Public engagement spotlight on the Eastern Mediterranean and Aegean
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN DIVERSEA: SPOTLIGHT ON THE MEDITERRANEAN AND AEGEAN
DiverSea partner National & Kapodistrian University of Athens is rolling out public engagement activities across Greece to foster public participation in marine research, strengthen stakeholder involvement, and promote environmental awareness in diverse communities. This work exemplifies DiverSea's commitment to deep public involvement in marine and coastal research and management.
With school-based citizen science, students contribute to research in areas like marine phytoplankton, microplastics, and water quality measures like seawater pH and temperature. Students work with researchers and get a hands-on introduction to professional marine research facilities and instruments.
A stakeholder workshop in Athens brought together diverse professionals and community members to share perspectives, identify regionally specific environmental threats, and map problems and solutions.
And NKUA sees fieldwork as another opportunity for community engagement: While on-site for DiverSea fieldwork in Santorini, researchers invited the local public for an open discussion and demonstration of research methods. Teachers, tourism representatives, divers, and municipal employees were among those who showed up for these informal sessions.
We are grateful to the nexus monARC project for close partnership in these efforts.
Upcoming activities include more citizen science activities with primary school students, an advanced summer school for graduate student and early career researchers in Methana, and the spread of stakeholder workshops to new regions.