It has become almost routine – the annual project week at various secondary schools before the holidays.
Grades have been submitted, the school year is nearly over – time to focus on matters that are equally important, such as the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
This year, we were practically overwhelmed. Five schools enquired: five times middle school, six age groups from school years 5 to 10, a total of seven class or course groups, some spanning several days, and all highly interested.
There were even repeat participants across different year groups, such as Justus from Leverkusen, who joined for the third time.
None of this would be possible without a large team, particularly as the schools were dispersed from Dorsten via Düsseldorf and Leverkusen to Troisdorf (all in NRW) as well as to Wendlingen (Baden-Württemberg) – the latter even involving three courses.
This year, the focus was on Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays). However, fisheries and marine plastic pollution were also on the teachers' wish lists. The advantage of a project week: there is ample time to address all questions and areas of interest.
Conclusion of all speakers, teachers and students:
The ocean, with its diverse range of organisms, is infinitely fascinating and worthy of protection.
And the schools? They have already signed up for next year. We promise we will return.
