Promoting science: the creation of a scientific observatory to raise awareness of sea biodiversity

The project, funded by the Sicilian local authority and promoted by IAMC
(Institute for Marine and Coastal Environment) - CNR – National Centre
for Research (IT) and LPS (Laboratory for Experimental Research) -
UniRomaTRE (IT), stems from the need to improve science
understanding and to strengthen the knowledge about the specific
characteristics of the Sicilian sea environment, creating a science
observatory on biodiversity.
The idea behind the project is that of setting and spreading the culture
of the sea, devising actions addressed to secondary school students and to
certain disadvantaged categories of the population (children at risk of
social exclusion and drop out, unemployed and immigrants).
The observatory to be created will be based at IAMC – CNR (TP - IT)
and will pursue the following aims:
˗ development of research and testing methods for effective teaching of
science and history of science, with particular emphasis on the use of
new technologies;promotion of information and dissemination of scientific, historical and
scientific issues, both nationally and internationally, including the
implementation of exhibitions, conferences, publishing and multimedia
projects;
˗ promotion of technical-scientific culture in schools at secondary level in
particular, including better use of scientific laboratories and multimedia
tools, involving students in initiatives able to facilitate communication
with the world of research and production, so as to raise a widespread
awareness of the importance of science and technology for everyday life
and for the sustainable development of society;
˗ promotion of specific activities where disadvantaged categories are
involved and supported.