Author: loba

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. 

In the younger age, many times children or young adults are encouraged to join team sports such as football. This phenomenon doesn’t only raise from the will to develop specific practical skills or improve the health state of the youngest. Building a sense of community and compromise in children is believed to provide them with soft skills essential in their future life. Growing through the ideas of responsibility towards others and collaboration to achieve certain goals, raises the abilities to interact through communication and also teaches us a strong lesson: we cannot do everything by ourselves. Being part of a team and understanding the different roles of each player, helps us from a young age to understand the power of collaboration, and the satisfaction that raises from a job well done together. Such scenario can equally be applied to the development of bioeconomy. Unlike the more traditional economy, focused on a linear production system, bioeconomy sets a circular approach with different players, aiming to score as many goals as possible against climatic crisis.

However, this collective work needs players with different abilities, same as a football match, or have you ever seen a match with 11 strikers? What about with 11 defenders? Perhaps 11 goalkeepers would keep our net safe, but to win, we also need to move on, score some goals! The equilibrium lies on diversity, on the abilities of each player, the relevance of every specific role. Only this way it is possible to reach a just transition into a more sustainable living model. 

In the big frame, bioeconomy needs those who keep “environmental damages” from happening, same as goalkeepers and defenders do in the pitch! These can for instance be waste treatment plants. Those take care of the generated tons of waste and keep them from being thrown away into landfills or oceans, which would increase the pollution levels. Such activities do not only increase the greenhouse gases emissions, but also result in an aggression towards the biodiversity. The appropriate management of waste, definitely keeps goals from being scored in our net. However, while it is always important to defend our net, we also need to score goals in order to win the match. This role is about finding new ways to develop our activity in a non-harmful way for the environment, and even aiming to improve it. This, for example, may be the role of researchers, who play in the first row facing challenges with their wide expertise within several fields of the natural sciences or engineering sectors. They are capable to take the “balls” that our goalkeepers saved, and make them reach the opposite net. In the sustainability field, much work in research centers, research and development departments and universities focuses on the optimization of waste valorization processes, aiming to score back with the ball that initially was directed towards our net.

Bioeconomy is a clear example of the relevance of team work and expertise diversity, enhancing the importance of each player and specially the collaboration among them, and these are only a few examples of the roles that can be taken. We can take a role in the sustainable transition through very different activities, we just have to find our strength and learn on the way from our team mates!

The GenB project is thrilled to announce the launch of the second edition of the GenB Bioeconomy Quiz and GenB Bioeconomy Educational Cards. Designed for teenagers aged 14 to 19, these versatile resources aim to enhance understanding of bioeconomy concepts through engaging and interactive materials.

Quizzes: Test your knowledge in a dynamic way.

The GenB Bioeconomy Quiz is a dynamic tool that covers essential topics such as sustainability, bio-based plastics and their life cycle, bioenergy applications, and waste management within the circular economy. Featuring multiple-choice and true/false questions, these 20 quizzes serve as an effective means for self-assessment and knowledge enhancement.

Educational Cards: Expand your understanding interactively.

The GenB Bioeconomy Educational Cards cover crucial topics such as the sustainability of biodegradable and compostable materials, common sources of renewable energy, applications of the bioeconomy, and waste management within the circular economy. These 20 cards are meticulously crafted to present concise and relevant information in a visually appealing format, making complex topics accessible and engaging for young learners. Suitable for both formal and informal educational settings, the cards can be used for self-study or integrated into classroom activities, promoting interactive and enjoyable learning experiences.

As the new release of quizzes and educational cards is currently being finalized, we invite you to explore the first edition of our educational toolkit available here.

Part of the GenB Toolkit. GenB Bioeconomy Quiz and GenB Bioeconomy Educational cards are 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 quizzes and educational cards 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!