The OTTERS 2024 summer school was organized in July 2023 by the OTTERS partners and hosted in Greece by Ellinogermaniki Agogi, NUCLIO, ECSA, and CSGI. The event counted with the participation of 11 teachers from Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Armenia, and it offered a rich environment for learning and socio-cultural experiences. Upon the end of the training, participants gathered their thoughts to create the following joint article about their experience.
The participants’ expectations
Célia Paraíso from Portugal shared that she expected this summer course to allow her to develop scientific knowledge, citizen science methodologies, and pedagogical skills that would enrich both her teaching and her ability to inspire and engage students in environmental conservation projects. Furthermore, she expected the networking and resources acquired to open doors to new collaborations and educational initiatives. Iva Silva, also from Portugal, agreed with this expectation and added that “this type of training makes it possible to develop new teaching methodologies and strengthen ties between education and citizen science.”
Cristina Bertoldo and Giusi Serantoni from Italy completed this reflection by sharing that they expected to expand the communication network between colleagues from abroad who were as interested as themselves in the defense and protection of the quality of our planet’s waters. In their own words, they were seeking “a network capable, like rivers and seas, to transport, combine and unite forces for the common good.”
Gayane Manukyan from Armenia shared that she and her colleagues had high expectations for this course from the moment they arrived and she added: “Our high expectations were not only met but surpassed. The program was filled with dynamic workshops, insightful speakers, and stimulating discussions. Each day highlighted the event’s commitment to creating an engaging learning environment and fostering meaningful collaboration.”
The main learnings acquire
There is a general understanding that participants learned a lot about citizen science and its integration into schools. Manukyan reflected that she had limited knowledge of citizen science before attending summer school. In her words, “I learned that it opens up the scientific process to non-experts, allowing them to contribute meaningfully. This approach improves data collection, boosts public engagement in science, and addresses real-world problems, making research more inclusive and accessible.”
Bertoldo and Serantoni also added that, even though they have been working with citizen science in their school for years, this course allowed them to expand their contact network and better understand the various potentials of Citizen Science within the school. They share that “Very useful during the Summers School was to pay attention to the 10 principles of Citizen Science and in particular, we focused especially on Principle 6 which is based on the Democratization of Science, since in our opinion, Science should belong to everyone so that a change can be possible. Furthermore, active practice brings benefits (principle 3) which inevitably act as a driving force for all the necessary actions as well as for sharing them.”
The best moments
A highlight from this course was, in many educators’ opinions, the socio-cultural moments, including the warm-ups organized every morning to foster team-building and cultural exchange between participants.
Silva shares that for her “the best moment during the training was the sharing of professional experiences and the moments when there was interaction between the participants of the different courses (warm-up), which took place in Marathon. Also, the visits to the Acropolis and Cape Sounio were also very important in strengthening relationships between all participants.”
Gayane adds that allowing educators to enjoy the beach in addition to these cultural and educational activities reflected a special summer school, which provided a unique opportunity to combine different interests. She further adds that “this event focused on providing us with the knowledge and tools to advocate for water conservation in our communities. I learned how to integrate citizen science into our school curricula, which not only enriched my teaching but also helped me foster a deeper understanding of environmental issues among my students.”
Having prior experience with citizen science, Bertoldo and Serantoni mentioned: “It was very important and challenging for us to be able to share with the other participants the experiences we had already had with our students and to be able to get new information and new approaches from the speakers and other colleagues with “lightness” in a welcoming atmosphere stimulating the listening.”
The takeaway message
The course participants shared that the summer school inspired them to integrate citizen science into their school curricula to foster critical thinking and a sense of responsibility in students. They conclude that Citizen science provides a comprehensive perspective on environmental issues, allowing them to address local problems while understanding their broader impact. However, it all comes with challenges. Participants mention that limited resources, such as technology access and program funding can be challenging issues. Gayane’s takeaway message is that “it’s essential to encourage collaboration between schools, educators, and stakeholders to provide the necessary support and overcome these obstacles.”
Gayane and Giui still add, “Having participated in this summer school has inspired us to find new ways and new collaborations. In our case, we will increasingly aim for the continuity of Citizen Science work in all school levels, from Kindergarten School to Secondary School, confident in the fact that a critical, active, and aware citizen can grow and act step by step.”
Final remarks of an amazing experience
Armando Martinho from Portugal finished this reflection by stating: “For me it was an incredible experience, after so many years of teaching. I have always liked to innovate and you have provided me with an experience not only of innovation but also of great competence, conviviality and dissemination of fundamental values. Many congratulations and thank you for everything, you are an example of the good path that education can follow.”
