Stars and STEM Stories
GLOBE School in Croatia Celebrates Vibrant History of Participation in The GLOBE Program
GLOBE teacher Mira Hrvatin, from the Secondary School Mate Blažine Labin in Labin, Croatia, has been energetically and practically involved with The GLOBE Program since 1998 – and shares Croatia’s enduring contribution to the program.
“In 1998, we joined The GLOBE Program by having three of our teachers (Mira Hrvatin, Vesna Tupac-Prosen and Čeda Perko) complete the initial training course for GLOBE teachers. Later, Karmen Diminić Milevoj, Nedeljko Mandić, Olivera Tadić, Karla Golja Milevoj, Amneris Ružić Fornažar and the school principal Čedomir Ružić also become GLOBE teachers.”
“From the very beginning of joining The GLOBE Program, our group gradually introduced measurements and observations in the field: atmosphere, water, soil and cover. At the same time, we decided to pay special attention to the use of data collected through work on student research projects dealing with the environment to encourage the community to think about the importance of preserving the environment,” Hrvatin said.
“We have participated in National Review and Competition 24 times. In 2000 and 2012, we hosted the National Review and Competition of Croatian GLOBE Schools. As members of the Croatian national team, we participated in the 2003 GLOBE Learning Expedition (Croatia) and the 2008 GLOBE Learning Expedition.”
“From 1999 until today, we have published 30 student research reports; and, from the very beginning, we have successfully participated in the International Virtual Science Symposium with our research projects,” Hrvatin said, “We believe that we are among the schools with the most research projects within The GLOBE Program!”
“In 2005. we joined the GLOBE-at-Night program. And we have been active with that until now, with the desire to encourage people to understand the importance of this type of nature pollution. In 2020, we marked 15 years of monitoring the night sky.”
“Also, in 2019. we joined the Globe-at-Night ‘Adopt-a-Street’ program for which we also received recognition. From 2011. to 2013. we were active participants in The Tree Ring Project, within which we established cooperation with Vest-Telemark vidaregåande skule from Norway.”
“For 45 years, the school has been implementing the ‘School for the Environment Program,’ which promotes STEM science and environmental protection, encourages an interdisciplinary approach, and provides students with modern ways of acquiring knowledge and self-education as a prerequisite for their successful study or work.”
Working with such programs and projects, as well as 25 years with The GLOBE Program, Hrvatin said, “This program is recognized at the national level, so we received awards, including: 1997 and 2006, the "Silver Oscar” from the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the Republic of Croatia; in 2006, Recognition Award from the City of Labin, Croatia; and in 2022, Recognition from the the Ministry of Economy and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Croatia.”
“The GLOBE Program is a significant part of our efforts. During our twenty-five years of work, over a thousand students were directly involved in The GLOBE Program, and indirectly all other students of our school,” Hrvatin said. “We are especially pleased with the fact that over 30 of our GLOBE students went to on to study science, and they are today very successful scientists.”
“Students regularly and successfully participate in GLOBE campaigns; teachers regularly participate in GLOBE seminars and conferences; and we are proud that in 2019 NASA scientists Peter Falcon and Kalina Velev from JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) visited our school!”
“We believe that our work has contributed to the mission of The Globe Program to ‘increase awareness of individuals throughout the world about the global environment, contribute to increased scientific understanding of the Earth, and support improved student achievement in science and mathematics."
To watch a video showcasing the GLOBE-related efforts of students, click here.
Star Story submitted by GLOBE Teacher Mira Hrvatin, Srednja škola Mate Blažine Labin