A tailor-made app
Mobile, web or both. We translate the method into an accessible participant experience, including unusual interactions, multilingual delivery, offline use and connections to existing research systems.
Explore app development
Citizen science · scientific instruments · worldwide
Turning citizens into scientists.
Pocket Science helps researchers turn scientific questions into public participation and meaningful measurements. We build tailor-made citizen science apps, complete observatories and apps that work with scientific sensors—including our own flagship instrument, iSPEX.
Commission a defined build, add us to a consortium, or establish a long-term support relationship.
Customers and partners
Trusted by universities and institutions worldwide.
Selected customers and scientific partners from almost fifteen years of citizen science.
Customers
- Radboud University Black Hole Finder
- RIVM iSPEX Polar Edition
- Oxfam Novib Apps for farmers & DataLab
- International Astronomical Union Dark Sky Meter license
Scientific partners
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory
- Leiden University
- Leibniz IGB
- Leibniz ZMT
- ICM-CSIC
- Plankton Planet
Since 2012specialised in citizen science
Worldwidewith universities and research consortia
Self-hostedprivacy and security by default
Long-termsupport beyond launch and grant
Choose the scope
One app, the components you need, or the complete observatory.
A citizen science observatory is the whole working environment around the research: participant apps and websites, data collection, researcher tools, secure infrastructure, communication and support. It is an option—not a required package—and every part can be tailored to the method.
Selected components
Add only what the project needs: a website, dashboard, administration, maps, exports, APIs, sensor integration, participant support, outreach, data processing or machine learning.
Explore data and infrastructureA citizen science observatory
One coherent, self-hosted environment for participants and researchers, with the public experience, research workflow, data access, operations and long-term stewardship designed together.
Explore research partnershipsMore than development
People, trustworthy data and someone who stays responsible.
Research teams ask Pocket Science to connect the parts that turn an application into a living, dependable research service.
Participation and outreach
We shape the invitation, onboarding, feedback and communication around a meaningful scientific task. Our work has brought thousands of people into real research, and we have operated our own communities for years.
Method and data
The interface follows the research question. Validation rules, metadata, consent, anonymisation, researcher access and exports are designed into the system.
Privacy and security
We run our own managed infrastructure rather than placing project data in an external public cloud. Data minimisation, access control, backups, monitoring and GDPR responsibilities are part of the architecture.
Continuity and support
We can handle participant questions, app-store releases, maintenance, hosting and integrations for years. Before a project ends, we agree how its app, data and community can continue or be transferred responsibly.
Selected work
From public participation to scientific measurement.
Our portfolio spans citizen science apps, international campaigns, research platforms and smartphone instruments—built with research partners and used outside the lab.
Flagship · spectropolarimetry
iSPEX
An active research line with atmospheric citizen-science heritage. Prof Stefan Simis and Dr Tom Jordan at Plymouth Marine Laboratory successfully derived above-water remote-sensing reflectance (Rrs) with iSPEX2 in multiple 2025 validation campaigns; research deployments and wider validation continue, with protocols, data and processing open on OSF.
Astronomy · classification
Black Hole Finder
A public classification platform for an active university research programme, connecting volunteers with candidate observations and telescope follow-up.
Water · field participation
Mini Secchi
A guided mobile workflow for observing water colour and clarity, developed through Horizon 2020 MONOCLE and supported in continuing field use.
Light pollution · complete suite
Dark Sky Meter suite
Invented and fully owned by Pocket Science, Dark Sky Meter has collected 50,000+ measurements and remains actively supported; Pro serves amateur astronomers and researchers, while Loss of the Night extends the suite to Android users.
Why Pocket Science
Science is our passion. Enabling people to do it—and helping make the world a little better—is our goal.
Almost fifteen years of turning citizens into scientists.
Pocket Science grew from an early belief that the smartphone in everyone’s pocket could give ordinary people real scientific power. In 2013, when citizen science was still unfamiliar to many, that message reached the TEDxEutropolis stage and audiences around the world.
Today Norbert, Joep and Demelza share the same DNA: curiosity, love for the subject, respect for end users and the determination to make useful science last. Together we build apps and instruments, complete observatories, worldwide research relationships and communities that continue beyond launch.
Projects and grants end. Valuable science should not have to. Sustaining the apps, instruments, communities and knowledge that deserve a future is part of the mission—and it is why we design outreach, support, self-hosting and long-term operation alongside the technology.
Designed around researchers
Bring us in for a defined app, a consortium work package, or a relationship that outlives the project.
- A direct commission with a clear scope, delivery plan and quote.
- A consortium role covering technology, participation, data or long-term operation.
- A support contract for hosting, releases, maintenance and end-user help.
- An institutional MoU for continuing scientific and technical collaboration.
- A responsible continuation or handover plan beyond the usual four-year grant.
How a project starts
Tell us the question before specifying the technology.
We can quote a clear app directly. Where the method, interaction or infrastructure is still taking shape, we begin with a bounded discovery phase and turn it into a responsible scope.
Research goal
What should participants observe, measure, report or classify—and why does it matter?
People and method
Who will participate, what must they do, and what makes the resulting data useful?
Scope and responsibilities
We define the app, optional components, integrations, ownership, support and route beyond funding.
Build and operate
We deliver with the research team, validate the workflow and stay for the agreed lifetime of the service.
Start with the science
What should people be able to observe, measure or discover?
Share the research goal, expected participants, required platforms, languages, data needs and desired lifetime. We will reply with the questions needed for a practical fit and initial quote.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +31 45 20 31 008