ADSWIM and WATERCARE Projects Meet Kids and Youth: The Challenge of Bringing theWorld of Research to School to Merge Research, Education and Communication
Elisa Baldrighi 1; *; Patricija Muzlovic 2; *; Anna Annibaldi 3; 4; Antonella Penna 4; 5; Elena Manini 1; Elia Rosetti 1; Enrico Esposito Renzoni 6; Federica Grilli 1; Gloria Giacomini 6; Ivana Kristovic 7; Ivo Duracic 7; Maja Krzelj 8; Marin Ordulj 8; Martin Bu´can 9; Pierluigi Penna 1; Vedrana Spada 10; Josipa Bilic 10; Mauro Marini 1; 4; Sabina Susmel 11;
The transfer of communication and knowledge from science and research to the general
public is a paramount step to raise people’s awareness about environmental issues and their negative
and positive impacts on each of us. Many projects and initiatives seek to raise awareness among
citizens, with particular attention to young people, about the importance of maintaining clean
and healthy oceans. With this paper, we aim to present the successful communication initiatives
developed during two Interreg projects, AdSWiM andWATERCARE, with schools and educational
organisations on the local and national levels in Italy and Croatia. Both projects make a special
effort to realize dedicated communication strategies with the objective of raising the awareness of
environmental topics and issues among young people (i.e., students of different school grades) and
teachers. The promotion of ocean literacy among students is crucial, as children and young people
represent the future citizens and consumers who will develop attitudes and make decisions that will
inevitably affect the environment.
2022 - Journal article
Water (Basel) 14 (2022). doi:10.3390/w14121843
Keywords: ocean citizenship, communication plan, water quality, wastewater management, Adriatic Sea, sustainability