Executive summary of the project “analyses of ecosystems in Europe according to a comparative approach” The project “analyses of ecosystems in Europe according to a comparative approach” is implemented in the theme “Environment and the conservation of nature”. The participating students from our partner schools in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden are 14 to 17 years old. The overall aim is to make them aware of the importance of ecological education and sustainability. To achieve this they develop a methodology of ecological field research which enables them to examine and evaluate ecosystems according to a self-guided and problem-based approach. Then the methods are tested in familiar ecosystems near our schools and compared within the network of participating schools (example of analyses of rivers according to European standards). On the basis of this work the participants analyse and compare unknown marine ecosystems on the Danish island of Læsø in the Baltic Sea and in Apulia in the south of Italy. The field studies as well as the documentation in the form of a scientific reports and the evaluation are organized in multinational groups. The duration of the project is planned for three years in order to record gradual developments, alterations and changes of the ecosystems. Due to this project the environmental awareness of the participants is going to be systematically enhanced and influenced in such a positive way that the students reflect on the value of the ecosystems and their impact and effects on human beings and that they make efforts to support environmental protection and the maintenance of natural habitats.
The project has successfully dealed with the research, understanding and possibilities of preserving ecosystems, thereby promoting skills in the field of education for sustainable development. The project was divided into several project phases. In the preparation phase at the individual participating schools, the students first acquired theoretical content in the area of ecosystem research. In particular, the mutual relationships between abiotic and biotic environmental factors were developed. The students also learned about methods of ecological field research and practiced them in experiments. One focus was on digital measurement recording. The intensity of this phase varied depending on the form of organization at the participating schools and was organized, for example, in supplementary courses or in the form of project days. Results were exchanged via the MS Teams platform. The platform was set up and maintained by the coordinating school. In the second project phase, the students at the individual schools applied their theoretical knowledge and methodological skills to examine an ecosystem in the area near the school. Documentation about the results was also shared. The third project phase consisted of the direct preparation of the excursions. The special features of the respective marine ecosystems were developed and knowledge of the species was expanded. On an organizational level, the house and research groups were formed and the students got to know each other. All project phases described prepared the participants for the main focus of the project, the study of two marine ecosystems. These ecosystems were the Baltic Sea marine biotope on the Danish island of Laesø and the Mediterranean ecosystem in the Le Cesine nature reserve near Lecce in Italy. Differences and similarities between the marine ecosystems of the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean were identified. Since both excursion locations were examined in both years, some changes over time could also be determined. In total, more than 50 experimental instructions for researching ecosystems were developed. These are also available to participating schools for other teaching contexts. The methodological skills can be used by the participants in science lessons. For each of the four student meetings, a scientific research report was written that documents all experiments and test results. The on-site investigations into the sensitive maritime ecosystems helped to sensitize the participants to their need for protection and to question their own behavior when dealing with natural areas. On the island of Laesø, the bicycle was the only means of transport for all participants, which also made a practical contribution to preserving the ecosystem and protecting the environment. Working with scientific methods is an essential contribution to scientific propaedeutic work. The practical work was supplemented by theoretical considerations in the preparation and follow-up at the individual schools, but also by scientific support from the University of Salento at the project meetings in Lecce. In addition to the University of Salento, the WWF, as the responsible organization for the Le Cesine nature reserve, was also a cooperation partner in the project. In addition to promoting ecological and scientific skills, the project was also able to further develop social, intercultural and communicative skills. For the research work at the project meetings, small international research teams were formed, which generally communicated in English. Experimental instructions were prepared in English and research results were documented in English. During the two student meetings on Laesø, the students lived in international house groups of four or five people. In these groups, everyday life with shopping, cooking, cleaning, etc. had to be organized. International teams were also formed for sporting activities. During the student meetings in Lecce, the participants lived with host families and were thus able to gain direct insights into another culture. All participating schools would like to deepen the findings from this project in a follow-up project.