Blue Transformation in the Sakarya River: Water Literacy and Ecosystem Protection
Objectives of the project
Blue Transformation in the Sakarya River: Water Literacy and Ecosystem Protection aims to enhance water literacy and environmental awareness among students and the local community by focusing on the protection of the Sakarya River ecosystem.
The project encourages students to better understand water quality, pollution, biodiversity, and the impact of microplastics through hands-on learning, fieldwork, laboratory analyses, and citizen science activities.
It also aims to promote sustainable environmental behaviours among local residents, farmers, and public authorities, while strengthening collaboration with local and international partners, including European Blue Schools.
Activities
Students take part in river clean-up and waste collection activities, field studies on water quality and biodiversity, and laboratory-based analyses of microplastics and pollution.
The project also includes environmental awareness seminars for the local community, as well as studies related to ecotourism and recreational planning.
Students actively participate in data collection and analysis, working with teachers, municipal representatives, university academics, and non-governmental organisations. Project results are shared through posters, exhibitions, and student-produced short films.
Expected outputs
The project produces educational, scientific, and dissemination materials designed to support both immediate learning and long-term impact.
These include age-appropriate educational materials on water literacy, river ecosystems, and pollution, such as lesson plans, activity sheets, and visual learning resources for primary school students.
A Water Literacy and Citizen Science Guide is also developed to help teachers and students conduct field observations, water sampling, and basic laboratory analyses.
Other outputs include data collection tools, monitoring templates, posters, brochures, digital content, short films, exhibitions, and student presentations. All materials are designed to be reusable and adaptable for future use.
Impact
The project strengthens students’ scientific, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills by involving them as young researchers and active participants in environmental protection.
It also raises awareness of river pollution and encourages more sustainable practices among local residents and farmers.
By involving teachers, university academics, municipalities, NGOs, local residents, and farmers, the project creates a shared learning environment and strengthens cooperation between the school and the wider community.
Overall, the project aims to create lasting environmental awareness and support a sustainable transformation around the Sakarya River, extending from the school to the wider local community.
