Month: June 2024

The Climate Solutions Conference, hosted by Gilgen International School on April 26th and 27th, 2024, brought together students, educators, and professionals to address the urgent issue of climate change. The event aimed to deepen participants’ understanding of bioeconomy and sustainability while encouraging their engagement with these crucial topics.

Session Highlights: Integrating Sustainability into Existing Frameworks
During the conference, ZSI, representing GenB, conducted a session focusing on integrating sustainability into existing frameworks. GenB’s goal is to raise awareness among the Generation Bioeconomy about environmental issues, sustainability, and circularity. The session introduced participants about the GenB project, informed them on bioeconomy concepts, and highlighted ways to contribute to bioeconomy initiatives. Participants engaged in an interactive workshop where they learnt more about GenB and were motivated to think and draft ideas fostering sustainability within their school communities.

This session included a workshop segment where students and teachers from various schools collaborated in three groups to brainstorm ideas for further development within their school environment. The outcomes of these discussions encompass a multifaceted approach to integrating bio-product creation and sustainability into educational frameworks. Group 1 proposed practical solutions such as producing everyday items like phone cases, soap, and notebooks from recycled materials, alongside innovative concepts like bio-based school uniforms with a recycling system. Group 2 extended beyond product creation, focusing on raising awareness and education through posters, class discussions, and social media promotion. While group 3 proposed for broader sustainability initiatives, both globally and locally, including early education programs, citizen science engagement, and community-driven events like Reuse and Waste-free days. These outcomes reflect a comprehensive outcome of young people to foster sustainability principles within educational institutions and local communities alike.

The session received positive feedback, with participants expressing deeper understanding of sustainability principles and motivation to contribute to addressing climate change through bioeconomy initiatives. Many participants also expressed interest in learning more about bioeconomy and getting involved in the GenB project.
The Climate Solutions Conference at Gilgen International School was a crucial event in fostering collaboration and innovation in addressing climate change through bioeconomy and sustainability initiatives.

Stay Connected with GenB:
For more information about GenB and upcoming events, visit our website:
https://www.genb-project.eu/
Join the movement: The GenB ambassador programme continues to welcome young people under 30 who are passionate about contributing to a sustainable and circular transition. Those interested in joining can register and become part of a network dedicated to promoting the bioeconomy and sustainable practices.
For more information and to access resources from the webinar, visit the GenB library.

The GenB project is pleased to announce the launch of BioHeroes: Let’s save the Planet!, an innovative card game designed for 2 to 4 players, aimed at children aged 4 to 8 years old. This versatile game (to be played in a classroom or in-home) allows young players (and not so young ones) to gain knowledge about bioeconomy professions, learning about their roles and responsibilities in a fun and educational way.

BioHeroes: Let’s save the Planet! is based on a narrative where our world is threatened by imbalance, and only the bioeconomy can save it! Players must help six bioeconomy-related professional profiles (biotechnology researcher, bio-based farmer, transporter, seller, waste manager, and buyer) complete their tasks to prevent the destruction of the planet. Although the consumer profile is not a profession, it is a very useful role in the game as it reflects the current role of the children playing. This profile helps children understand their role in the bioeconomy and how their actions can influence the environment.

Through this game, children will adopt different roles and professions, performing actions associated with them in various settings: cities, countryside, factory, laboratory, market, and transport. This will allow them to step into these characters’ shoes, generating empathy and raising awareness about the importance of taking sustainable actions.

The game format and gamified approaches enable students to learn bioeconomy concepts and associated professions through play and entertainment. Game-based learning (GBL) is an effective educational methodology that combines entertainment with learning, increasing student motivation and engagement. This approach facilitates a deep understanding of concepts and develops critical skills such as problem-solving and strategic thinking. Games in the classroom create a dynamic and collaborative environment, preparing students to face real-world challenges. The GenB project is developing different games targeting various age groups.

User-Centered Design Approach. The development of BioHeroes: Let’s save the Planet! has adopted a user-centered design approach. During the process, children from the target group participated in play sessions that helped adjust and improve the product through various iterations. So far, the first version of the game has been tested by 73 children with the collaboration of partners AIJU and EUN, demonstrating its appeal and providing valuable insights for improvement that teachers and experts identified during the play sessions.

Following this collaborative approach, BioHeroes: Let’s save the Planet! is currently being improved by incorporating the collected feedback. The game will be used in upcoming workshops, integrating into educational programs and events related to bioeconomy within the framework of the GenB project.

Part of the GenB Toolkit. BioHeroes: Let’s save the Planet! is part of the GenB Toolkit, a collection of materials developed within the GenB project to cover different population groups: children, youth, teenagers, teachers, and other multipliers. This toolkit aims to provide educational resources that promote knowledge and awareness about the bioeconomy.

