Young People and Science Unite in Mallorca: Marine Conservation as the Legacy of the You4Blue Project
From September 24th to 26th, 2024, Mallorca hosted the third and final meeting of the ERASMUS+ You4Blue project, an educational initiative aimed at raising awareness about the preservation of marine ecosystems. On this occasion, students and teachers from IES Bendinat (Calvià), along with scientific staff from the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA, CSIC-UIB), welcomed groups of students from Italy and Greece for three days of hands-on learning and outdoor activities, where science, creativity, and fun combined to promote blue sustainability among the younger generations.
Promoting Knowledge and Action Towards Blue Sustainability
The ERASMUS+ You4Blue project: Young Generations for Sustainable Blue Growth was created with the goal of raising awareness among young people about environmental challenges and providing tools to foster a sustainable lifestyle. Funded by the European Union, this program promotes knowledge of the importance of marine resources and how to preserve them for future generations.
Developed across three Mediterranean islands—Sardinia, Crete, and Mallorca—the project offers an educational experience focused on sustainability. Students discover marine resources not only as a source of food but also as essential elements for recreation, culture, spirituality, and sports.
Practical Activities Connecting Science and Creativity
During the Mallorca meeting, students participated in a diverse program of activities. One of the first experiences was a podcasting workshop, led by Paula Martín, a renowned journalist specializing in this format. Through this activity, participants developed communication skills while creating their own podcasts, sharing reflections on marine conservation, and learning how to communicate scientific knowledge effectively to a broader audience.
Creativity was also a key element in the T-shirt printing workshop, where students expressed their ideas about ocean conservation through art. Each design, inspired by marine species, carried a message highlighting the importance of protecting ocean ecosystems.
Another standout activity was the citizen science workshop, where students learned how citizens can contribute to scientific research. Equipped with cameras, they took part in a photographic session documenting marine fauna and flora, geo-referencing and identifying species to contribute to scientific databases.
Photo: Students participants in the meeting enjoy a day of outdoor water sports
Connecting with Nature through Outdoor Activities
The meeting also included a range of outdoor activities, such as kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing, and snorkeling along the coasts of Mallorca. These experiences not only fostered respect for the marine environment but also allowed students to connect emotionally with marine biodiversity by exploring the ocean in its natural habitat.
Visit to the Cabrera National Park and IMEDEA
On the second day, the students visited the Cabrera Archipelago Maritime-Terrestrial National Park, where they learned about the park's rich biodiversity, including endemic and endangered species. They also practiced biodiversity data collection using the citizen science app iNaturalist, contributing to the conservation of this protected area.
The third day included a tour of the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA). Here, students visited the facilities and explored cutting-edge research projects in marine ecology, climate change, and conservation. This tour allowed them to understand how science can provide innovative solutions to environmental challenges, from studying ocean currents to addressing the impacts of climate change on biodiversity.
Inspiring Future Ocean Ambassadors
This final You4Blue meeting not only strengthened the connection between science and education but also inspired students to become ocean ambassadors. By collaborating directly with scientists, young people gained a deeper understanding of how their daily actions can impact the preservation of marine ecosystems, instilling a commitment to work towards a more sustainable future.