Investigations for Sustainability, to Inspire the Youth

During the 2022-2023 academic year, Elhuyar has carried out work on sustainability and the climate emergency in collaboration with the Department of Economic Promotion and Strategic Projects of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa. As a result, the brochure "Investigations for Sustainability, to Inspire the Youth" was created. It presents some key insights and projects for addressing sustainability in the classroom. On November 3rd, it was introduced during the roundtable discussion "Investigations for Sustainability, to Inspire the Youth."

On November 3rd, the roundtable discussion 'Investigations for Sustainability, to Inspire the Youth' took place. It featured the presentation of the results of Elhuyar's work, with support from the Department of Economic Promotion and Strategic Projects of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa. They unveiled a brochure containing key ideas and projects for promoting sustainability in the classroom.

This brochure provides educators with a range of projects and reflections from an environmental responsibility perspective. It aims to offer inspirational resources and support to the educational community. In fact, today's youth will necessarily have to get involved in addressing the environmental emergency. Therefore, it is interesting to encourage classroom discussions and actions on sustainability and the climate emergency with young people, while considering equality, inclusion, and social transformation.

The roundtable was moderated by Aitziber Lasa Iglesias, head of the STEAM Education Department at the Elhuyar Science Unit, and the event was inaugurated by Itziar Alkorta Idiakez, Academic Director of the Summer Courses, Jon Abril Olaetxea, CEO of Elhuyar, and Nagore Manzano Rodríguez, a specialist from the Department of Economic Promotion and Strategic Projects of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa.

Next, Aitziber Agirre Ruiz de Arkaute, head of the Science Culture Department at Elhuyar, presented 20 key ideas for working on sustainability and environmental emergency in the classroom.

Joseba Aldasoro Galan, an Education Technician at Elhuyar STEAM, explained 20 inspiring projects proposed by researchers. Through these projects, students are required to answer questions such as, 'How many loaves of bread can be made with the energy required to travel 100 km in a specific car? Where is our school losing energy? Is what we wear sustainable? What types of plastics are polluting the beaches?'...

 

One of the projects was proposed by Iker Aranjuelo Michelena, a researcher at the Institute of Agrobiotechnology (IdAB-CSIC). Titled 'Exploring Air Quality,' it suggests analyzing the impact of traffic on air quality. Last year, he conducted a study with the students from IES Aralar in Alegia, where he shared his experience.

The brochure 'Investigations for Sustainability, Inspiring the Youth' can be downloaded for free at the following link.

This project, promoted by Elhuyar, is supported by the Department of Economic Promotion and Strategic Projects of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa..