Selyshchanskyi Lyceum

Research and preservation of water resources in the Sokyriany Community through education, open science and student engagement

Sokyriany, Ukraine

4th FUNDING CALL

The project, running for seven months, aims to research, improve, and preserve the freshwater resources of the Sokyriany community. The project will engage students in hands-on citizen science, environmental education, and water-saving activities.

Objectives

• Deepening students’ and the community’s understanding of local freshwater ecosystems through practical water quality research.
• Fostering a sense of responsibility for protecting water bodies and developing students’ environmental awareness and citizen science skills.
• Creating innovative educational materials, such as research protocols and virtual tours, that will be integrated into the school curriculum and made openly accessible.
• Ensuring inclusive participation of all student groups, including children with disabilities and low-mobility groups.
• Strengthening the school’s cooperation with NGOs, scientific institutions, local authorities, and the national nature park to enhance long-term impact.
• Integrating citizen science methodology into school education, empowering students to collect and analyze environmental data.

Activities and Collaborations

The project’s activities will be implemented in close cooperation between Selyshchanskyi Lyceum and the NGO “Ukrainian Ecostations Network” (NGO “UEN”). The NGO “UEN” representatives will act as experts, facilitators, and event organizers.

The project involves four main phases:

• Research and monitoring: A student research group of 16 students from grades 6-11 will be formed to collect samples, measure physicochemical parameters, and conduct bioindication and lab analysis of 14 local water bodies. The results will be digitized and published in Ukrainian and English on the ProBleu platform, Google Drive, and the school website.
• Education and awareness: This includes hands-on water quality workshops, an art contest for grades 1-5, and the creation of an eco-trail called “Healing Springs Path”. Educational materials like booklets, video lessons, and teaching guides will be developed and published. An awareness campaign will be conducted via social media, press, and partner platforms.
• Practical conservation: Students will participate in cleanup campaigns at springs, remove litter, install signs, and prepare recommendations for local authorities.
• Dissemination of results: A final conference will be held for students, teachers, community members, and partner organizations. All project outputs will be published on ProBleu, the school website, and a public Google Drive. An eco-trail passport with QR codes, an interactive map, and a video tour will also be created and disseminated.

The project also involves partnerships with the Khotyn National Nature Park, local authorities, and residents of the Sokyriany community.

Outputs and Impact

The project will produce a comprehensive set of materials, including:

• Educational materials: Lesson plans, teaching modules, hands-on research protocols, video lessons, and booklets.
• Open database of research results: Digitized water quality and biodiversity data from 14 local water bodies will be openly accessible.
• Creative and informational outputs: Digitized student drawings, videos, presentations, and a virtual tour of the “Healing Springs Path” eco-trail.
• Reports and recommendations: A consolidated analytical report and written recommendations for local authorities and the national park on freshwater conservation.

All project outputs will be published under a Creative Commons (CC0) license, allowing for free use, adaptation, and replication by other schools. To promote their use, the school will publish materials on the ProBleu platform, its own website, and Open Educational Resource (OER) platforms. Presentations will be given at regional science fairs and conferences, and open workshops will be held for students and teachers from other schools. This ensures the project’s outputs contribute to the sustainability and growth of the ProBleu educational network.