PLOCAN has welcomed a group from UWC Spain (United World Colleges), which, in partnership with the DISA Foundation, is running the second edition of “Energía Joven” (“Young Energy”), a summer educational programme aimed at 30 young people aged 14 and 15 from across the eight Canary Islands. During their visit to PLOCAN’s facilities in Taliarte, the group had the chance to discover first-hand how ocean observation technologies and marine renewable energy are transforming the way we understand and harness the sea.
Fully funded through scholarships and run on a not-for-profit basis, the initiative was created to train the archipelago’s future agents of change in sustainability, science and social leadership, ensuring equal opportunities for young people from every part of the territory. During the visit, the group —made up of 30 students and 7 educators— was able to see how the blue economy and the conservation of the marine environment are among the cornerstones of sustainability in the Canary Islands.
True to the spirit of the programme, which seeks to move away from the traditional lecture format, and in line with the aims of the EDUROVs project to bring marine science and technology closer to young people, the visit was designed around an interactive, hands-on approach. After a brief introduction to PLOCAN and its areas of work, participants took a guided tour of the infrastructure’s onshore facilities in Taliarte, with particular attention to the glider laboratory, where they learned first-hand about these autonomous underwater vehicles for ocean observation, their technology and their many scientific applications.
The visit ended with a practical workshop on renewable energy and hydrogen, giving the young people a hands-on introduction to the energy solutions set to drive the transition towards a more sustainable model.
Through this collaboration, PLOCAN reaffirms its commitment to science communication and to educating the new generations, joining as a local partner an educational project that shares its vision: bringing science, marine technology and sustainability closer to the young people who will lead the future of the Canary Islands.
EDUROVs Gran Canaria is an initiative funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate, Energy and Knowledge of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria.
