The Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN) is participating this week in the EMSEA Conference 2025, one of Europe’s leading forums on marine education, held from 15 to 18 September in Ostend, Belgium. Organised by the European Marine Science Educators’ Association (EMSEA), the conference brings together professionals from the scientific, educational, and institutional sectors to discuss the present and future of ocean literacy in Europe.
In this context, representatives from PLOCAN are presenting the educational projects EduBlue and EduSen, developed in collaboration with the Department of Education and Youth of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria.
Both initiatives promote ocean literacy and environmental awareness among secondary school students and teachers in the Canary Islands through active learning methodologies based on experimentation, open technologies, and DIY (do-it-yourself) marine sensor systems.
EduBlue engages students and teachers of Technology and Digitalisation subjects from 15 secondary schools in Gran Canaria in the construction of functional models of marine renewable energy platforms, integrating green hydrogen systems, CO₂ emission sensors, and underwater sound analysis using hydrophones.
Meanwhile, EduSen targets 10 secondary schools focusing on Biology, Geology and Environmental Science. Students explore coastal oceanography and marine biodiversity using Arduino-compatible kits for marine sensing and the PlanktoScope microscope to analyse water samples and observe plankton.
Both projects are funded by the Department of Education of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria and supported by the H2Verde initiative. They promote an interdisciplinary approach that combines teacher training, student experimentation, and science outreach. This integration of STEM competencies fosters active learning and empowers young people to lead the transition towards a more sustainable future.
PLOCAN’s participation in the annual conference of the European Marine Science Educators’ Association—which this year also addressed key topics such as the connection between the ocean, democracy and European citizenship—represents a strategic opportunity to highlight the educational and marine science efforts carried out from the Canary Islands, strengthen international networks, and contribute to the development of replicable models for scientific and technological training.
Project name:
•EduBlue. Emisiones y sonidos azules.
•EduSen. Sensores marinos – del aula al congreso.
Main funding: Consejería de Educación y Juventud del Cabildo de Gran Canaria.
Other funding: PLOCAN y Proyecto H2Verde.
