The 5th conference of the European Citizen Science Association (ECSA) convened in Vienna from April 3rd to 5th, uniting a diverse group of stakeholders in citizen science. The ProBleu team showcased its innovative educational approaches at the event, emphasizing the integration of citizen science into the curriculum to support the growth of the European Network of Blue Schools.
Throughout the conference, ProBleu partners from Earthwatch, KTU, and Institut de Ciències del Mar participated in various sessions, spotlighting the project’s strides in enhancing ocean and freshwater literacy across Europe. These discussions focused on ProBleu’s contributions to the EU Ocean Mission, employing project-based learning and participatory research methods. Heidi Ballard, from the University of California and a member of Probleu’s Advisory Board, also attended the conference and participated in numerous discussions.
Elisabet Bonfill, from the Institut de Ciències del Mar – CSIC and ProBleu coordinator, discussed creating teaching scenarios based on marine science with the citizen science observatory MINKA. Additionally, poster sessions featuring Luigi Ceccaroni from Earthwatch and Vanessa-Sarah Salvo from ICM-CSIC highlighted ProBleu’s efforts in connecting young learners with marine environments.
The event also provided a platform for engaging with the wider citizen science community, sharing best practices, and exploring collaborative opportunities, especially within European school communities.
Thanks to the connections made during various talks and workshops, ProBleu members could exchange contacts and experiences with leading school networks from Austria, Armenia, Croatia, Germany and Romania, among many others.
Funded by the European Union