Citizen science initiatives often aim to contribute to broader forms of change, including policy influence, scientific advancement, or community empowerment (Bonney et al., 2016; Fraisl et al., 2022). However, influence rarely arises automatically from data collection or public participation alone (Hecker et al., 2018).

Instead, influence tends to develop gradually through relationships. Trust, credibility, communication, visibility, and partnerships all play a role in shaping how projects are perceived and how their contributions are taken up within wider systems (Shirk et al., 2012; Hecker et al., 2018).

For example, a project may generate valuable environmental data, but without sustained engagement with relevant institutions, this data may not be used in decision-making processes. Similarly, strong community engagement does not necessarily translate into institutional recognition without targeted communication and alignment.

Viewing influence as a relational process may help practitioners reflect on realistic expectations and the kinds of relationships that contribute to longer-term forms of impact.

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