The challenge
Engaging young people and the local community in the preservation of local footpaths on small Cycladic islands like Sikinos, Thirasia, and Donoussa is essential for protecting cultural heritage and promoting sustainable tourism practices.
The solution
Some tailored approaches to address this challenge are community workshops and events, educational initiatives, youth involvement programs, citizen science projects and cultural heritage campaigns. By engaging young people and the local community in the mapping of local footpaths and identifying points of interest and stories along them, these approaches help foster a sense of pride, ownership, and responsibility towards cultural heritage and natural resources. Moreover, they contribute to the development of sustainable tourism practices that benefit both residents and visitors alike, paving the way for a more resilient and vibrant future for the Cycladic islands.
Project’s deliverables
- Creation, by students, of three digital applications, aiming at mapping paths and points of interest of the islands. This Citizen Science project involved high school students and specific audiences such as hikers, and empowered them to get closer to research and data collection on a voluntary basis. More specifically, students were given the opportunity to get involved with STEM Education. They were trained in gathering information about island trails and in developing an app through MIT’s AppInventor. SciCo teachers visited the islands to provide both students and teachers with the necessary technical support. The project included:
- Fieldwork: Hiking on the islands involving students, teachers, educational participants in order to determine the routes of the app.
- Identification of points of interest: which were included in the application, such as antiquities, churches, natural resources, etc.
- Sign-making: for the selected points of interest (Island Gems), which were also added to the application.
Throughout the program, the wider community was also actively involved in providing information for the app and in promoting it when it was released.
The evolution of the mobile app to allow visitors to send data and photos in real-time represents a significant advancement in leveraging technology for environmental conservation and heritage preservation on the Cycladic islands. By harnessing the collective knowledge and efforts of citizens and visitors, this innovative approach facilitates collaboration, engagement, and action towards a more resilient and vibrant future for the islands.
About the Grantee
SciCo (Science Communication) is a non-profit organisation, focusing on scientific engagement and empowerment, through innovative, interactive, and entertaining means. It was founded in 2008, and consists of scientists, academics, educators, artists, and people with an interest in everyday science. Today, it operates as a social enterprise. Through numerous high-impact outreach activities, such as science festivals, digital platforms, and workshops, SciCo has reached more than 400.000 people all over Greece. It has also reached audiences outside Greece by expanding some of its own projects internationally and by participating in EU Programs and networks.