Start Making Sense | The New Team Science Projects
Join Start Making Sense, our new Team Science project exploring surveillance in public space. Do you have questions, concerns, ideas or simply curiosity about cameras in the city? Help co-create Rotterdam’s first citizen-driven camera register and ignite democratic debate with us. We warmly welcome everyone in the city! Researchers, students, and civic partners are welcome to contribute through research, teaching, or impact. Contact Project Coordinator Arthur De Jaeger via dejaeger@essb.eur.nl to get involved!
Summary
- 'Start Making Sense focuses since fall 2025 on the exploration of the use of surveillance and sensor technologies in public space and the development of a citizen-driven camera register in Rotterdam.
- The project works in three different time sprints ranging from October 2025 until January 2027. Everyone is welcome to participate via two paths: a research or impact path & a teaching path for and with students.
A New Team Science: Start Making Sense
Our current Team Science initiative is called Start Making Sense. This open and inclusive project, which started in Fall 2025, runs for 1.5 years and combines citizen science and academic research. Its aim: to explore, question, and make transparent the use of surveillance and sensor technologies in public space.
Our specific focus is on developing a citizen-driven camera register in Rotterdam. This register documents who owns and operates cameras in the city, for what purposes, and under what conditions. The project helps make the invisible visible by turning surveillance into a matter of public debate, scrutiny, and democratic decision-making.
Why a Camera Register in Rotterdam?
Although many assume that cities already maintain detailed and transparent registers of surveillance cameras, this is rarely the case. In Rotterdam in particular, there is currently no public camera register, despite the city’s strong emphasis on security and surveillance. With Start Making Sense, we aim to show how universities, together with citizens, can build public resources that foster transparency, accountability, and democracy.
How the Project Works
The Team Science project is divided into three sprints, each with clear goals and opportunities for academic and student involvement:
- October 2025 – February 2026: Developing the register’s ethical and participatory infrastructure.
- March – September 2026: Building the register through citizen science.
- October 2026 – January 2027: Using the register to foster contestability and democratic debate.
Each sprint brings together researchers, teachers, and students from across disciplines to co-create concrete outcomes. You are welcome to participate in the Team Science project in a manner that works for you. Whether you join all three sprints or just one due to scheduling limits or specific expertise, we are happy with your contribution in each capacity.
Who can join and why?
There are different moments when you can participate, different ways to participate and different resources and opportunities that we offer or fund.
Join the project through the academic world
Through a research or impact path. You can participate as part of your research expertise or ongoing research projects.
Through a teaching path for and with your students: You can let your students participate, as part of existing education programs or projects that you coordinate.
Join the project through civic society
Through partnering up with your local initiative. You can participate with local initiatives that you are part of or which you coordinate.
Through contributing as a journalist. You can participate in the project through collaborating with your (on-going) journalistic projects.
Through political or administrative expertise. You can participate as a politician or public administrator.
Participating in the Start Making Sense project is a unique opportunity that offers the following:
A chance to make a real-world impact on urgent urban issues.
A chance to collaborate across disciplines and with civic partners.
A chance to boost your research and teaching profile and professional development.
In addition to the opportunities and support structures we offer, we have some funds available to compensate for costs incurred, to support spin-off activities and to reward extensive investments in the project. Please contact project coordinator Arthur De Jaeger via dejaeger@essb.eur.nl.
What now?
Do you want to know more or get involved in the project. Contact project coordinator Arthur De Jaeger via dejeager@essb.eur.nl.
Sneak Peak
Curious how we’re putting this idea into practice? Take a look at this map of the city centre Rotterdam! It was created by Tom Arman together with our first mappers. In less than an hour, nearly 200 cameras were mapped.
