About the project

Luna is a citizen science project under the umbrella of the European project IMPETUS4CS

The Luna project is a response to the researchers' inquiry about whether the fluctuations of emotions throughout the menstrual cycle can be elegantly managed alongside a work or study schedule. Or even adjusted in such a way that we make the most of the nature of each phase of the cycle.

This inquiry already stopped at the fluctuations of emotions, as our exploration of existing scientific literature yielded no in-depth insights. What is this fluctuation, what does it consist of, and do all individuals with a menstrual cycle experience it? Research and anecdotal evidence clearly show that, for certain individuals, the menstrual cycle significantly affects their engagement in life and work.

In the project, we ask what actually happens in our experiences throughout the entire menstrual cycle and what implications this can have for our relationships, work challenges, decisions, and overall daily existence. Knowing that some individuals find it particularly difficult to engage in social and work life during certain phases of the cycle, we are also interested in how to create a work environment that best supports these individuals and thereby mutually increases benefits.

You can find us on the IMPETUS webpage 👇

Activities and objectives of the research

Throughout Luna, we will carry out three major activities, and we will present our work at a concluding event, presumably scheduled for January 2025.

We began at the end of summer, when we involved approximately 30 co-researchers in the preliminary study. Together, we deeply explored our experiences throughout the menstrual cycle and also our experiences of participating in the research.

We are currently transferring the findings to the pilot study, which will take place in November and will involve approximately 150 co-researchers. We are especially grateful to all who were willing to stay with us from the preliminary to the pilot phase of the study, as this allows us to compare two cycles from the same person.

We will address the results of both studies in more detail during a focus group that we will organize in December. In addition to a broad discussion about the findings of the studies, the focus group will co-create and shape proposals for practices and policies that consider, support, and perhaps even meaningfully leverage the dynamics of the menstrual cycle.

We hope that this research project will contribute valuable knowledge about the menstrual cycle, which, alongside the progress in physiological research, will deepen the understanding of the cyclical nature of people with menstrual cycles and how we experience it.

Citizen science? What kind of science is this?

Luna is a citizen science research project. Citizen science is the practice of scientific research projects in which non-professional researchers are involved in the research process, whom we specifically refer to as co-researchers.

In studies where human is the research subject, especially in phenomenological research, where we explore human experience, we believe that this is the only true research approach. When we are interested in experience, we collect data about life as it unfolds and is felt by the individual. Therefore, it is essential that the person whose experiential data we collect is a co-researcher, as she is the only true researcher who can access her own experience. Researchers with knowledge of scientific research methods provide an environment, tools, knowledge, and skills that support and guide co-researchers in their investigations. Together, we collect data, co-design the research plan, analyse and interpret the results, and create new knowledge.

We invite you to read more about Citizen Science on the IMPETUS webpage.

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