RHE-MEDiation’s Citizen Empowerment Strategy Targets Greek Students

The first two school visits at the Greek Demo Site took place on Thursday, March 13, 2025 and on Tuesday March 18, 2025, marking the “kick-off” of the RHE-MEDiation Citizen Empowerment Strategy, under an educational and experiential program titled “Training Tomorrow’s Ocean and Water Protectors”.

Engaging a total number of more than 50 high-school students coming from the Chemistry and Biology Class of the Model Experimental Lyceum of the Evangelical School of Smyrni in Athens and the 4th General Lyceum of Alimos City, by organizing an info session and ‘on the spot’ demonstration of RHE-MEDiation’s Pilot Unit, both held at the Thriassio Wastewater Treatment Plant of EYDAP in Aspropyrgos, the overall impact and total positive impression has been incremental.

On the first part, an info presentation with an ‘open dialogue’ format took place, offering the chance to make an introduction on the RHE-MEDiation project, the EU Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Water’ objectives, the setting of the first pilot unit and its innovative technology, using microalgae to treat wastewater, as well as its expected outcomes. During info session, students showed their interest and asked many questions regarding the use of photobioreactors and the development of microalgae, in further removing chemical pollutants from urban wastewater.

On the second part of the visits, students had a tour around most of the wastewater treatment plant facilities, ending up at the ‘hot spot’ of the RHE-MEDiation pilot unit. At this point, they were exposed to information regarding everyday operation of photobioreactors, quality control processes, estimated outcomes, challenges faced and potential exploitation of the technology at hand.

A highlight of the school visits was when photos were taken in front of the pilot unit and with students standing behind each photobioreactor, signaling their on-going future engagement in becoming ‘Tomorrow’s Ocean and Water Protectors’.

Beyond the knowledge acquired, students gained a hands-on understanding of the importance of interdisciplinary approaches and teamwork in tackling modern environmental challenges.

School visits were organized and conducted by EYDAP and the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), both representing Greece as key partners of the RHE-MEDiation project (https://rhemediation.eu/).