CEIP Plurilingüe Ría de Vigo

Ria Marine Lab: Bridging Ocean and River Education

Vigo, Spain

2nd FUNDING CALL

This initiative focuses on fostering collaboration between coastal and inland schools to highlight the critical need for preserving marine and freshwater ecosystems.

The project aims to achieve three main objectives:

1. Creation of the RiaMarLab: A dedicated classroom for environmental sciences will be set up as a marine laboratory, equipped with tools for biodiversity assessments. Supported by Dr. Andreu Blanco from the Marine Research Center at the University of Vigo (CIM-UVigo), the lab will serve both local and visiting students.
2. Biodiversity Assessments: Fifth-grade students will conduct local biodiversity assessments in marine and freshwater ecosystems. These assessments will be supported by newly developed teaching materials and will be shared on an open-access repository.
3. Twinning Schools: The project will bridge the gap between inland and coastal schools by sharing local biodiversity assessments. This collaboration aims to emphasize the importance of biodiversity conservation in both environments to ensure the health and preservation of aquatic ecosystems.

The project unfolds in several phases:

• M1-4: Setting up the RiaMarLab, preparing teaching materials, and organizing an inaugural event with an aquatic-themed art contest and marine science activities.
• M5-7: Fifth-grade students will engage in research activities, collecting samples from local beaches and coastal habitats, and participating in experiments.
• M8-11: Expanding the project to include collaboration with inland schools, providing a holistic view of environmental threats and biodiversity.

RiaMarLab will also produce a Didactic Unit and an Experimental Protocol to serve as a cornerstone for future marine education and conservation efforts. These resources will be translated into English, Spanish, and Galician to ensure broad accessibility.

By integrating hands-on experiments and cross-disciplinary learning, RiaMarLab aims to deepen students’ understanding of marine ecosystems and foster a culture of sustainability. Through strategic partnerships with nearby schools, the project promotes collaborative learning and research opportunities, emphasizing the interconnectedness of marine and freshwater environments.

“For this project, we set in motion the creation of a laboratory in which we are waiting for permits to renew the space near the playground that will be used for research. We also have the help of external collaborators to assist with the scientific activities.

We are doing a project for all the students on water, and we have already done several outings related to this topic, such as the exploration of this environment and research for the source of the river. Also, we have created agile utilisation of points of interest from the source of two rivers to the mouth of the sea. We have sailed in small sailboats and attended a week on the sea. We also set the library as if it were a natural environment of a river. There is still a lot of work to be done, but we are learning and enjoying our project a lot.”