Overview of workshops and trainings

Detailed description of workshops and trainings offered during the GLOBE Regional Meeting

Times are given in EEST (Riga), it means UTC + 3 hours

On this page you will find a detailed description of the workshops and trainings organized during the 2023 GLOBE Regional Meeting in the following days:

Wednesday, October 18th

14:00 – 15:30

A1: Researching soil fertility with earthworms

René Broch and Esther Meduna, GLOBE Switzerland

You will assess soil fertility by examining the different ecological groups of earthworms inhabiting the soil. The quantity of earthworms within soils vary considerably due to factors such as agricultural practices, soil management, and fertilization methods. The promotion of earthworm populations is a form of soil protection, which in turn contributes to climate protection and the preservation of biodiversity. This workshop is a hands-on experience that might leave you with dirty hands, but the data collected will enable you to evaluate the fertility of the examined soil, thereby determining its ecological significance.

B1: Urban science – Carbon positive city

GLOBE Latvia

Cities are responsible for around 70% of global CO2 emissions. As urban populations continue to grow, the impact of climate change on them will only increase. Urban Science focuses on how science develops solutions in response to specific urban issues. It also brings the opportunity to motivate pupils to view the positive benefits of science around them. In this workshop we will look at the Carbon Sinks and Reservoirs in the city and think about actions converting atmospheric carbon to forms that improve the city environment.

C1: Air Quality Campaign – Focus on NO2
Suitable for primary level as well.

Aileen Bright, GLOBE Ireland and Ramona Mercieca, GLOBE Malta

Air Quality monitoring has been done by GLOBE schools across Europe. Based on experience from Ireland and Malta, you will learn mainly about monitoring a traffic-related pollutant, nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The workshop will include device demonstration, tips on how to combine GLOBE protocols with NO2 monitoring, data interpretation, examples of student projects and solutions-oriented actions, stories from successful collaborations, and how you can join collaborations on air quality!

D1: What is new in GLOBE Technology – overview for teachers

Cornell Lewis, GLOBE Technology team

Session will provide a quick overview on what new features students and teachers can use within the GLOBE website or when using GLOBE Apps and online tools. Questions are most welcome!

Wednesday, October 18th

16:00 – 17:30

A2: Remote Sensing Data showing Climate Change Consequences

Přemysl Štych, Faculty of Science, Charles University Prague

Satellite imageries bring relevant information for climate change research and education – thanks to satellites that monitor fires, temperature, precipitation, soil moisture, ice cover or sea level rise. Don’t be afraid of remote sensing! Let’s get to know open data sources of remote sensing and its application for the climate change education from local to global scale. You will explore the case studies and tutorials that document climate change and its consequences for nature and society in different regions of the world.

B2: Inquiry-based learning outdoors

Lenka Vlčková and Jan Blažek, GLOBE Czech Republic

Questions and hypothesis are hanging all around us – in the garden, on the way to school, at the public park. Join us in exploring how to develop students´ curiosity by taking them outdoors. What works well and what does not? Trainers will share their long-term experience of working with the primary school teacher community in the Czech Republic. The session will take place outdoors.

C2: Air Quality Campaign – Focus on PM and aerosols
suitable for secondary school level

Danielle de Staerke, GLOBE France and Dorien Dorresteijn, GLOBE Netherlands

Let´s look at GLOBE student and citizen science projects in France and the Netherlands that are tracking the Air Quality, specifically the tiny particles that we can find in different levels of atmosphere. How to connect the pressing issue of air pollution to GLOBE protocols? Learn how you can start the same monitoring at your school and join collaborations on air quality!

D2: Individual consultations on GLOBE Technology

Cornell Lewis, GLOBE Technology team

Book your time with the expert on GLOBE Technology! If you have any question or issue regarding GLOBE apps, data entry, accounts, visualization, school profile or any other – this is the session for you. The most common errors or misunderstandings when using GLOBE apps or online tools will be discussed.

