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Bioeconomy for Educators: Cultivating a Sustainable Future MOOC

Starting on 14^th October 2024

Are you ready to inspire the next generation of eco-conscious leaders?

This MOOC will provide teachers with all the tools and knowledge to bring bioeconomy into your classroom with 4 comprehensive modules!

Course dates: from 14 October to 20 November 2024
Duration: 5,5 weeks
Estimated effort: 25 hours, 5 hours per week

Who is the MOOC for?

The course is for teachers, student teachers, educational professionals, researchers and bioeconomy stakeholders. No prior bioeconomy knowledge needed!

Want to help us spread the word about the course?

Download our promotional pack here!

Date: 19 June 2024

Place: Town Hall of Lucenec, Lucenec 

The event “INNOVATION MEETUP BIOECONOMY” was organised by the Innovation Center of the Banska Bystrica Self-Governing Region together with the BioPark Slovakia Association. The event is taking place on 19 June at the Town Hall of Lucenec and it gathered the key actors of the innovation ecosystem, including policy makers, public authorities, business community, educational community, civil society in the Banska Bystrica region as well as other regions of Slovakia. It was the 6th continuation of the successful INNOVATION MEETUP format.

The goal of the MEETUP was to discuss the ongoing and planned initiatives in bioeconomy and establish new connections in this field. Several invited start-upists / entrepreneurs / innovators presented their innovative activities, solutions or approaches that are in line with the principles of the circular bioeconomy. The details, activities and goals of the GenB project were presented by PEDAL there, together with the various materials and activities available to educators.

In NMO’s educational project Advisors of the Future – Circular Economy, Dutch secondary school students sink their teeth into assignments from external clients in the field of circular economy. The idea is that young people’s fresh perspective and creativity can help professionals.

As part of GenB, BTG commissioned three groups of second graders from Bonhoeffer College (Enschede, The Netherlands) to develop a game to introduce young people in a playful way to the theme of bioeconomy.

Over the past few months, 17 teams of 4 students each have set themselves to completing this assignment (see https://www.genb-project.eu/media/news/genb-project-meets-advisors-of-the-future/). The two best performing student teams were allowed to present their advice during the final event at the provincial government building in Zwolle.

A girls’ team managed to make a big impression with their game, and the fresh presentation of it, and was crowned the provincial winner. They can call themselves the best student advice agency of Overijssel of 2024. “In a bioeconomy, no fossil raw materials are used, but only natural, renewable resources,” the girls explain in their presentation. “The goal of our game is to build the highest possible bio-based tower and topple the opponents’ tower.” If you answer questions about the bioeconomy correctly in the game, you can earn blocks to build the tower.

The pupils want to use their game to introduce their peers to bioeconomy in a playful way. A smart strategy, according to the jury, chaired by deputy Erwin Hoogland. “You combine learning about the bioeconomy with socializing, being busy, and sharpening your mind. 

In the coming weeks, BTG will investigate with Bonhoeffer College whether and how the game concept can be developed further.

For more information, please contact John Vos, vos@btgworld.com

The GenB project and its mission to promote the transition to a circular bioeconomy and more sustainable lifestyles experienced a major upswing during this year’s Scientix STEM Discovery Campaign (SDC24), a worldwide initiative co-organised with the Life Terra project and running from 1 February to 30 April.

Throughout the campaign, the Scientix Bioeconomy Award, recognised the pedagogical activities of teachers and educators inspired by 4 streams:
• Bio-Art Gallery, where students are able to explore different career paths in bioeconomy through an interactive virtual space.
• Experimental Exhibition, which features valuable activities that emphasise sustainability and show students how they could contribute to a greener future though experimentation.
• Hands-on Lab, with a focus on sustainable practices such as recycling and resource re-use.
• Role-play Game, which fosters potential careers through engaging interactive activities.

The submissions ranged from applied sustainability projects to original interpretations of careers in bioeconomy, all aimed at stimulating students and enhancing their understanding of the field.

Out of 300 entries connected to the field of bioeconomy, the award recognised the outstanding entries of the following teachers:
• Serife Takmaz, from Türkiye.
• Iwona Kowalik, from Poland.
• Gjorgjina Dimova, from North Macedonia.
• Aspasia Mylona, from Greece.

Thanks to the Scientix Bioeconomy Award scheme, hundreds of teachers brought the prospect of a STEM career in the field of bioeconomy and sustainability to their students, and in doing so proved that such complex topics as the circular bioeconomy can be taught in a contextualised, engaging, and inspiring manner.

By supporting a Scientix Bioeconomy Award, GenB is proud to contribute to the dissemination of its values for a sustainable future and to provide teachers and students with the opportunity to discover the transformative potential of bioeconomy.

Click on this link (https://www.scientix.eu/campaigns/sdc/sdc24) to learn more about the STEM Discovery Campaign, a Scientix initiative that aims to stir greater engagement in STEM across Europe, which this year has reached more than 100,000 teachers and 700,000 participants, including an indirect reach of 500,000 students.

GenB project and its results were presented at the INNOVATION MEETUP BIOECONOMY event organized by the authorities of Banska Bystrica Self-governing region (the biggest region in Slovakia).

The event “INNOVATION MEETUP BIOECONOMY” was organised by the Innovation Center of the Banska Bystrica Self-Governing Region together with the BioPark Slovakia Association. The event is taking place on 19 June at the Town Hall of Lucenec and it gathered the key actors of the innovation ecosystem, including policy makers, public authorities, business community, educational community, civil society in the Banska Bystrica region as well as other regions of Slovakia. It was the 6th continuation of the successful INNOVATION MEETUP format.

