Validation Activity 03
Α one to one meeting was organized by Agricultural University of Athens (AUA) with the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (MAICh) in Chania (Crete) at their facilities. MAICh is an international educational and research center, which activates in research and development in the Mediterranean, demonstrating very strong links with first-class Universities, the global academic community and many renowned research institutes. The aim of this meeting was to present the GreeNet project, our actions in this project, as well as its results. Moreover, AUA had approached MAICh as associated partner and this meeting was a perfect chance to establish this cooperation and include MAICh in GreeNet’s network. MAICh was really interested in the environmental scenarios of GreeNet, since except the education of students in Master and PhD level, has also introduced educational visits for schools with environmental interest. More specific MAICh has a number of different educational programs for primary and secondary education like “distillation of essential oils and manufacture of natural soap”, “protection of rare plants and habitats of Crete”, “Sustainable crop management in the field and in the greenhouse”. In our visit we had the chance to inform them about GreeNet environmental scenarios that are implemented through Europe, as well as to be informed for the relevant environmental approaches in Crete. From their daily experience with school students focused in the necessity of appropriate educational material in order to engage students in the environmental scenarios. Moreover, they pointed out the importance of hands on scenarios as more attractive for students. It has to be mentioned that students were always very excited and interested with best practices that involve research activities and lab work, such as soilless cultivations.