About the GenB Project. GenB empowers and educates the Generation Bioeconomy, fostering awareness, sensitivity, and engagement in environmental issues, sustainability, and circularity, encouraging young voices to lead the transition to more sustainable lifestyles.
Through the creation of materials like BioHeroes: Let’s save the Planet! and other initiatives, GenB seeks to prepare new generations for the challenges and opportunities of a sustainable future.

For more information about the game and the GenB Toolkit, visit the GenB website. Stay tuned for the next update of the game and the development of new materials that will drive the bioeconomy forward. Stay informed and be part of the movement!

European Schoolnet conducted a workshop called ‘Exploring Bioeconomy in The Classroom: From Theory to Sustainability’ in collaboration with Scientix ®. The activity was implemented within a larger program of the 17th Science Project Online Workshops (SPOW) which ran on 3 consecutive Wednesdays, from the 28th of February until the 13th of March 2024.

Science Project Online Workshops are interactive and practical workshops for teachers and other educators, centered on socially relevant STE(A)M topics. The SPOW runs over a three-week period and includes up to four parallel tracks covering certain aspects related to STE(AM) or specific age groups and it’s limited to 10-15 participants per track.

‘Exploring Bioeconomy in The Classroom: From Theory to Sustainability’ online workshop was intended for international teachers and educators working with students aged 4 to 19. The workshop aimed to equip educators with the essential skills and knowledge necessary to effectively introduce the topic of bioeconomy in their classrooms. The focus was not only on providing comprehensive training, but also showcasing and using a variety of materials and activities developed within the GenB Toolkit. By integrating these resources, the workshop ensured that teachers are well-prepared to engage students in the concepts and applications of Bioeconomy.

During the workshop, 20 participants were introduced to the topic of bioeconomy and engaged in collaborative tasks to develop age-appropriate approaches and introductory activities to integrate bioeconomy in lessons. Participants were also introduced to different available materials and careers in the field that would allow them to integrate the topic effectively. They had an opportunity to reflect upon the potential implementation of presented materials in their classrooms.

Participants found the workshop invaluable for their professional development, gaining crucial insights into the emerging topic of bioeconomy. Recognizing it as a vital subject for today’s world, they appreciated how it can contribute to a better future. The training provided them with practical knowledge on how to enrich their current lessons on sustainability and facilitate the transition to more sustainable lifestyles and practices.

The event, moderated by prof. Fabio Fava and Chiara Pocaterra, involved high-level speakers to jointly discuss the topic of bioeconomy education that was recognised as central in light of the transition towards a sustainable economy and society, a central pillar of the ecological transition required by the European Green Deal:

• Prof. Fabio Fava – Università di Bologna e Gruppo di Coordinamento Nazionale per la Bioeconomia, Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri
• Giuseppe Pellegrino, European Commission DG RTD – Bioeconomy Unit
• Greet Janssens-Maenhout, Deputy Director and Head of our Forests and Bioeconomy Unit – Joint Research Centre
• Virginia Puzzolo, Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking
• Davide Viaggi – BIObec
• Selenia Marinelli – BioGov.net
• Chiara Pocaterra – Engage4BIO, GenB
• Susanna Albertini – EuBioNet
• Davide D’Amico – Ministero dell’Istruzione e del Merito
• Luigi Pievani – Ministero dell’Università e della Ricerca
• Gian Matteo Panunzi – Ministero dell’Agricoltura, della Sovranità alimentare e delle Foreste
• Nunzia Bernardo, Marta Bertolaso – Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Sicurezza Energetica
• Carlo Bianchessi – Conferenza delle Regioni e delle Province Autonome

Link to the website of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, with the material of the event: https://cnbbsv.palazzochigi.it/it/bioeconomia/eventi-bioeconomia/bioeconomia-circolare-per-la-transizione-ecologica-nuove-competenze-e-bisogni-formativi-2452024/

Download the Handout infographic with all presentations!

Watch the webinar recordings and download the presentations!

GenB Capacity Building Webinar with GenB Ambassadors – Basic Level 1

GenB Capacity Building Webinar with GenB Ambassadors – Basic Level 2

GenB Capacity Building Webinar with GenB Ambassadors – Advanced Level: Communication skills

The visit is part of the project’s activities, all of which are aimed at increasing knowledge and promoting the bioeconomy and its economic, social and environmental benefits.

Cupidi Farm has developed sustainable and circular agriculture approaches in recent years by embracing all the principles of the bioeconomy, including energy generation. Students were introduced to the methods of biological farming, which respects the nature of animals, and the circular approach to resource management. This method not only minimizes the amount of waste, but turns it into valuable resources that are commonly considered discard.

One aspect that particularly impressed the students was the innovative use of wood from tree prunings. On many farms, these scraps are simply burned for disposal. At Cupidi Farm, however, this wood is first dried and then turned into wood chips that power the water heating system. This process not only supports the farm’s production needs but also domestic needs, representing a concrete example of a biorefinery.

The farm gets its electricity needs supplied through a photovoltaic system. Students had the opportunity to see a photovoltaic panel up close and understand the process of converting light energy into electrical energy. This experience gave them a practical understanding of renewable technologies and their positive environmental impact.

