Fundo Azul/Kids Dive: mergulhar com crianças, descobrir o Oceano
O Kids Dive em formato nacional
Portugal é mar ou, pelo menos, as próximas gerações vão habituar-se a vê-lo dessa forma, numa altura em que a área submersa irá representar 97% (3.800.000 Km2) do território nacional. No entanto, a superfície do mar esconde um mundo que poucos conhecem. Pretende-se assim abrir a porta do mundo subaquático a crianças e jovens, através de um programa educativo de divulgação de ciência 100% prático. Aquilo que propomos é que embarquem nesta “viagem ao fundo do mar” que envolve um batismo de mergulho recheado de atividades educativas e um conjunto de programas práticos, todos eles acompanhados por cientistas que fazem investigação em Portugal.
Realização de 12 edições, distribuidas por todo o território nacional, de um programa educativo de 3 dias que envolve um batismo mergulho com atividades subaquáticas relacionadas com um conjunto de programas 100% práticos dirigidos a crianças dos 8-15 anos. Os workshops focam temas como a sustentabilidade do meio marinho ou os principais riscos que se enfrentam atualmente, nomeadamente os plásticos. Vamos incluir um dia inesquecível: uma visita guiada e um atelier no Oceanário e uma entrada num evento de nível internacional, o Summit da National Geographic. É ainda possível visitar uma área marinha costeira na companhia de cientistas. Para terminar é realizado um vídeo (mini-documentário) que inclui as atividades subaquáticas e os professores responsáveis por estes alunos recebem material de apoio para poderem prolongar esta experiência educativa na sala de aula.
EEA Grants/Kids Dive: Portugal-Norway
A first international experience for Kids Dive
Portuguese strategic goals aim to double the economic importance of the ocean in a sustainable way. To do so, it is vital to change mindsets, beginning very early in education. Kids Dive main goal is to develop the ocean literacy of 120 young students (8-17 year-old), from Portugal and Norway, through the knowledge of the natural heritage that can be found underwater. To contribute to build a more informed, integrated and active society, we will offer a set of activities, including scuba diving, workshops on plastic pollution and on the protection of biodiversity and marine ecosystems. The project includes an evaluation of its own impact by surveys aimed to assess student awareness and changes in behaviour, promoting international cooperation and cultural sharing at the same time. All the expertise, as well as professional and technical means will be provided by the Kids Dive partners: ISPA, CRL ISPA, CRL Instituição de Ensino Superior/MARE centro de I&D, CMS Sintra Municipality and two “Blue Schools” (EB2,3 Agostinho da Silva, Sintra, in Portugal, and Jessheim Videregående Skole, in Norway). Together, we will successfully train a group of young Ocean Ambassadors. All handouts are included, namely: bilingual manuals and tutorials (which will enable the international expansion of the Kids Dive project), assessment surveys, Portuguese and Norwegians students’ projects on Ocean protection and, finally, scientific outputs such as a master’s thesis and a paper in a scientific journal. This partnership between “blue schools” will also include student exchange, therefore increasing bilateral relationships. The success of this first international Kids Dive edition will increase international cooperation as far as the Ocean literacy is regarded, through the exchange of practical experiences between students, teachers and R&D institutions.
National Geographic/Covid19 Remote Learning Emergency Fund for Educators
KIDS DIVE is an educational project developed by researchers in marine biology that intend to bring ocean literacy to a wide audience of children (8-17 years). Our goal is to restore the natural bond and curiosity towards the ocean and our approach was 100% practical including a first diving experience, workshops and a field trip. Due to the present pandemic outbreak we had to reinvent KIDS DIVE. This new virtual version will follow all social restrictions, allowing the students to participate remotely from school along with their classmates. Virtual KIDS DIVE includes a ZOOM webinar with “dives” using cardboard VR360º goggles. During this session they have the opportunity to interact with researchers and to experience breath taking 360º/3D images from marine ecosystems across the world. We plan to make more videos because we still want to engage young students in marine conservation in their own communities. Moreover, we will have a 2nd day of activities, that includes a live INSTAGRAM session from a nearby rocky shore. In this 2nd day our team walks through tide pools and crevices in the intertidal and starts an improvised storytelling because we never know which organisms we will find. Fortunately our research is focused on these species and we need no script to talk about curiosities on their behaviour, reproduction, ecology or evolutionary relationships. We also address threats to marine ecosystems such as climate change and empower participants adopt sustainable lifestyles.