D-Marin, aiming to strengthen children’s ties with the sea, and the Turkish Marine Environment Protection Association (TURMEPA), working relentlessly towards protecting the Turkish marine environment, particularly the seas for future generations, collaborated for the second time. In its second year, “I protect the seas with STEAM” project combined marine educational workshops with technology. Teachers who received STEAM training by ERTEV (Ermetal Technological Education Association) specialist instructors guided their pupils to come up with environmental projects where technology acting as a key aspect. Supported by Muğla Provincial Directorate of National Education, the project aims to help children think like a scientist, improve their understanding of nature, and create innovative ideas and projects with the support of their teachers.

Creativity was key in each project!

The STEAM project aims to teach children how to love and protect the natural world and the seas and support them in coming up with creative solutions to environmental problems. In 2020, STEAM educational workshops were completed as part of the project. In 2021, upon carrying out online sessions with schoolteachers, children produced 11 different projects to protect our seas by using technology. On May 4th, pupils made online project presentations to the competition committee. Independent committee members evaluated the competing projects under four categories, Sustainability, Scientificness, Originality and Practicality before announcing the winners. Unseeded teams were encouraged to improve their projects and received an honourable mention. Two projects came first in the competition. Also, in the Sustainability, Scientificness, Originality and Practicality categories, “Çöp Kolik” project from Gökçe Zeynep Gönen Secondary School and “Deniz Kurtaran” project from Menteşe Secondary School came first.

FIRST PLACE

Project Name: Çöp Kolik (Rubbish-cholic)Teacher: Saadet ÜnlüSchool: Gökçe Zeynep Gönen Secondary School

Project Name:Deniz Kurtaran (Sea Savior)Teacher: Fatma İşlekSchool: Menteşe Secondary School