Next, the process of wood chip production and storage was explained, demonstrating how each stage of the production cycle is carefully planned to maximize efficiency and sustainability.
The final part of the visit was devoted to a hands-on workshop. In the farm’s walnut grove, students took measurements to determine the amount of wood obtained from tree pruning. This exercise emphasized the importance of considering each resource for its potential, turning an unavoidable waste into a central component of a sustainable production cycle.

During this activity, the farm’s founder, Alessio Cupidi, a former researcher in the field of biology, transferred his scientific passion into the practical application of the concepts of environmental sustainability and bioeconomics, seeing in them the possibility of bringing tangible benefits to the community. Cupidi shared his vision of sustainable agriculture with students and teachers, highlighting the importance of the concepts of circularity.
Matteo Anzalone, GenB Ambassador, interviewed Cupidi to gather his experience and testimony and it was posted on the GenB project’s social media.

The visit to Cupidi Farm provided students with a concrete understanding of how innovation can be integrated into one of the world’s oldest professions. Students could see directly how a sustainability and innovation-driven approach can improve production efficiency and positively impact the environment and the community.

This hands-on field experience has the potential to inspire students to consider career paths in fields related to sustainability, bioeconomy, and renewable energy, and also demonstrated that modern agriculture can be a fertile ground for scientific and technological innovation, promoting a more sustainable and conscious future starting with the next generation.

The success of this activity will be reported at the European level by the GenB project with the hope of being replicated and integrated into the educational models of schools in all member countries of the European Union.

On May the 16th, 2024, the GenB project held its second capacity building webinar for GenB Ambassadors. This instalment, part of an ongoing series aimed at equipping these young advocates with the skills and knowledge to promote the bioeconomy, took a practical turn, focusing on the application of the GenB toolkit and interactive learning methods.

The webinar, which took place online, brought together participants from different countries, all keen to strengthen their role as ambassadors for a sustainable bioeconomy. The session was structured to provide hands-on experience with tools designed to engage and educate different audiences about the bioeconomy.

Agenda highlights:

1. Overview of the GenB Toolkit – Clara Blasco (AIJU, Spain) presented the extensive resources available in the toolkit, highlighting its versatility in educating different age groups about the bioeconomy.
2. Bioeconomy Job Profiles – Isidora Salim (EUN, Belgium) discussed career opportunities in the bioeconomy, highlighting the skills needed and the sectors expected to grow. An important aspect of her presentation was to guide ambassadors on how to effectively communicate these job opportunities and the relevance of the bioeconomy to others.
3. Quizzes and Educational Cards – Clara Blasco (AIJU, Spain) explained how these tools can be used for self-training and for teaching others in an interactive and engaging way.
4. Games and Gamified Solutions – Valentina Vavassori and Selenia Marinelli (FVA, Italy) presented a series of educational games developed by GenB and other projects to teach bioeconomy concepts through play.
5. Students2students – Laura Mentini (APRE, Italy) shared methods for ambassadors to directly engage their peers through activities such as TED-style talks, storytelling, hands-on experiments and facilitating large-scale events.
6. Educational Videos and Library Resources – Pietro Rigonat (LOBA, Portugal) presented the GenB Library, a repository of resources that ambassadors can use to deepen their knowledge and support their advocacy work. He demonstrated how to find educational videos on the bioeconomy and explained how ambassadors can become part of such videos by participating in video projects and creating content.

This webinar emphasised practical application, going beyond theoretical knowledge to equip ambassadors with actionable tools and methods to spread bioeconomy awareness to their peers and beyond. The introduction of different learning formats – quizzes, games, videos and hands-on experiments – aimed to make learning about the bioeconomy engaging and accessible. Participants were provided with detailed instructions and examples on how to use these tools effectively, ensuring that they felt confident in their role as advocates.

The webinar encouraged participants to actively engage through the Mentimeter platform, fostering a collaborative learning environment. They shared their initial thoughts on how they planned to implement the tools presented in their contexts and the potential challenges they foresaw. In addition, when asked if they felt ready after the webinars to take on their role as GenB ambassadors and spread awareness about the bioeconomy, all participants expressed readiness. Just over half said they felt ready but would need some support to overcome certain concerns, while the rest felt fully prepared to take on their role immediately. Notably, none of the participants felt they needed further training, underlining the effectiveness of the webinar series.

The session also set the stage for the final webinar in the series on the 9th September 2024 (18:00 -20:00 CET), which will focus on strengthening soft and cross-cutting skills such as communication, copywriting and video production.

Join the movement: The GenB ambassador programme continues to welcome young people under 30 who are passionate about contributing to a sustainable and circular transition. Those interested in joining can register and become part of a network dedicated to promoting the bioeconomy and sustainable practices.

For more information and to access resources from the webinar, visit the GenB library.
Stay tuned for the next webinar and continue to be a driving force for the bioeconomy!