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21/01/2025
New CROPS Podcast Episode: Scientix Ambassadors Share Insights on Hands-on Learning and Citizen Science
In a special bonus episode of the CROPS Citizen Science Champions podcast, four teachers and Scientix Ambassadors delve into the transformative power of citizen science in education.
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They share insights on how involving students in real scientific investigations enhances learning and equips them to tackle global challenges.
Highlights from the Episode:
- Elena Papadopoulou emphasises the importance of nurturing curiosity from an early age. "Citizen science makes learning relevant," she explains. "It connects classroom lessons to real-world applications and encourages lifelong learning, critical thinking, and environmental stewardship."
- Achillefs Kapartzianis shares practical projects like road safety studies and resources such as SciStarter and Zooniverse. Achillefs advocates for inquiry-based learning and the importance to encourage students “to ask questions, collect and analyse data, and collaborate with experts.”
- Anita Šimac shares how citizen science projects, like monitoring ocean biodiversity and addressing litter pollution, help students connect STEM subjects to real-world challenges. She explains how these activities help students "gain confidence to champion important causes and tackle the challenges of tomorrow."
- Quique Vergara highlights projects like Genigma, a smartphone game where students helped analyse genomic data for cancer research; Teatime4science, which examines climate change impacts on soil; and Observadores del Mar, where students track jellyfish populations and study the effects of microplastics. He emphasizes how citizen science equips students with critical skills, particularly the ability to observe the world thoughtfully, analyse data, and draw evidence-based conclusions—an invaluable skill that extends far beyond science.
Why Listen to This Episode?
The episode concludes with a powerful message: by incorporating citizen science into classrooms, educators can foster critical thinking, real-world application of STEM subjects, and global responsibility in students, empowering them as changemakers for the future.
To learn more about the CROPS project, click here.