BiodivOcean

Raising awareness & engagement in marine biodiversity education. Powered by VIRTUE.

Description

BiodivOcean is an Erasmus+ project that fosters ocean literacy and awareness of marine biodiversity through innovative education and citizen science. It aims to highlight the importance of marine biodiversity and the threats it faces—such as invasive species and microplastics—within the educational community, by co-creating educational resources and communication strategies.

Building on the legacy of the VIRTUE project, BiodivOcean equips teachers, marine educators and students with tools to explore marine ecosystems and their conservation, combining inclusive hands-on and digital learning in both formal and non-formal settings.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Basic information

Coordinator

University of Gothenburg, www.gu.se

Partners

Göteborgs Marinbiologiska Laboratorium AB, Sweden, https://www.gmbl.se/
SALT Lofoten AS, Norway, https://www.salt.nu
SUBMON, Spain, https://www.submon.org
Georgetown University, United States of America, http://www.georgetown.edu
University of Maryland - Center for Environmental Science, United States of America, https://www.umces.edu

Programme

Erasmus+ (programme-erasmus-plus)

Project Acronym

Target groups

education authorities, primary school students, researchers, secondary school students, teachers, trainee teachers

Topic

Oceanography, Education, Other

Start year

2024

End year

2027

Url

https://www.submon.org/en/biodivocean-project/

Contact person

Sara, sarafernandez@submon.org

BiodivOcean connects research and education efforts with classrooms to engage students and teachers in project-based learning focused on marine biodiversity, microplastics, invasive species, and inclusive pedagogical methods.

The project provides training and support for teachers and educators to deliver environmental education effectively, emphasise environmental stewardship and conservation, and promote a sense of hope and empowerment instead of problem-focused discussions. The VIRTUE model fosters the development of green sectoral skills, such as field research techniques, data analysis, and sharing scientific findings with peers. By nurturing a passion for environmental conservation, the project fosters a culture of continuous learning and skill development in STEM subjects. The experience fosters critical thinking via formal and informal education, enhances participants' awareness of global challenges, and inspires youth and teachers to engage in solutions against biodiversity loss.

BiodivOcean advances STEM EDUCATION by bringing engaging, out-of-the-box science activities to classrooms. Providing hands-on experiences, it makes STEM more accessible, relevant and fun to pupils. Intersectoral cooperation between scientists and schools enhances the development of new cooperation models. As a result of the project, involved educators gain valuable tools to improve their teaching, ensuring a lasting impact on STEM education. The tools will also be openly available online for anyone to use. The project activities are designed with an inclusive approach, taking into account a diverse range of participants. The project will ensure that all activities are designed in a nondiscriminatory approach to benefit a diverse range of participants. Female scientists will lead school visits and activities in pilot countries, serving as role models to promote girls' participation in STEM.

The project results will be presented at least in one relevant international event (e.g., Ocean Literacy Dialogues, EMSEA Annual Conference). One publication for a scientific journal will compile project results (e.g, Symposium proceedings). The project’s resources and opportunities will be advertised on relevant platforms (e.g., the European School Education Platform).

Papers

As part of the BiodivOcean project, the professional development and co-creation of resources will result in a series of impactful outcomes designed to strengthen educational practices and foster collaboration across Europe. Three in-person professional development workshops will be organized in EU partner countries, complemented by online sessions, to enhance participants’ knowledge and skills in marine biodiversity education.

The VIRTUE methods will be thoughtfully adapted to ensure they are accessible and suitable for a wide range of learning environments, from traditional classrooms to informal outreach contexts. These adaptations aim to support educators in delivering engaging, inclusive content that resonates with diverse audiences.

A European Teacher Symposium was already held in 2025, bringing together the expertise of project partners and offering a platform for teachers, educators, and pedagogical professionals to share experiences, tools, and innovative practices. In parallel, partners will collaborate with European educators to co-create a comprehensive suite of educational tools and materials. These resources, designed for both formal and non-formal education settings, will build on templates from the previous VIRTUE-s project and include specific adaptations to promote equitable access, particularly for schools in landlocked regions and for students with special educational needs.

Additionally, the project will deliver one live edition of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), along with a self-paced version, to provide flexible learning opportunities. Finally, each project partner will produce a logic model planning document that outlines how newly acquired strategies are being integrated into their ongoing educational programs, ensuring that the project’s impact is both meaningful and sustained.

BiodivOcean

Description

Basic information

Papers

Teaching materials