Speleology, Hiking and Botanical Exploration: Enhancing Environmental Awareness through Field Activities and new technologies.

Keywords: biodiversity, botanical identification, digital herbarium, field education, environmental education, geodiversity, hiking, technology integration, speleology.

For over five years, the “Galileo-Curie” High School, under the leadership of Professor M. Cazzorla and the Department of Sciences guided by Professor S. Valletta, has been organizing the “Speleo-Hiking Course,” aimed at promoting environmental awareness and the preservation of local biodiversity through theoretical lessons, hiking activities, and speleological and botanical fieldwork.

Past initiatives have involved approximately 20 students, combining theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience in natural environments. These activities were carried out with the participation of Natural Sciences teachers and supported by experts from the tourist promotion agency Puglia Escursioni and the Italian Society of Environmental Geology (SIGEA-APS), an environmental protection association recognized by the Ministry of the Environment.

Starting from the current scholastic year, the course will introduce free software for plant recognition, the collection of field photographs to be shared in a common online repository and a final computer-based laboratory session to create digital products, which will be published on the School’s website. The integration of digital tools and technologies represents a crucial innovation, allowing students to collect, analyze, and share environmental data more effectively.

The course will be organized in three main sections:

• Laboratory lessons: four two-hour lessons focused on the main geological features of the territory, equipment and safety during hiking activities, ecological interactions, biodiversity conservation and the use of new technologies for environmental research. Practical exercises will include using speleological equipment in the school gym, downloading and using mobile apps for plant and bird species recognition and capturing representative field photographs with detailed annotations.
• Field trips: our excursions involving hiking and cave exploration, allowing students to observe karstic phenomena, rock formations, and cave ecosystems. Students will also practice species identification using mobile applications and collect data for their digital herbarium.
• Computer Laboratory Sessions: Students will research species information, contribute to an eBook illustrating the shared digital herbarium, create a logo using AI-enhanced generative software, and write short articles describing the sites visited and their field experiences. All digital outputs will be embedded on the school website.

Through these activities, students will develop skills in ecological observation, geological analysis, botanical classification, digital content creation, and collaborative learning, enhancing both scientific knowledge and soft skills.

As part of the school’s Educational Offer Plan, this initiative highlights the potential of an interdisciplinary approach in fostering sustainable values among younger generations. Moreover, the integration of digital tools and AI technologies ensures that the knowledge and experiences gained are not confined to the classroom but are shared widely, promoting a culture of environmental responsibility beyond the school community.

Students who attend all planned activities will be awarded formative credits.