A UNESCO delegation has recently visited the Hațeg County International UNESCO Geopark, administered by the University of Bucharest. The representatives of the important international organization arrived at the Geopark to monitor the progress of the citizen science project Sustainability at work! Research and community driven action for sustainable development in Hateg Country UNESCO Global Geopark.
The project is one of the first 10 projects financed globally by UNESCO, up to present, and was designated the winner following an international competition. The contest was organized by the Regional UNESCO Office for Science and Culture in Europe abrdn Charitable Foundation (aCF), within the 3-year project dedicated to promoting durable development in the sites and designations within UNESCO programs in Europe and North America.
Connecting scientific research with education, through practical activities
The project is supervised by the University of Bucharest in collaboration with the Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, the EduGeoparc informal network and local NGOs – the Association of Women in Sîntămăria-Orlea and Retezat Association of Tourism, which aim to connect, through practical activities, scientific research with education, promoting science in the context of climate change. The initiative involves professors, pupils and volunteers for the Geopark to collect and interpret scientific data, thus contributing to a better understanding of the impact of climate change and the improvement of the quality of life in the community.
During the visit, the UNESCO delegation evaluated the 6 participating schools and assisted in experiments dedicated to the analysis of water samples by using special kits. The host of the meeting with the UNESCO representatives was the Theoretical High-School Ion Constantin Brătianu in Hațeg. Pupil and professors from the secondary schools in Sîntămăria-Orlea, Densuș, Bretea Română, from Professor Bora Tit Liviu high school and from the Sarmizegetusa secondary school, as well as the group of young volunteers shared their experience in the project and demonstrated how water samples are analyzed. The UNESCO delegation also discussed with Zoran Acimov, the Director of the National Retezat Park, which is nominated for UNESCO designation Man and Biosphere, with other institutional partners involved in the project, while Mrs. Madlen Șerban, General Secretary of the National Commission of Romania for UNESCO, had an online intervention.
Creating an educational and research frame based on the concept of citizen science
Project Sustainability at Work! is focused on creating an educational and research frame based on the concept of citizen science – which included measurements and interpretations of the quality of alternative drinking water sources (springs and wells).
The main objective is to create a platform which will host the map of the quality of water sources in the Geopark, as well as to develop an evaluation method of the water print and implement a durability strategy for the two partner organizations of the Geopark and for volunteers. In addition, in the coming period, with the support of pupils and professors, the platform will be updated with the results of the analyses taken so far, and there will also be a brochure containing local stories on the water sources analyzed. The results obtained so far will be made public during a conference which will take place in fall.
By unreeling this project, the Hațeg County International Geopark aims to bring a significant contribution to maintaining the University of Bucharest among the higher-education institutions with the greatest involvement in activities specific to durable development at international level.
The visit of the UNESCO delegation highlights the importance of international collaboration and community involvement in achieving the Durable development Objectives, in the context of the 20 year anniversary since the creation of the Global network of Geoparks.
SECŢIUNE ACCESIBILIZATĂ PENTRU PERSOANELE CU DIZABILITĂŢI DE VEDERE
Postări asemănătoare:
Pupils and professors from four countries, including Romania, are valorizing “The Memory of the Earth” through the “EMME” Erasmus + program. Hațeg County UNESCO International Geopark, administered by UB, permanent support in implementing the program
European week of Geoparks 2024: a marathon of events in the Hațeg County International UNESCO Geopark, administered by UB
The University of Bucharest Received the Visit of a UNESCO Delegation
Volunteers from the UNESCO International Geopark Țara Hațegului Prepared to Become Ambassadors of the Geopark
