Schools
Lessons in the classroom and at sea, from primary school upwards, to get to know the sea, understand why it must be protected and discover how good it is to be in it.
The programme
The schools programme is an integral part of the project. It takes place in the four locations with local schools and with classes on trips or study stays, following each location's calendar. Every programme combines three ingredients: knowledge (marine ecology and biology, biodiversity), citizenship (litter, climate, protected areas) and wellbeing (the sea as a place of health and balance).
Programmes by school level
| Level | In the classroom | At sea | Role in the research |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary, ages 6–10 | Who lives in the sea: animals and plants, food chains told through games; plastic and where it ends up | Workshop on the beach and shoreline; observation from the boat; from age 8, snorkelling in shallow water with a reduced instructor-to-child ratio | Observers: a short species list, reporting of litter |
| Lower secondary, ages 11–13 | Biodiversity, Posidonia habitats, alien species, climate change | Guided snorkelling on a surface route (P1); litter data collection (P4) | Observers with data entered into the platform |
| Upper secondary, ages 14–18 | Scientific method, statistics on the project's data, protected areas and sea governance | Snorkelling and, for those who wish and with parental consent, a first dive with an instructor | Data analysis; possible work-experience (PCTO) and civic education projects |
| University and ITS (higher technical institutes) | Seminars on protocols and data management | Working alongside operators during campaigns | Internships and theses on the project's data |
Themes
Marine ecology and biology
How a coastal ecosystem works, who eats whom, the role of Posidonia as the "lung" and nursery of the Mediterranean, the emblematic species of each location.
Biodiversity
Recognising species, understanding why variety matters, discovering alien and endangered species, from the grouper to the noble pen shell. The project's species are on the Species page.
Ecology beyond the sea
Litter and plastic, water and energy, responsible consumption, the link between land and sea, the climate. The sea as a starting point for environmental education in general.
Protected areas and Pelagos
What a park, a marine protected area and a sanctuary are; why there are rules and how to follow them; the cetaceans of the Pelagos Sanctuary.
Wellness: the sea is good for you
Water confidence and comfort; breathing and relaxation, with simple freediving-inspired exercises done safely on land or in shallow water; outdoor movement; attention and calm in observing; the wellbeing that comes from contact with nature and time away from screens.
Scientific citizenship
Every student contributes to real research: the class's data go into the project's dataset and can be found on the website.
Formats
- Basic package: two classroom lessons of about 2 hours and one outing at sea.
- Year-long programme: lessons spread across the year, outings in spring and autumn; the class "adopts" a station and follows its data.
- Special days: taking part in the World Oceans Day BioBlitz and in the MED-BIOWATCH Weeks (see the calendar).
- Teacher training: a session for teachers with teaching materials and access to the platform.
Safety and organisation
Water activities are led by the partner diving centres with qualified instructors, with instructor-to-student ratios suited to age, equipment provided, insurance cover and parental authorisation. Activities at sea depend on weather conditions and always include an alternative on land. Minimum ages, ratios and requirements for each activity are defined with the partner diving centres and the schools. At Giglio the programme can be combined with the summer marine biology workshops already offered by the Parco Nazionale Arcipelago Toscano (Tuscan Archipelago National Park).
The site does not open accounts for anyone under 14: classes are managed by the teacher and students appear only as a number.
What the school keeps
Downloadable teaching materials, the class's access to the platform with its own data, a certificate of participation, and the presentation of the work at the public end-of-season meeting.
Apply
The online application for schools is in preparation. For now you can read this page, explore the locations and follow updates on the website. Contact information is on the Contacts page.
Updated on 25 October 2026.