The goal of the MEETUP was to discuss the ongoing and planned initiatives in bioeconomy and establish new connections in this field. Several invited start-upists / entrepreneurs / innovators presented their innovative activities, solutions or approaches that are in line with the principles of the circular bioeconomy. The objectives, activities and results of the GenB project were presented by PEDAL, reaching a wide rande of stakeholders and educators in formal, non-formal and informal education.

The GenB Bioeconomy Youth Forum was successfully kicked off on June 28th with the organization of the cross-fertilisation workshop for green youth networks. The workshop was organised by Q-PLAN INTERNATIONAL and was a great opportunity for 30+ young individuals and professionals, from 15 countries, with passion for sustainability and circular bioeconomy to meet powerful global and European youth networks. Our GenB Ambassadors were actively engaged in this session and contributed to its success.

Johann Liebeton was among the guest speakers who, representing the International Advisory Council on Global Bioeconomy (IACGB), shared insights from his experience with Bioeconomy Youth Champions initiative and the path towards the vision to create a global and inclusive global community for bioeconomy professionals. Additionally, he presented the upcoming Global Bioeconomy Summit that will take place in Nairobi, Kenya on October 23rd – 24th, this year.

Etieno Essien, the Head of the Bioeconomy Think Tank of the Food and Agriculture Youth Institute (FAYI), was invited to introduce our audience to this fresh initiative whose vision is “to raise awareness about negative effects of non-sustainable products and processes but also to promote innovation for sustainable alternatives”. Additionally, he introduced the Bioeconomy Think Tank team and their initial steps and activities to expand this community. Etieno is also an international GenB Ambassador.

Susanna Albertini and Juliet Tschank of the GenB team, presented the Ambassadors programme that engages and empowers more than 80 young people in Europe and beyond towards assuming a role as the sustainable transition with the bioeconomy (the “Generation Bioeconomy”). Nicholas Ferrini (20 years old) one of our Italian Ambassadors delivered a motivating speech about his amazing journey with a variety of activities to promote the Bioeconomy. His first contact with the bioeconomy was 7 years ago and still continues under the GenB ambassadors’ programme.

In the second half of the event, our young attendees were actively engaged in a knowledge exchange and networking session, where the youth networks offered their expertise to other networks in topics such as capacity building, events, business support, tools and engaging contents. In parallel, networks and the young individuals expressed their needs for support, including funding, mentorship, school-industry collaboration and leadership. Additionally, they provided valuable insight to define a series of online youth debates focusing on the bioeconomy. The online debates will be the core activity of the GenB Bioeconomy Youth Forum and will be a platform for the younger generations to express their voice and shape the future of circular bioeconomy.

Interesting GenB resources:
– Become a GenB Ambassador! (https://www.genb-project.eu/ambassadors/become-a-genb-ambassador/)
– Capacity Building Webinars for GenB Ambassadors (YouTube) (https://www.youtube.com/@biovoicesproject5291/videos)
– Registration for Capacity Building Webinar – Advanced Level (https://survey3.zsi.at/index.php/858749?lang=en)
– GenB Library and Toolkits (https://library.genb-project.eu/)

Interesting resources form the IACGB:
– The Bioeconomy Youth Champions (https://www.iacgb.net/youth)
– Global Bioeconomy Summit 2024 (https://bioinnovate-africa.org/global-bioeconomy-summit_2024/)
– Bioeconomy Youth Community (LinkedIn group) (https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8993689/)

FAYI – Bioeconomy Think Tank:
– Website (https://www.iaasworld.org/fayi)

The speakers’ presentations are available for download in English.

The Athens Science Festival (ASF), celebrated its 10 year anniversary this year and GenB was there. From April 16 to April 19 the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (HSPN) with the support of Q-PLAN International, participated in the festival with an interactive showcase of bioeconomy products and hands-on labs activities for children of all ages and adults. The HSPN focused on raising awareness and promoting education about the bioeconomy and circular economy, all within the framework of the HORIZON GenB Biovoices project.

The “Bioeconomy Village” exhibition became a hub of activity, attracting a diverse audience eager to learn about sustainable practices. With a large variety of bio-based products ranging from simple items like wooden toothbrushes to impressive bottles made of bioplastics and notebooks with paper made from animal waste, visitors of the festival had a chance to come in contact with bioeconomy and the alternative options it provides for a more sustainable everyday life.

During the 6 days of the festival, more than 15.000 attendants including students from all over Greece, teachers, parents and general public from all over the world visited the HSPN GenB counter, learned about bio-based products, waste valorisation and composting and were introduced to GenB’s innovative educational tools on bioeconomy. HSPN’s EU Projects and Educational groups conversed with the visitors helping them grasp the basic concepts of bioeconomy and explaining basic processes of bio-based production in fun and engaging ways.

One of the highlights was the hands-on labs for children, where participants engaged in creative activities such as painting Easter eggs using natural dyes and exploring sustainable production methods for everyday items and energy. The enthusiasm and curiosity of the visitors, especially the youngest ones, truly brought the event to life and provided a fun experience for everyone.

The activities were designed to be both educational and engaging, ensuring that young minds left with a lasting interest in science and sustainability and underscoring the importance of involving the younger generation in discussions about the bioeconomy, fostering a sense of responsibility and curiosity about the environment.

The event couldn’t have been a success without the support of fellow Greek project partner Q-PLAN international and, of course, the Greek GenB Ambassadors who not only supported the event, but were trained into actively participating in the engagement of the audience with “Bioeconomy Village” exhibition and the hands-on labs activities, demonstrating the power of collaboration in achieving common goals.

The Athens Science Festival provided a great platform for GenB knowledge sharing, but also created a space for meaningful interactions about sustainable practices. The positive reception from the public indicates a growing interest in bioeconomy and circular economy topics, which is a promising sign for future initiatives.