From the 9^th to the 13^th of September 2024 a group of 6 students and 2 teachers from the S6 course “Sustainability and Active Citizenship” at the European School of Karlsruhe participated in the Erasmus Maris Week held in Borriana, Castellón, Spain, together with students and teachers from 10 European schools across 6 European countries.

The Erasmus Maris project aims to involve secondary schools in critical phases of scientific research, particularly in data analysis, through an engaging combination of formal and informal educational methods.

The focus is on understanding the effects of microplastics on marine ecosystems and acquiring skills to collect and analyse water samples for the detection of these pollutants.

The daily program for the students included attending lectures of experts from  Joint Research Center (JRC) and EMODnet to gain insights into the impact of microplastics on marine environments, engaging in nautical activities such as kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), and sailing, as well as learning laboratory techniques for the collection and analysis of water samples to identify microplastics.

At the end of the week student and teachers received a certificate of participation issued by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC).

Glass Dreusch and J. Prungel-Domin