Innovative approaches to bioeconomy education
In our rapidly changing world, the active engagement of citizens is crucial to successfully addressing climate change. Efforts to increase the awareness and agency of the public are evident in many educational initiatives, such as citizen science, but the need for comprehensive, widespread environmentally themed curricula continues to grow. Educating citizens and engaging them in environmental governance requires innovative tools built on best practices. The EU-funded BioBeo(opens in new window) project used elements of universal design(opens in new window), the pillars of global citizenship and cutting edge technical solutions to provide methods and materials to students and educators across Europe.
School pilots and educational outreach
BioBeo was piloted in over 20 schools across Belgium, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands. Programming reached students from preschool to university and in some schools bioeconomy education was integrated into the curriculum in response to the BioBeo programme. Two schools in Germany plan to incorporate project outcomes into daily school life. In Ireland, project coordinator Tom Curran shares: "Bioeconomy will now be a topic in a new subject called ‘Climate Action and Sustainable Development’ for secondary school students." The project reached even more students by participating in non-school-based educational events. BioBeo reached over 13 000 students at ESB Science Blast(opens in new window), and 200 participants in the flagship BioBeo festival brought together students, teachers and policy makers in a creative, interactive and culturally inclusive format. Activities organised by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE)(opens in new window) were also successful. According to Reeza Hanselmann, FEE International Coordinator of Education: “In the 2024 Global Action Days, participants were invited to find, photograph and share examples of day-to-day items produced through bioeconomy. Over 70 500 participants from more than 500 settings across 60 countries took on this BioBeo activity.”
Environmental themes for a digital toolkit
The five pillars of global citizenship — relational diplomacy, global leadership, global understanding, civic engagement and academic and professional competence — guide the tools designed by the project. These holistic skills emphasise engagement, communication and connection. The content of BioBeo materials is designed around five bioeconomy themes: outdoor learning, interconnectedness, forestry, food loop and life below water. These themes reflect real-world environmental priorities and help communities understand their role in the circular bioeconomy. Some themes, such as forestry and food loop, were easier for students to grasp because of their tangible aspects. Students who lived far from the coast needed support with the life below water theme since they were unfamiliar with aquatic environments. Interconnectedness required careful conceptual framing to make it relevant to learners. The BioBeo digital tools include an exciting and interactive collection of animated videos, augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR) content, music, comics, puppet shows, board games and the BioBeo app. Materials designed for younger learners feature appealing cartoon characters such as Beo and Raja, a girl and her dog. Teaching materials are available online, bringing the innovative content and methods of BioBeo directly into the classroom. To support innovation in schools, the toolkit includes a digital handbook meant to guide curriculum redesign featuring the bioeconomy. Fighting climate change is an enormous endeavour and requires the effort of every citizen. By providing innovative educational tools and ensuring their wide dissemination, BioBeo is preparing students to take up the challenges of environmental stewardship. Learn more about BioBeo here(opens in new window).