Educational Activities

HCMR Education Unit

The history of the Education Unit (EdU): Organized educational activities by HCMR started in 1995 with the development of conferences and events for the public and youth. Since 2001 the EdU operates with educational programs for schools of all levels, courses for students and teachers, summer lectures, summer schools, workshops etc. These programs are attended each year by approximately 2000 students. The EdU was created and supported by volunteer scientists of HCMR, who, along with research and administrative activities, intend to transmit their knowledge and expertise of the aquatic environment in the educational community. Currently, the education activities of Hellenic Centre for Marine Research expand throughout all levels of education from primary education to university level research aiming to promote marine and inland water science and inspire the next generation of environmentalists.
Academic Education: Scientists and researchers of HCMR collaborate with all relevant aquatic environment academic institutes giving lecture series in graduate and post-graduate levels. HCMR scientists also provide guest and invited lectures at both undergraduate and post-graduate level at various Hellenic Universities and international special courses. HCMR scientists also host special training seminars both at HCMR facilities and in the field. Although not strictly academic education, HCMR scientists participate in seminars at the Hellenic government’s Centers for Environmental Education where school teachers are exposed to relevant continuing education themes.

Research Education: HCMR welcomes under-graduate and post-graduate students, on short-term rotations, or long–term thesis related work. High quality and engaging sessions are prepared by experts across many subjects: marine and inland waters science and technology, geology and natural hazards, pollution and public protection, aquaculture, cultural heritage and marine resources. Along with scientific guidance, HCMR provides significant research infrastructure facilities and services towards accomplishing the research tasks.

Primary and Secondary Education: EdU communicates the recent problems and issues of the marine/aquatic environment with students during school visits at HCMR facilities as well as at the Hydro-biological Museum of Rhodes and Cretaquarium Thalassocosmos in Crete. During the visits, the students via interactive and experiential learning activities expand their view to the environment, understand the mechanisms and functions of the aquatic ecosystems and comprehend the stresses the ecosystems suffer due to anthropogenic pressures. EdU increases the environmental awareness and inspires local action providing information and training for physical, biological, chemical and geological marine and inland waters issues related to climate change, natural hazards, pollution, cultural heritage and marine resources. According to a specific thematic the typical structure of the school visit program consists of: • A simple presentation from a researcher to the dedicated theme • Experiential and interactive activities • Exhibition activities related to marine technology and infrastructure Today, several updated thematic areas are running by EdU targeting to secondary school students, school teachers, elementary school students. The EdU also disseminate HCMR activities to a broad public participating in various projects.


Current projects

Marie Curie personnel exchange projects: HCMR is involved in high –level Marie Curie student exchange projects. During the last 10 years more than 8 Marie project run at HCMR in collaboration with foreign students and new researchers.
REN ATHENS 2014 – 2015: The HCMR participated at the events for the Researchers’ Night 2014 and 2015. All the events have been taken place - simultaneously – on the same date in 280 cities across Europe. The primary objective of the project is to provide opportunities for the general public to engage in activities that raise awareness of marine environmental issues and informed discussions about how human treat the oceans, seas, bays, estuaries and beaches.

The HCMR participated at the events for the Researchers’ Night with the following actions: 1) Pre-events were organized at the Hydrobiological Station of Rhodes (HSR) and at the Cretaquarium. Among the others, the pre-events aimed to acquaint secondary school students with the profession of researcher of the aquatic environment through presentations and discussions with HCMR scientists.

2) During the Researchers’ Night main events, the HCMR provided several outdoor activities including the Benthos lab experience (observation under stereoscopes of live samples from undisturbed and disturbed coastal waters in order to understand the meaning of biodiversity and the concept of Benthos as an ecological status indicator), interactive games, exhibition of the manned submersible vehicles “Thetis” and other scientific instruments & submarine vehicles, real-time experiment in a water filled tank of in-situ instruments (as the underwater radioactivity detector “KATERINA” submerged in order to experience data collection and analysis of spectra).

Kid activities comprised creative painting of marine subjects on sea stones and pebbles, creation of origami marine animals, photographs as diver at the sea bottom (use of a photographic poster) and the creative writing “A letter to humans from a monk seal”.

ASF 2014 and 2016:

HCMR participated for second time to the ASF from 8-10 of April 2016

Since its first organisation in 2014, the Athens Science Festival managed to establish itself as one of the biggest celebrations of science and technology in Greece. Over a week’s time, every spring, students and other visitors from the wider area of Athens take the opportunity to explore science in fun, innovative and interactive ways. At the same time researchers, teachers, distinguished scientists and artists give their best to communicate science and make it part of their audience’s everyday lives.
During the Athens Science Festival 2014 and 2016, the younger as well as adult audiences had the opportunity to explore marine science in fun and interactive way. The public participated to various educational games and had the chance to interact with marine scientists and learn about current technologies in marine research.

For hours, availability and scheduling a school visit please send requests to: education@hcmr.gr Additional the public can be informed about the actions of Education Unit and in the following facebook page

Photos

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