Stars and STEM Stories
GLOBE Malta Awarded at the National STEM Award Ceremony
The National STEM Awards 2023, hosted by the National STEM
Engagement Working Group and Esplora, honors outstanding individuals
and entities. Their contributions to the fields of science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics were highlighted during the
ceremony held at Esplora on the 26th of January 2024. The GLOBE Malta
Europe Direct Gozo Air Quality Campaign won the STEM Community Project
Award. Ramona Mercieca, GLOBE Deputy Coordinator, received the award
on behalf of GLOBE Malta.
During the scholastic year 2022-2023, students from across Gozo
(Malta) measured nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a principal pollutant from
car exhaust emissions. This formed the essence of the project GLOBE
Malta – Europe Direct Gozo Air Quality Campaign. The 11 participating
schools were provided with the necessary equipment and guidance to
measure nitrogen dioxide. Students actively participated in monitoring
air quality using diffusion tubes; this hands-on approach, besides
being engaging and practical, brought science and environmental issues
to life. Moreover, by focusing on air quality improvement, students
were being involved in handling a real-world challenge in the
classroom. This community concern had the students directly seeking
solutions to this local issue.
The outreach activities designed with the Gozo community in
mind culminated in the celebration of achievements through a fair at
Villa Rundle. Commemorating Europe Day, the fair served as a central
platform displaying the project's overall efforts. The GLOBE exhibit
stand had students sharing their findings with the wider community
while a panel discussion served to empower the students to articulate
their findings and insights, and concurrently propose practical
solutions. The discussion also encouraged peer-to-peer learning,
allowing students to explain complex STEM concepts in a way that is
accessible to others. The sharing aspect engaged the community by
connecting the project to broader European values, highlighting the
importance of addressing environmental issues collectively and the
just-as-important role individuals can play in it. In practice, the
project taught students how to use diffusion tubes, data loggers, and
tally counts to collect data on air quality, weather parameters, and
traffic. After the four-week observation period, students analyzed the
data, with this approach enabling the students to make informed
decisions based on evidence. Involvement in the data collection
process served to bring up the scientific method and helped students
see how STEM knowledge can be applied to solve surrounding life challenges.
GLOBE students from the various schools participated in
different ways. For example:
- Students from Laura Vicuna School and Sacred Heart Minor Seminary Gozo participated in an Air Quality Student Virtual Conference, with the students receiving great feedback from the scientists and coordinators present.
- With the help of the Rabat-Citta’ Victoria Local Council and Transport Malta, students attending Sacred Heart Minor Seminary Gozo installed four signs in the proximity of their school so that drivers turn off their engines while waiting, thus ensuring better air quality.
- Students attending Gozo College Sir Arturo Mercieca Primary School Victoria - The Happy School, put up notices to similarly stop idling of cars, and posters to use bicycles or walk to school.
- Students attending Gozo College Ġużé Aquilina Primary & Special Unit Sannat planted seven trees in collaboration with Il-Munxar Local Council.
- More tree planting was carried out by Gozo College Agius De Soldanis Middle School and Għarb Primary School. Schools also organized walks to encourage students and staff to use active transportation.
- Gozo College Ġużé Aquilina Primary & Special Unit Sannat, Gozo College Sir Arturo Mercieca Primary School Victoria - The Happy School, St. Francis Primary School Victoria Gozo Malta and Gozo College Agius De Soldanis Middle School submitted their research reports for the International Virtual Science Symposium.
The project made a positive impact on the community in terms of
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by directly addressing specific
goals, such as good health and wellbeing and quality education, while
also contributing indirectly to other SDGs related to sustainability,
climate action, partnerships, responsible consumption, and
biodiversity. These examples demonstrate how the project aligned with
and advanced the broader agenda of sustainable development within the community.
The collaboration between GLOBE Malta and Europe Direct Gozo to
provide first-hand STEM education to students in Gozo, focusing on air
quality monitoring and improvement, is a highly creative and
innovative initiative that effectively addressed the community's
needs. The project creatively engaged students by offering them
hands-on STEM education. Instead of traditional classroom teaching,
students actively participate in monitoring air quality using
diffusion tubes. By actively involving students in finding solutions
to air quality issues, the project fostered a long-term educational
impact. It instilled a sense of responsibility and environmental
consciousness in students.
This project creatively adapted STEM knowledge to make it more accessible to the participants. Instead of relying solely on theoretical concepts, the project offered students a hands-on experience by using GLOBE Protocols. This tangible, real-world application of scientific principles made STEM knowledge more accessible and engaging. By involving them in the data collection process, it exposed the scientific method and helped students see how STEM knowledge is applied to solve real problems. The project also integrated multiple STEM disciplines to address air quality issues comprehensively. This interdisciplinary approach shows students how different fields of STEM work together to solve complex problems, making STEM knowledge more holistic and practical. The project emphasized problem-solving, a key component of STEM education. It encouraged students to apply their knowledge and critical thinking skills to propose solutions to air quality challenges, making STEM more relevant and applicable.
Images courtesy Ramona Mercieca GLOBE Malta Deputy Coordinator.