Next Generation Science – the next step Erasmus Project

Project Title

Next Generation Science – the next step

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : School Exchange Partnerships

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Gender equality / equal opportunities; Environment and climate change; ICT – new technologies – digital competences

Project Summary

Next generation Science: A one-year student exchange program and joint science projects.

The NGS project will involve Stedelijk Gymnasium Arnhem (Netherlands) and Lyceum of Keratea (Greece), who will be collaborating on several environment- and robotics related projects.

Water scarcity is the lack of sufficient available fresh water resources to meet water demand. It affects every continent and was listed in 2015 by the World Economic Forum as the largest global risk in terms of potential impact over the next decade. (“Water crises are a top global risk”. World Economic Forum. 16 January 2015)

The lack of clean drinking water will inevitably lead to ecological and social disasters. The main topic of the Next Generation Science (NGS) project is therefore the quality of water and the importance of innovative science to tackle the global water crisis.

Participants
The project involves twelve Dutch and twelve Greek students (at least 50% female students). Students from age group 15/16/17 y.o. are selected for their proven qualities in Science.

Aim of the project
Goal of the project is to get more students involved in science (especially female students) and making students aware of water issues in their local community and globally. This project aims to show how industry and the community can work together to create a cleaner and safer environment, again by stressing the opportunities created by science by getting knowledge about analysis techniques (physics / chemistry) and equipment.

The secondary aim is to provide students with a greater cultural awareness and sense of a common European heritage.

Project 1: Water
An ecological project to compare water quality in the Keratea area and Arnhem. Students from Stedelijk Gymnasium Arnhem (SGA) and Lyceum of Keratea will carry out environmental tests on their local water supply, and measure and compare water quality in their areas. Both areas have in the past been affected by pollution. The project will focus on basic tools such as smartphones and simple robots to measure water quality. Results will be compared to local and European / global standards and used by students working together on the exchange to be presented in the schools.

Project 2: Robotics-project
Robotics/IT-collaboration and exchange of knowledge and ideas between SGA and Lyceum of Keratea.

Staff from the two schools will share good practice in the development of Robotics within and outside of the school.
Both schools are currently working on or interested in projects involving Robotics (LEGO Mindstorms) combined with Labquest: building your own measurement device and calibrating and analyzing the results of measurements.

Cultural awareness and common European values
Subjects of Greek and European Culture, Religious Studies, Ancient Greek and History promote European values and moral principles. They address topics such as equality, prejudice, bias, racism, freedom. Main steps followed in the lesson plans are: setting the objectives and expected results, cooperation and communication, exchange of opinions, development of critical thinking, application on everyday life, conclusion on the stance we should have.

Each student will play host to a student from the partner school and will jointly plan a social program for the evenings and free time during the exchange visits.
Teams of students from both partner schools will work on various water-quality related projects in their own communities. They will establish contacts with universities and NGO’s in the field of water management. The NGS program aims to blend in well with SGA’s special Science program aimed at getting more girls interested in studying Science. Each team of students will therefore consist of at least 50% female students.

Another aim is to further explore the use of robotics in education. Robotics projects (Lego Mindstorms) will focus on the possibilities of testing water quality using robots.

Working together in mixed Greek / Dutch teams will enable students to gain a deeper understanding of social and cultural diversity between Greece and The Netherlands. Students’ self-confidence, team-working and communication skills will be developed by providing opportunities for collaboration and presenting. We expect to develop ideas on IT integration / robotics in our schools and raise ITawareness
amongst staff.

Resources from the project will be used for the benefit of all students in the schools, both in regular teaching and in science / robotics projects. Learning and teaching in the both schools will improve by sharing good practice, pedagogical approaches and general school management.
Students who have taken part in the project will be promoting interest in Science in lower years, so more students will be encouraged to study science and pursue an international career in science.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 32928 Eur

Project Coordinator

Stedelijk Gymnasium Arnhem & Country: NL

Project Partners

• GEL KERATEAS