TOOLS TO ENGAGE YOUTH IN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC: CONSTANTA MARITIME UNIVERSITY APPROACH

Abstract

Environmental sustainability must be considered as the main target of humanity. To achieve this goal, the activities of many people must change into pro-environmental behaviour. This is often difficult because it involves high costs, giving up some daily habits and getting out of an artificial comfort. In this sense, education has an essential role to play. Young people are the target group for which appropriate methods must be found to help raise awareness of environmental issues and their involvement in solving them. In the current situation, under the restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, practical applications with large groups of students and observation of the wild environment is difficult to achieve. In November 2020, the Department of Mechanical and Environmental Sciences within the Maritime University of Constanta organized online the activity “S.O.S. Nature” where different environmental processes have been highlighted through simulation programs. The event aimed to increase the awareness of young people about environmental pollution and its consequences, as well as stimulating transversal skills by high school students participating. The interest given by the large participation in this event and the knowledge gained in this activity underlined the importance of modelling and simulation as useful tools through whose comprehensive approach young people can understand complex environmental issues.