120 ESO students from all over Spain take part in the StudIAS congress
This congress, organized by the Science Museum of the University of Navarra and developed within the framework of the European Life Invasaqua project, aims to disseminate information on invasive alien species.
02 | 06 | 2022
120 ESO students and 35 teachers from 28 schools from all over Spain have gathered at the campus of the University of Navarra to participate in the StudIAS conference on the dissemination of invasive alien species. The conference, organized by the Science Museum of the University of Navarra in collaboration with the Institute of Biodiversity and Environment of the academic center, is part of the actions developed in the Life Invasaqua program.
"It is a unique experience because the students participate as young scientists, teaching and learning at the same time. They themselves explain their projects on invasive alien species, the impact they cause and how we should act against them," says Rafael Miranda, director of the congress and researcher at the Institute of Biodiversity and Environment of the University of Navarra.
During four days (May 31 to June 3), attendees will be able to present their oral communications, and also enjoy a varied program of activities such as conferences with scientific experts, a census of exotic species in the river, a raptor exhibition by Tierra Rapaz, and an excursion to the Señorío de Bértiz Natural Park.
For Rafael Miranda, it is important that young people learn about the problems caused by these species in order to protect the natural environment. "The fight for the conservation of our biodiversity undoubtedly involves the training of our young people, as they are the ones who will have to face the challenge of conserving the natural legacy that surrounds us in the future".
The participating schools come from Madrid, Almería, Murcia, Valencia, Málaga, Guipúzcoa, La Coruña, Cádiz, Navarra, León, Asturias, Jaén, and Tenerife, and are the following: Colegio Alborada, Colegio Altair, C.E Mas Camarena, IES El Carmen, Compañía de María de Almería, Colegio ECOS, Colegio Erain Ikastetxea, Colegio de Fomento Montespiño, Colegio Grazalema, Colegio Irabia-Izaga, Colegio Miravalles - El Redín, Colegio Nuestra Señora del Puy , Peñacorada Internacional School, Colegio de Fomento Peñamayor, Colegio El Pinar, Colegio de Fomento Los Robles, IES Plurilingüe Rosalía de Castro, Sierra Bernia School, Sta. Mª de la Capilla, HH. Maristas, Colegio Santa María de La Paz - FEJ. Murcia, Colegio San Patricio, IES Valle de Ebro, FEC Vedruna Pamplona, Colegio Santa Catalina de Siena FESD and Gredos San Diego El Escorial.
The first prize consists of a four-day, all-expenses-paid trip to a national park, to be chosen from the following options: Islas Atlánticas de Galicia and the natural park of Dunas de Corrubedo and lagoons of Carregal and Vixán; Tablas de Daimiel and the lagoons of Ruidera and the motilla de Azuer; and Ordesa y Monte Perdido and the Natural Park of Sierra y Cañones de Guara. The winning team will be accompanied by a scientific expert who will act as a guide, showing the most outstanding aspects of the fauna and flora of the national park. The second prize is a field kit for the observation of fauna and flora, and the third prize is a set of products from the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Navarra.
Life Invasaqua is a European project on invasive alien species in freshwater and estuarine systems, a governance and communication project co-funded by the European Union to advance awareness and training on invasive alien species in Spain and Portugal.
The complete program of the congress can be consulted on its web page.