Event Abstract Back to Event "Scientists of the Sea": an environmental education project promoting scientific literacy Soraia L. Castro1* and Leonor Cruz1 1 Câmara Municipal de Viana do Castelo, Portugal Environmental Education (EE) is the process of recognising values and clarifying concepts in order to develop skills and attitudes necessary to understand and appreciate the inter-relatedness among man, his culture, and his biophysical surroundings. EE also entails practice in decision-making and self-formulation of a code of behaviour about issues concerning environmental quality (IUCN 1970). Fundamental instrument for a process of changing values, mentalities and attitudes, EE creates a deep and lasting awareness of problems associated with environmental issues (Morgado et al, 2000). For its purposes, it essentially aims to modify knowledge, values and attitudes, given priority to case analysis, critical reflection, debate and acquisition of skills. It does not consist in "Learning and admitting passively" but in "Understanding to act" (Giordan and Souchon, 1997). In fact, we can only protect what we know. Among the paths available for dissemination of EE, schools are priority ones, becoming EE projects essential for continuous learning through the school year. EE at the high school level reveals itself to be of huge importance given the intermediate level between basic and university education. At high school level, environmental and science studies should bring some utility to the educational process to the minds of students, acting as a complement to the existing school programme. Students should clearly see why they must be concerned about the environment. It is necessary to relate long term ecological-environmental goals to the short term interests of individuals (Eichler, 1977). EE in high school should develop ecological thinkers and promote scientific experiences, acting as the introduction of environmental studies. From the need to create a project focused wholly on high school students, the environmental education project "Scientists of the Sea" was created in 2017. Organized by Viana do Castelo Sea Center, an entity managed by Viana do Castelo City Council, "Scientists of the Sea" aims to promote and initiate the wish for scientific research in high school students and valorise natural ecosystems, both coastal and estuarine areas of the county. Viana do Castelo integrate two Natura 2000 Sites, Litoral Norte (PTCON00017) and Rio Lima (PTCON00020), therefore it is extremely important to involve the school community in conservation, leading to the understanding and knowledge of these ecosystems with high ecological and economic values (Barbier et al, 2011). During the academic year, students involved in "Scientists of the Sea" developed an original research project with technical and scientific support from the Sea Center and researchers working on Portuguese’s research institutions like Interdisciplinary Center of Marine and Environmental Research (University of Porto), Center for Environmental and Marine Studies (University of Aveiro), Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources (University of Porto), Molecular and Environmental Biology Center (University of Braga) and Marine and Environmental Sciences Center (University of Coimbra group). This environmental education project begins with an opening meeting between students and researchers to discuss ideas and choose work projects. Scientific method is fully developed and applied by classes through the academic year, with the aim to develop their scientific project. At the end, we carry out a final meeting to exhibit class’s works and awards the top three. Also each group create a scientific poster, which is evaluated at the final meeting by external jury members. To complement the scientific method each class do field trips to study area and visits to research institutions. In its two academic editions, “Scientists of the Sea” counted on eight enrolled classes, with a total of 131 students coming from three high schools. In 2017/2018 academic year, the themes developed were: "Testing the memory of fishes", "Study of the potential of Cakile maritima halophyte in soil decontamination", "Influence of climate change on calcareous algae on the Norte beach" and "The sea: a sense of health and well-being. " In the academic year 2018/2019, the following themes were developed: "Discovering the zooplankton of the Norte beach", "Analysis of the stomach content of aquaculture and deep sea bass", "Environmental factors influencing the fixation of Mytilus edulis to the rocky substratum” and" What is the influence of salinity on Ulva lactuca of the Norte beach?". “Scientists of the Sea" has been developed with students, by working and improving knowledge about natural coastal and estuarine ecosystems of Viana do Castelo. From the final surveys sent to the involved teachers the most positive aspects were the promotion of scientific literacy and the possibility of experimental practical work. The overall analysis of this project proves itself to be a very rewarding one. Students, teachers and technicians consider these type of environmental education projects of major importance for everyone involved. References Barbier, E. B., Hacker, S. D., Kennedy, C., Koch, E. W., Stier, A. C., & Silliman, B. R. (2011). The value of estuarine and coastal ecosystem services. Ecological monographs, 81(2), 169-193. Eichler, A. (1977). Environmental education at the secondary school level. Trends in environmental education, 101-125. Giordan, A. e Souchon, C., (1997). Uma Educação para o Ambiente. Lisboa. Instituto de Inovação Educacional/Instituto de Promoção Ambiental. IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) (1970). International working Meeting on Environmental Education in the School Curriculum, Final Report, September, IUCN USA. Morgado, F., Pinho, R., Leão, F., (2000). Educação Ambiental. Para um ensino interdisciplinar e experimental da Educação Ambiental. Plátano Edições Técnicas. Keywords: Scientists of the Sea, environmental education (EE), Scientific literacy, ecosystems, Scientific research activities, environmental education project, high school Conference: XX Iberian Symposium on Marine Biology Studies (SIEBM XX) , Braga, Portugal, 9 Sep - 12 Sep, 2019. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Ecotourism, Environmental Education, Citizen Science and Dissemination of Science Citation: Castro SL and Cruz L (2019). "Scientists of the Sea": an environmental education project promoting scientific literacy. Front. Mar. Sci. Conference Abstract: XX Iberian Symposium on Marine Biology Studies (SIEBM XX) . doi: 10.3389/conf.fmars.2019.08.00167 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 31 May 2019; Published Online: 27 Sep 2019. * Correspondence: Miss. Soraia L Castro, Câmara Municipal de Viana do Castelo, Viana do Castelo, Portugal, castro_soraia@hotmail.com Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. 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