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Description
Despite the recognized importance of intertidal rocky shores, there are still gaps in the conservation of the vast group of intertidal species, many of which are threatened by habitat destruction, climate change, pollution, fishing, among others (Abidli et al. 2019; Marchini et al. 2019).
To motivate behavior change towards the protection of these areas, the bLueTIDE operation proposes to increase the knowledge about, and the emotional bond with, these coastal systems, targeting elementary students and teachers. To achieve its goals, 1 private institution and 4 public education entities have joined to design and implement awareness-raising activities for children, as well as training courses and resources for teachers. The operation will be developed within blue schools (located in coastal areas), but also within non-blue schools (located away from coastal areas) benefiting approximately 615 students and 200 teachers. The implementation phase in each location will be coordinated by one of the four education institutions and its researchers, all belonging to MARE, a R&D institution focused in marine and environmental sciences. The management and harmonization of activities will be mediated by IEFF that will make use of its vast experience in implementing projects related to the sea and sustainability.
The project will deliver a set of internal outputs to support marine researchers in the implementation of the activities, but also a set of outputs to support and inspire teaching practices. The project will contribute to strengthen the connection of children with the ocean and motivate them for conservation, in particular of intertidal rocky shores; promote the interaction between schools and ocean science researchers; stimulate the cooperation between blue schools and non-blue schools; foster pupils’ creativity, initiative and communication skills; strengthen marine science-based teaching practices; and ultimately, encourage the application of new blue schools.
Summary of project results
The bLueTIDE project set out to strengthen the connection of school children (between 6 and 9 years old) with intertidal rocky zones and motivate them for conservation. To do that it promoted the interaction between schools and ocean sciences researchers and stimulated the cooperation between Blue Schools and non-Blue Schools geographically distant from coastal areas. At the same time bLueTIDE set the conditions for schools and teachers to continue teaching about these coastal ecosystems, long after the end of the project.
To achieve their goals, researchers from the 4 poles of MARE-Center for Marine and Environmental Sciences (from University of Coimbra, Polytechnic of Leiria, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon and University of Évora) joined the Figueira da Foz Sea & Industry Incubator and gave rise to the bLueTIDE project - Ocean Literacy for an Integrated and Dynamic Education. The bLueTIDE operation will be developed with Schools awarded with the Blue School flag (located in areas coastal areas), but also with “non-Blue” Schools (located outside coastal areas). Starting from environments of formal and non-formal education, the operation will benefit around 615 students and 200 teachers from four sets geographical: 1. Figueira da Foz / Sardoal; 2. Peniche / Vila Nova da Barquinha; 3. Setubal / Santarem; and 4. Sines / Evora. The development of the operation will give rise to a set of products, such as guides and activity manuals, which aim to support marine researchers in the implementation of educational activities related to rocky platforms and support, as well as inspire, new teaching practices by teachers.
In the end, the bLueTIDE will help strengthen children''s connection with the ocean and motivate them towards conservation. rocky platforms in the intertidal zone; promote interaction between schools and marine science researchers; encourage cooperation between Blue Schools and “non-Blue” Schools; foster creativity, initiative and capabilities student communication; strengthen teaching practices based on marine sciences; and ultimately, encourage new schools to apply to the Blue School Program of the Ministry of the Sea / Directorate General for Policy from the Sea of Portugal.