmphiBiom, and co-founding the Citizen Science Network Austria and the platform "Österreich forscht."

His research focuses on citizen science, biodiversity conservation, road ecology, urban ecology, and open science. He leverages participatory methods to monitor wildlife, especially amphibians and roadkill patterns, using data collected by the public to inform conservation and policy. His work bridges ecological research with public engagement, science communication, and digital innovation.

The recent publications highlight a strong trend in citizen science methodology, data quality, and technological integration, including automated species detection, scalability toolkits, and the role of citizen science in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. His work consistently emphasizes inclusivity, responsibility, and real-world impact.

Scientific Awards:

• Ars docendi Anerkennungspreis für exzellente Lehre (2023)
• Sustainability Award (2022)
• Honorary Mention, EU Citizen Science Prize (2023)
• BOKU Nachhaltigkeitspreis (2017)
• Pioneer of Open Innovation in Science (2017)

He has supervised several master's theses and actively collaborates with researchers across disciplines and institutions. He is involved in numerous funded projects, often as project leader or sub-project leader, with funding from the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), European Commission, and Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG). He also leads the long-running "Citizen Science Trainings" project.

Labs and Teams: He is a core member of the citizen science research group at BOKU, collaborating closely with Daniel Dörler and Johann G. Zaller. He is active in the Citizen Science Network Austria and contributes to European networks like ECSA (European Citizen Science Association). His work often involves interdisciplinary teams from ecology, computer science, and social sciences.