Month: October 2024

A detailed handout has just been released outlining a series of webinars designed to build capacity in the field of bioeconomy. Divided into three modules—two at the basic level and one at the advanced level—this resource provides a clear structure for learners at different stages of their bioeconomy education. Each module comes with a specific focus, covering fundamental concepts to advanced communication techniques in bioeconomy.

Basic Level 1: Bioeconomy: What is it? What are its applications? What can I do? Is it all good?

This introductory module answers core questions about bioeconomy, explaining what it is, its various applications, and how individuals can engage with the field. It also explores whether bioeconomy is inherently positive or has potential drawbacks. 

Basic Level 2: Bioeconomy explorer: Tools and learning resources from GenB & beyond

The second module focuses on providing participants with practical tools and resources to delve deeper into bioeconomy, with a particular emphasis on learning materials from the GenB project’s toolkit and beyond.

Advanced Level: Communication in sustainable bioeconomy

This module covers strategies for communicating effectively about sustainability within the bioeconomy sector. The focus is on helping participants become adept at conveying complex bioeconomy topics to various audiences. 

Each webinar is hosted on YouTube, making it easily accessible to a global audience. Additionally, slides for each session can be downloaded either individually or for the entire webinar. The handout provides specific time stamps for when each module starts and ends, making it easy for participants to follow along or jump to specific sections of interest.

For full details, be sure to download the handout or visit the official YouTube channel for access to the webinars.

The European Researchers’ Night (ERN) takes place simultaneously across Europe on the last Friday of September to celebrate and research science. Events are organised in hundreds of cities across Europe. In the Netherlands, activities were only held in Groningen this year.

Host venue Forum Groningen and four Schools for Science and Society from the University of Groningen organised the science festival on the European initiative’s behalf. The festival included experiments, science shows, science battles, music, dance, and a nice drink, thus generating a great vibe and offering something for everyone. Like in the previous year, the 2024 edition was sold out.

Staff of the Dutch GenB partner BTG together with GenB Ambassadors based in the Netherlands exhibited at the science festival, representing the GenB project and in collaboration with the 3-CO project, introducing bioeconomy concepts to a diverse audience.

Festival visitors of all ages were invited to an experiment allowing them to feel, smell and discover biomass and bio-based products. They were challenged to feel samples of different types of biomasses, invisibly hidden in cardboard tubes, and make the connection with samples of bio-based products made from that specific biomass material. Players that made the proper connections were rewarded with a bio-based gift.

Whilst they were busy completing this challenge, the BTG team engaged with them, talking about opportunities and other issues related to Bioeconomy, but also answering questions like: what is kapok? How do you produce cleaning agent from citrus fruit peels?

Visitors were additionally informed through a small exhibition of bio-based products, the Dutch version of the “What’s bioeconomy” book for kids, the official GenB gadgets and recent GenB project outcomes.  Coffee notebooks and colouring and activity booklets were handed out to interested visitors. The use of these materials helped to stimulate the engagement and learning of participants of all ages.

The results of the work of a video- and photographer who captured the evening are accessible here.  

GenB activities in the context of the ERN showcases the importance of making complex scientific research accessible to a wider audience, successfully bringing science closer to the public, showing how research affects our daily lives and increasing the interest of young people in scientific and research careers. 

On September 27th, 2024, the ZSI team, representing the GenB project, participated in the European Researchers’ Night, a European-wide event aimed at promoting public interest in science. The event featured two interactive sessions focused on introducing bioeconomy concepts to a diverse audience.

In the morning, a workshop was held with 10th-grade students (aged 16) from HLW Weiz (Höhere Lehranstalt für wirtschaftliche Berufe), a vocational secondary school specialising in business. The session began with an introduction to the bioeconomy, covering its core concepts and some of the controversial issues surrounding it. With 26 students participating, the group was divided into two, and with the assistance of facilitators from ZSI, they played the GenB Escape4Future – Chemistry meets Circular Bioeconomy game. The objective of the game is to challenge players to address the modern world’s issues caused by a linear lifestyle model, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource scarcity. Players must solve six interconnected enigmas related to green chemistry and bioeconomy through hands-on experiments to find a way toward a more sustainable, circular lifestyle. Due to time limitations, the first four stations of the game were completed. Students were introduced to bio-based products and biomass, including the opportunity to create a bio-based “coffee scrub,” which gave them practical insights into sustainable resource use. At the end of the session, participants were rewarded with GenB T-shirts, bags, and books.

The afternoon featured an exhibition that attracted hundreds of visitors of all ages. The ZSI/GenB stand, posters from the BioArtGallery, including one highlighting products made from elephant dung, which proved to be particularly popular. Visitors were intrigued by books made from elephant dung, which were displayed and distributed. Two tables featured a wide array of bio-based products: one displayed GenB gadgets, such as bio-based speakers and earphones, which captured the attention of younger visitors, while the second table presented everyday items like bioplastic bottles, wheat straw plates, and shirts made from wood, which drew the interest of adults eager to learn where these products could be purchased. Additionally, a station was set up for younger children to paint using natural colours made from spices, and a bioeconomy-themed memory game helped teach them about bioeconomy and sustainability.

The event also provided valuable networking opportunities, as discussions were held with representatives from related sectors. Many teachers who visited the stand were informed about and encouraged to participate in future project activities specifically designed for educators. They also expressed interest in the educational materials created by the GenB project and were provided with information on how to access these resources through the project’s website and virtual library.

Great success of the European Researcher’s Night in Italy! ERN is the most important European appointment for science to meet with the citizens, involving 25 countries, attracting 1.5 million visitors across Europe and beyond each year. In particular GenB project ensured that the Bioeconomy was the center of the activities! 

GenB was present in Italy in two different sites at the doors of Rome: Frascati, In collaboration with the ILEAF project (27 and 28 September 2024) and Montelibretti (27 September 2024), in collaboration with I4Science. In total more than 2100 citizens have been engaged in the various activities, including kids, teenagers, families and teachers.  

The GenB ambassadors played a central role in animating the two nights in Frascati, with games, quizzes and the BioArt Gallery exhibition. Nicholas, Sewmy, Alice and Davide conducted 10 rounds of the ESCAPE4Future – Chemistry meets Circular Bioeconomy game, tailoring the experience for two different type of players: a simplified version of the game for the younger ones, and a more challenging gameplay for the teen-agers and young adults. In total more than 200 players experienced this engaging game, learning by playing facts about the bioeconomy and  environmental protection. 

Also the Bioeconomy Quiz was played many times, challenging the participants to answer to questions related to bioeconomy and sustainability. The winners of all ages won bio-based gadgets, including the “what’s bioeconomy” book for kids. 

In parallel, the BioArt Gallery was set-up: informative panels with stunning pictures of feedstock and bio-based products raised curiosity and interest, stimulating the visitors to pose questions to the GenB Ambassadors. Among the participants several copies of the “What’s bioeconomy” book for kids were distributes, in particular to teachers and young students. 

Meanwhile, in Montelibretti a dedicated booth was set-up to inform youth, families and teachers about the diverse opportunities of involvement in the project, in order to take an active role in spreading the bioeconomy. The “What’s bioeconomy” book for kids was highly appreciated and was distributed and used to stimulate the engagement and learning of participants of all ages by playing and reading. 

GenB activities in the context of the European Researchers’ Night showcases the importance of making complex scientific research accessible to a wider audience, successfully bringing science closer to the public, showing how research affects our daily lives and increasing the interest of young people in scientific and research careers.