SpaceEDUnity: Introducing natural hazards to younger generations utilizing advanced technologies

Natural hazards constitute significant risks for both the society and the environment. Thus, it is essential to emphasize in educating younger generations against the consequences of climate change. Addressing this crucial need, the SpaceEDUnity/Erasmus+ project*, was launched in May 2023. This innovative educational initiative strategically utilizes remote sensing and geoinformatics to provide a learning experience regarding natural hazards. SpaceEDUnity targets secondary education school students and teachers, having already reached over 700 students in Greece and Cyprus. The project's core lies in its approach to tailor content specifically to the geographical areas of the participating schools. This strategy focuses on natural disasters relevant to each region, significantly enhancing student engagement and understanding. The project's methodology integrates interactive presentations, quizzes and hands-on workshops. These workshops are particularly focused on applications, such as the monitoring of wildfires and mapping of flooded areas utilizing tools like the EO Browser, GIS, and SNAP software. This approach not only introduces students to the technological aspects of studying natural hazards, but also equips them with practical skills in satellite data processing. A key component of SpaceEDUnity is the development of extensive, user-friendly tutorials for teachers. The purpose of this educational material is to give teachers the opportunity to replicate each activity easily in classroom and therefore ensure sustainability and long-term impact of the project. By empowering teachers with these tools, SpaceEDUnity fosters a continuous learning environment, enhancing the resilience of local communities against natural disasters. SpaceEDUnity stands as a model for integrating science into school curriculums by focusing on localized natural hazards and providing hands-on experience with cutting-edge technologies. In addition, the project not only increases awareness of climate change, but also actively involves young citizens in the protection of their communities.

*SpaceEDUnity is co-funded by the European Union