During the last week of March, project partner IME-OBSAM successfully completed a series of public exchanges with youth community of Menorca, home to one of our four pilot sites, aimed at connecting young people with marine seagrass: Posidonia oceanica.
The activity was part of the “Posidonia in the Classroom” initiative, which has been running for over 10 years in Mallorca and belongs to the Bosc Marí de Pollença initiative, funded by REDEIA. It now arrives in Menorca thanks to IME-OBSAM. The pilot initiative developed during this school year in Menorca is also supported by Menorca Preservation and has been incorporated as an outreach activity within the ARTEMIS Interreg Euro-MED project.
The first programme involved more than 170 students from two local schools, CEIP Àngel Ruiz i Pablo (Es Castell) and IES Biel Martí (Ferreries), who took part throughout the school year in hands-on educational activities focused on marine ecosystems.
Participating students have been actively involved in setting up and monitoring aquariums, enabling them to observe first-hand the fauna associated with Posidonia oceanica throughout the school year. Using these aquariums alongside educational materials provided by IME-OBSAM, students explored the rich biodiversity supported by this vital marine plant through structured scientific observation activities.
The initiative not only enhanced students’ understanding of marine ecology but also brought the project closer to the wider public. By opening this learning experience beyond the classroom, it highlighted the importance of environmental education and citizen science in advancing marine conservation efforts.
“From OBSAM-IME, we are very pleased to promote this first ‘Posidonia in the Classroom’ experience in Menorca, currently involving 171 students from one primary and one secondary school during the 2025/2026 academic year. This pilot allows us to assess the project’s feasibility on the island, both pedagogically and organizationally, supporting schools and adapting the initiative to the Menorcan context. Our goal is for this experience to serve as a foundation to expand the project to more schools in the coming years.”
Explains Eva Marsyniach – IME-OBSAM
From 28 March to 1 April, IME-OBSAM presented the project at the 5th Menorca Science and Technology Fair at Espai Menorca under the title “Posidonia in the Classroom and Habitat-Forming Species.”
During the event, the OBSAM-IME technical team shared a stand with students from IES Biel Martí to present the project, showcasing first-hand the work carried out with the aquariums and the observation of fauna associated with Posidonia oceanica.
Rebecca Morris, director of Menorca Preservation, highlights:
“At Menorca Preservation, we believe that education is power, which is why we are very pleased to have contributed to bringing Posidonia oceanica into classrooms. Strengthening young people’s connection with Menorca’s natural environment is essential to continue protecting the island, and hands-on experience and direct contact with nature are among the most powerful ways to connect with its extraordinary natural heritage.”
