The SEA project (Seeking for Ecological Alternatives) is born from the need, in our schools, to offer our students a coherent, intelligent and shared response to their serious worries about the climate. The project aims to immerse students from two European schools in a deep reflection on current climate problems and ecology in general. Because we are convinced that technology can be reconciled with ecology, we want to gather around one common thread: the construction of an underwater robot able of taking effective measures of water quality in the Mediterranean and North Sea. The Champion's Providence Institute and the Kalamaria Second High School in Greece have all STEM classes (Science Technology Engeneering and Mathematics). Because their orientation is particularly appropriate, these students will be the driving force of the project. Beyond the symbolic, the construction of the robot also aims to raise their motivation and their empowerment. The first-degree students of Champion will have the main mission (but not unique) to build the theoretical framework of the project. What subject will we be tackled this week? Which robot do we want to build, what for? What could be the topic of our next round table? All those questions, those wishes, fruit of their imagination and their questioning of adult in becoming will be addressed to their elders. The Providence Institute of Champion will bring its's experience to design the robot structure and the Kalamaria High School its's expertise in robotics. So it's really an intergenerational project. Moreover, although specific tasks are assigned for organizational purposes, the main steps will be carried out during our meetings. Fifteen students from each school will meet for the first time in Champion. This meeting will be an opportunity to define together the basics of the project and structure the communication that will be widespread in each school. It will also be an opportunity for students to carry out the necessary research to establish the specifications of the robot. We will then work jointly before going to Greece where the robot will be motorized, programmed and tested. This second meeting will be an opportunity to draw up a first report and revitalize our communication to all the actors of the participating schools. Finally, the following year, about fifteen Greek students will return to Belgium at a third meeting. This will be an opportunity to test the robot in the North Sea but also to present the impact of the project in each school and ensure its sustainability. The construction of the robot is part of the project, the thread. In addition to the technical aspect of the project, the "STEM" will also be responsible for conducting research to regularly communicate to their peers (blog, social networks, posters, etc.). So it's not just a STEM project but a school project initiated by the STEM. Whenever possible, we will consult with the various actors of the schools, in order to extend the exploitation of the documents produced in other courses (languages, biology, geography, etc.). In order to reinforce the feeling of belonging to a global movement among our students, parents and colleagues, we will regularly organize discussion tables between schools and intramural. In this way we will be able to develop a lot of qualities in our students: learning the mechanisms of a democratic consultation, development of European citizenship, language learning, empowerment, ability to work collaboratively, entrepreneurial spirit, acceptance of others in their cultural diversity, etc. Finally, it will not only be a matter of thinking together but of deciding. The two participating schools commit, in consultation with their students, to three strong actions in favor of climate in their school and to take concrete actions throughout the process to improve respect for the ecology within their school. SEA also aims to provide a collegial, intelligent, coherent and thoughtful response to the massive youth uprising in favor of the climate. Our schools want to show that we have heard them ... and that we intend to answer them!
The SEA (Seeking for Ecological Alternatives) project was born shortly after the first youth climate protests. It was necessary to offer a response to their deep concerns. The main objective was to immerse the students in a deep reflection on the current climate problems and ecology. The Providence Institute of Champion and the Second Lyceum of Kalamaria in Greece both had a STEM (Sciences Technology Engineering and Mathematics) option. So we based our project on this pedagogy. The construction of an underwater robot was the pretext for researches and debates on ecology. At the same time, the students are regularly brought to sensitize their peers to the climate emergency (website, school radio, media, newsletters, etc.) As a premise for our project, which we wanted to be intergenerational, we asked the pupils of Champion elementary school to build the theoretical basis of the project. They expressed themselves through gigantic frescoes which decorated the school restaurant for a long time. At the same time, a large survey was conducted among all the actors of our schools (students, teachers and parents) to establish an assessment of what had already been done and what could still be accomplished in terms of the fight for the climate. In January 2020 a 1st conference took place in Belgium. It was the occasion for the Greek school to present the results of their big survey "Ecological Footprint" and to raise awareness of the Belgian students on this subject. They all worked on the first version of the robot in a quasi-professional way (physics classes dedicated to submersibles, elaboration and respect of specifications, SWOT, project defense, 3D design on a professional software, etc.). Against all expectations, two realistic versions of the robot were elaborated in only 3 days. On the fourth day, a big exhibition was organized for the whole school. Joined by STEM 4, the participants closed the conference with a big brainstorming session that defined the main lines of our awareness campaign. The pandemic put a big stop to our project in March 2020. Our 2nd conference, planned in Greece, could not take place. The desertion of our schools quickly eroded our motivation. The main thread of our project being very practical, how could we continue to collaborate at a distance? Hosted by Greece, our 2nd conference was organized virtually in November 2021. More playful activities (quizzes, games, etc.) motivated the students while raising awareness through multiple activities. They supported a richly documented presentation on climate change. Finally, the waste collection operation "Adopt a beach", organized by the WWF, was presented, inspiring the Belgians to organize a similar activity. From a practical point of view, the participants were first introduced to electronics. As we were unable to collaborate face-to-face, the solution that came to mind fitted perfectly into the project: upcycling. After laying the groundwork for a new submarine built from a soda bottle, we gave ourselves a few weeks to refine the model. In February 2022 a final virtual conference was held, hosted by IPC. The previous conference had highlighted the fact that the reality of climate change was causing students some anxiety. We therefore addressed the theme of "eco-anxiety" and put more emphasis on individual actions to reduce one's carbon footprint. In contrast to the previous conference, we presented the victories achieved in the fight against climate change today. A new introduction to 3D modeling was given. All the elements were now in place to build a "martyr" version of our submarine, enriched by the skills of everyone (motorization, electronics, 3D parts, etc.). Many parallel activities were organized. Two more waste collection activity in Greece, for example, or the organization of an "Eco'logic" week in Belgium. The latter also resulted in a waste collection activity and was welcomed by the cabinet of Philippe Henry, Minister of Climate. Shortly after, in June 2022, our robot successfully completed its final test in the Mediterranean. SEA has made a deep impression on our schools, proving that well-organized actions raise awareness as much as mass movements. In each school it has created vocations, work groups, the will to repeat events... The end of the project does not mark the end of these actions. Of all the skills acquired, resilience has undoubtedly been the most important. Let's hope that it will be a significant part of the response we wanted to offer the students at the beginning of the project.