Promoting science: the creation of a scientific observatory to raise awareness of sea biodiversity

The project, funded by the Sicilian local authority and promoted by IAMC (Institute for Marine and Coastal Environment) - CNR – National Centre for Research (IT) and LPS (Laboratory for Experimental Research) - UniRomaTRE (IT), stems from the need to improve science understanding and to strengthen the knowledge about the specific characteristics of the Sicilian sea environment, creating a science observatory on biodiversity. The idea behind the project is that of setting and spreading the culture of the sea, devising actions addressed to secondary school students and to certain disadvantaged categories of the population (children at risk of social exclusion and drop out, unemployed and immigrants). The observatory to be created will be based at IAMC – CNR (TP - IT) and will pursue the following aims: ˗ development of research and testing methods for effective teaching of science and history of science, with particular emphasis on the use of new technologies;promotion of information and dissemination of scientific, historical and scientific issues, both nationally and internationally, including the implementation of exhibitions, conferences, publishing and multimedia projects; ˗ promotion of technical-scientific culture in schools at secondary level in particular, including better use of scientific laboratories and multimedia tools, involving students in initiatives able to facilitate communication with the world of research and production, so as to raise a widespread awareness of the importance of science and technology for everyday life and for the sustainable development of society; ˗ promotion of specific activities where disadvantaged categories are involved and supported.