120 ESO students and 35 teachers from 28 schools from all over Spain gathered at the campus of the University of Navarra to participate in the congress StudIAS, on knowledge dissemination of invasive alien species. The congress, organized by the Science Museum of the University of Navarra in partnership with the Biodiversity and Environment Institute The event, organized by the Science Museum of the University of Navarra in collaboration with the University of Navarra, is part of the actions developed in the Life Invasaqua program. 

"It is a unique experience because the students participate as young scientists teaching and learning at the same time. They themselves explain their projects on invasive alien species, the impact they cause and how we should act against them," says Rafael Miranda, director of congress and researcher of Biodiversity and Environment Institute of the University of Navarra.

During four days (from 31st May to 3rd June), attendees will be able to present their oral communications, and also enjoy a varied programme of activities such as conferences with expert scientists, a census of exotic species in the river, a raptor exhibition at position from Tierra Rapaz, and an excursion to the Señorío de Bértiz Natural Park.

For Rafael Miranda, it is important that young people learn about the problems caused by these species in order to protect the natural environment. "The fight for the conservation of our biodiversity undoubtedly involves training of our young people, as it is they who in the future will have to face the challenge of conserving the bequest natural environment that surrounds us".

The participating schools come from Madrid, Almería, Murcia, Valencia, Málaga, Guipúzcoa, La Coruña, Cádiz, Navarra, León, Asturias, Jaén, and Tenerife, and are the following: high school Alborada, high school Altair, C.E Mas Camarena, IES El Carmen, Compañía de María de Almería, high school ECOS, high school Erain Ikastetxea, high school de Fomento Montespiño, high school Grazalema, high school Irabia-Izaga, high school Miravalles - El Redín, high school Nuestra Señora del Puy , Peñacorada Internacional School, high school de Fomento Peñamayor, high school El Pinar, high school de Fomento Los Robles, IES Plurilingüe Rosalía de Castro, Sierra Bernia School, Sta. Mª de la Capilla, HH. Maristas, high school Santa María de La Paz - FEJ. Murcia, high school San Patricio, IES Valle de Ebro, FEC Vedruna Pamplona, high school Santa Catalina de Siena FESD and Gredos San Diego El Escorial.

The first award consists of a four-day, all-expenses-paid trip to a national park, to be chosen from the following options: Islas Atlánticas de Galicia and the natural park of Dunas de Corrubedo and lagoons of Carregal and Vixán; Tablas de Daimiel and the lagoons of Ruidera and the motilla de Azuer; and Ordesa y Monte Perdido and the Natural Park of Sierra y Cañones de Guara. The winning team will be accompanied by a scientific expert who will be guide, showing the most outstanding aspects of the fauna and flora of the national park. The second prize award is a field kit for the observation of the fauna and flora, and the third prize award is a set of products from School of Sciences of the University of Navarra.

Life Invasaqua is a European project on invasive alien species in freshwater and estuarine systems, a governance and communication project co-funded by the European Union to advance awareness and training on invasive alien species in Spain and Portugal.

The full programme of the congress is available on its website.