On Thursday, May 28, 2026, the 2nd Junior Marine Conference of the project “EduSen: Marine Sensors – From the Classroom to the Conference” was held. The initiative, developed by PLOCAN, aims to promote ocean literacy and bring marine research closer to secondary school students in Gran Canaria.
The event brought together students and teachers from different schools across the island for a day dedicated to scientific outreach, marine sustainability, and the exchange of knowledge acquired throughout the project. Through this conference, first-year Bachillerato students had the opportunity to publicly present the results of their research and hands-on experiences related to the study of marine ecosystems and oceanographic variables.
Among the main objectives of the event were the systematization and presentation of the knowledge gained during the project, the development of skills in scientific communication and outreach, the encouragement of scientific vocations among students, the promotion of participation in collaborative environments, and reflection on the impact of human activity on marine ecosystems.
Throughout the day, the participating groups presented and defended the scientific posters they had developed during the project, showcasing the knowledge acquired through practical activities such as field data collection, marine biodiversity analysis, and the study of environmental variables. These presentations allowed students to share experiences and interact with peers from other schools in a dynamic and participatory environment.
The conference was organized in two distinct phases. In the first stage, students took part in a rapid-fire presentation round, briefly and dynamically presenting the main results and conclusions of their scientific posters. The finalist posters then advanced to a second phase, in which their authors delivered a more detailed presentation before an expert panel responsible for evaluating the scientific quality, communication skills, and originality of the proposed projects.
In this second edition, several groups of students from 10 schools in Gran Canaria participated. After the evaluation of the works presented, the finalist groups were two groups from IES El Calero, one group from IES Villa de Firgas, one group from IES Las Huesas and one group from IES Cairasco de Figueroa.
The first prize was awarded to a group from IES El Calero for their scientific poster “Does the increase in temperature affect all the biocenosis of La Laja in the same way? The second prize went to a group from IES Villa de Firgas for their poster “Análisis costero y biodiversidad intermareal en La Laja”, while the third prize went to a group from IES Cairasco de Figueroa for their work “Colores que nacen del entorno… el camuflaje de Aplysia dactylomela”.
The celebration of this 2nd Junior Marine Conference once again highlighted PLOCAN’s commitment to environmental education and scientific outreach among younger generations, promoting meaningful and hands-on educational experiences that contribute to greater awareness of ocean conservation and protection.
BUDGET EDUSEN PROJECT: 27.155,00 EUROS
Funded by Consejería de Educación y Juventud of Cabildo de Gran Canaria
