The Christmas Bird Count, dating back to 1900, stands as one of the world's earliest and enduring citizen science projects. It engages thousands of birdwatchers annually to count birds in a 24-hour period in mid-December. This project has laid the foundation for citizen science initiatives, where the public actively participates in scientific research. In recent years, there has been a surge in citizen (cyber-)science projects harnessing digital technology and the internet. While these projects have made significant contributions to various fields, they often face challenges in maintaining participant motivation due to monotonous tasks. Gamification, the application of game elements such as competition and rewards to non-gaming contexts, emerges as a solution to sustain participant engagement. The openSenseMap platform, an open-source citizen cyber-science platform for environmental monitoring, has encountered challenges related to user engagement and motivation. To address this, the study explores the use of Open Badges, digital badges representing skills or accomplishments, as a gamification component on the openSenseMap platform. Users can earn badges for specific achievements, fostering motivation and engagement. Survey results indicate that participants found the addition of Open Badges enhanced the platform's appeal, suggesting their potential to boost motivation and participation in citizen science projects. Moreover, the open badge platform, called mybadges, aligns with the ethos of collaboration and transparency in citizen science. Beyond citizen cyber-science, Open Badges hold promise in open (geo)education, where they allow learners to showcase their knowledge and skills in a tangible and transferable manner. By earning badges for educational achievements, learners can build a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate their credentials, benefiting fields like geospatial science. Open Badges in open (geo)education can enhance the learning experience, increase motivation, and improve educational outcomes, contributing to the professional development of individuals in the field. This study underscores the potential of Open Badges to enhance engagement and motivation in citizen cyber-science projects, aligning with the interests of the foss4g academic community in innovative approaches to open-source technology for addressing environmental and social challenges.