Thursday, October 19th

9:00 – 12:30

A3: Investigating Climate Resilience around school

GLOBE Ireland

In this session you will practice (outdoors): 1) Assessing the impact of land cover on heatwave and rainfall-related risks, 2) Measuring precipitation and observing soil permeability to investigate flood risk, 3) Recording surface temperature on the GLOBE Observer App. Following your outdoor assessment, you will take part in a nature-based solutions workshop. The session was prepared based on GLOBE Ireland experience with 2023 pilot project combining GLOBE protocols and Climate Resilient Risk/Solution assessment.

B3: Hunting for microplastics in the Daugava River

Graziella Mocellin, Lorella Rigonat, Sandro Sutti (GLOBE Italy and LABTER-CREA); online: Alessandra Sutti, Stuart Robottom (Deakin University, Australia) 

You will learn to apply the Microplastic Monitoring Protocol in all its phases: sampling, filtration, observation under the microscope, classification and validation. You will as well acquire the ability to discriminate what is microplastics in the hydrosphere from what is not (phytoplankton, zooplankton, silica, etc.). At the end, we will also judge the quality of the water body investigated and give ideas on how to present this information to the community. Examples of posters, reports, etc. drawn up by European students who participated in the 2022 and 2023 monitoring campaigns will be showcased and discussed.

C3: CO2 monitoring and other climate change related outdoor learning activities

Adriana Mlýnská, Martina Gánovská, Svit Technical High School, Slovakia

We will present selected activities that help students to understand 1. The CO2 atmosphere-biosphere dynamics and 2. Soil resilience to climate change related extreme weather events, such as drought.
For the first one, we will monitor atmospheric CO2 concentration using a sensor. For the second one, we will compare sites of different soil and surface quality to see which natural material allows for better infiltration / retention of water.

D3: GLOBE Data Visualization and Analysis tools – practice

Cornell Lewis, GLOBE Technology team

The GLOBE database contains more than 230 milion data collected over the years. If you want to get a guided tour on how to find, compare, visualize, export or share data that you may need for teaching or your students may need for a research project, join this session. In order to be able to practice on your own, bring your own laptop or tablet.

Thursday, October 19th

14:00 – 17:30

A4: Trees and Phenology – data literacy learning activities

Primary school level

Lenka Kleger, Dana Votápková, Europe and Eurasia RCO

In this session, you will explore short data literacy activities designed to enhance students’ skills in understanding the results of their tree-related research and interpreting their findings. You will also engage in hands-on activities used by GLOBE teachers to spark students’ interest in trees and foster their understanding of the diverse roles trees play in our environment and their importance. The session will be held partly outdoors with hands-on phenological observations and tree height measurements using the GLOBE Observer App.

B4: Learning from nature – Biomimicry design in education

GLOBE Latvia

Biomimicry takes us on a journey to discover the principles which make nature a model for sustainability: thanks to them we may tackle some of the greatest challenges of today, such as climate change or pollution. Biomimicry design project brings the content of science, design and technology in real-life situations. Through interdisciplinary connection it promotes students’ critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving and entrepreneurial skills. During the workshop you will get an insight to the biomimicry design cycle. You will also learn how to engage students for different steps of the cycle.

C4: Fires and Climate Change – Fire Fuel Protocol in Practice

Ivica Štrbac, Primary school “Josip Pupačić” Omiš and Zrinka Klarin, Elementary school Šime Budinića Zadar, Croatia

Have you heard about the GLOBE Fire Fuel protocol? It might be a great guideline for your students to investigate land susceptibility towards fire. Croatian teachers will share their experience on how the protocol was included into their students project on fires and climate change. Hands on workshop will be partly organized outdoors.

D4: GLOBE Observer App field practice

Cornell Lewis, GLOBE Technology team

GLOBE Observer App has been developed and enhanced a lot over last 2 years and it has become widely popular among schools and citizen scientists. This workshop is both for experienced users and for beginners. To be able to collect the data with the app, make sure you bring your own smartphone with the GLOBE Observer App downloaded. The session will take place outdoors.