Stars and STEM Stories
GLOBE Italy: Rivers in Spring 2026 Brings the GLOBE Community Together for World Water Day
On 20 March 2026—a beautiful sunny day—3,000 students, children, teachers, and citizens gathered for one of the most successful editions of the annual Rivers in Spring (Fiumi di Primavera) event, an event to celebrate World Water Day.
Organized by GLOBE Italy, the event once again demonstrated the power of science, education, and community engagement in advancing water awareness and environmental stewardship.
The event was held both in-person and online, allowing for global participation. The in-person portion took place on the Lungolago Gonzaga in Mantova, Italy, where schools engaged in monitoring labs, scientific demonstrations, and creative activities focused on understanding and protecting water resources.
Complementing these local efforts, a 3-hour livestream showcased stunning student creations from GLOBE Italy schools, while a 5-hour international livestream featured contributions by the GLOBE Implementation Office and participants from Australia, Croatia, Italy, Slovakia, Spain, Taiwan, Ukraine, United States (including Alaska, Ohio, and California)—even Antarctica!—with live connections to many of these locations.
Across nearly 30 live-streamed and recorded sessions, students, educators, and scientists shared findings from GLOBE research on water-related topics including salinity, a comparison of tap water vs. bottled water, the role of microplastics and other pollution in our waterways, and the effect of humans on the macroinvertebrates living in rivers, lakes, and oceans. Together, these activities reflected the event’s overarching theme: protecting this precious resource.
Students remained at the heart of the celebration, contributing observations, presenting research, and engaging in hands-on scientific inquiry—strengthening both their understanding of environmental systems and their roles as stewards of their communities.
Beyond its educational impact, the Rivers in Spring celebration continues to highlight the importance of global collaboration. By connecting local activities in Mantova with a global network of participants, the event underscores how shared knowledge and collective action can support more sustainable water management worldwide.
The organizers extend their thanks to all those who contributed to the in-person event and both livestreams. Special appreciation goes to the GLOBE Implementation Office, including Rebecca Lewis and Becky Boger, for their contributions; and to the Europe and Eurasia Regional Coordinator Office, comprising Dana Votápková, Bára Semeráková, and Lenka Kleger, for their continued support of this event.
As the 2026 celebration concluded, participants left with not only new knowledge, but also a renewed commitment to protecting water resources—locally and globally.
Watch the livestreams:
- International livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk6k85NxdP8
- National livestream (in Italian): https://www.youtube.com/live/B06FhrFfmT0
Learn more about GLOBE Italy.
Story and photos courtesy of Sandro Sutti, GLOBE Italy Country Coordinator