Vive la biodiversidad!, a new software created by biologists from the University of Navarra to promote environmental Education

Fernando Echarri and Maite Gil PHOTO: Manuel Castells.

Fernando Echarri, biologist and professor at the University of Navarra, has promoted a new educational software called "Live biodiversity! Aimed at promoting environmental Education among students in 6th grade of primary school, the unit will be tested this year in 20 schools in the region.

The program, which has been supported by Caja Rural de Navarra, consists of 3 classes of 50 minutes each, which will be provided free of charge to participating schools. "We also hope to have the online application available soon, so that teachers will only have to connect to network to access the platform at class", explains the doctor in Education Environmental.

In general, the initiative aims at goal so that students "learn to think, to understand the importance of biodiversity for our lives, to know the main factors involved in its loss and what actions each one can take to avoid it", emphasizes the doctor in Biology.

According to the specialist, the contents work on attitude - respect and compliance with commitments - and concepts - related to biodiversity, ecosystems, habitat, fauna, flora, environmental impact, etc. - through webquest technology, a didactic methodology that presents a problem to be solved or a project to be carried out using the resources offered by the Internet.

In this case, the resource are physical and virtual visits to the Museum of Natural Sciences of the University of Navarra: "All this helps students not only to reflect on the problem, but also to discuss possible alternatives, analyze and synthesize the information to come up with their own creative solutions," adds the professor.

award to the participating schools
The activity concludes with the acquisition of three environmental commitments by the students, "such as not having reptiles at home and others suggested by the program itself," explains Maite Gil, an educator involved in project.

In addition, on May 22, World Biodiversity Day, a closing ceremony will be held at the Museum of Natural Sciences of the University of Navarra, where there will be a guided tour of the Museum visit and both students and schools will receive a award awarded by Caja Rural de Navarra.

"2010 is the World Year of Biodiversity, a reality in which Education plays a fundamental role in its maintenance," concludes Fernando Echarri.