- The prizes corresponding to the seventh edition of this educational project were awarded to centres in Andalusia, the Balearic Islands, Castile-León, Valencia, Catalonia, Galicia and La Rioja.
- A total of 170 projects addressing care of the environment and biodiversity, developed by educational centres throughout Spain were selected for the final phase, and seven of them were declared to be winners.
- Since its launch in 2016, more than 287,000 students from 800 schools have participated in this initiative promoted by the Endesa Foundation. They have presented more than 950 educational projects on the 3Ps for biodiversity (Protect, Preserve and Prevent).
The protection of our biodiversity and sustainable solutions to everyday problems present in the classroom are the main ideas behind the winning projects in the seventh edition of the Endesa Foundation's Eco-innovation Awards, which took place with the collaboration of the European Foundation Society and Education.
The winner of the first prize in category 1 "Understanding our biodiversity", was IES Fuentesnuevas, in León, with a project entitled "The use of new technologies to improve biodiversity in viticulture in the El Bierzo region"; in category 2 "Solving an environmental problem", the winner was IES Pasqual Calbó i Caldés in Mahón, Balearic Islands, with a project entitled "Invasive flora: Gardening as the problem or the solution". And, finally, the winner in category 3 "Improving your environment", was for the project entitled "SOS MARIOLA", by the San Roque School in Alicante. Each of the links to the winning projects leads to detailed information and a video made by the schools themselves.
With these awards, both entities aim to promote ecological culture and eco bio-social competence* in the classroom, the protection of our biodiversity and collaboration with environmental agents.
The awards ceremony held at the Autonomous University of Madrid was attended by the President of the European Foundation Society and Education, Miguel Ángel Sancho, the Endesa Foundation Project Manager, María Teresa Gimeno, and members of the educational community.
A total of 431 projects were registered for this seventh edition, which represents a new record for participation in these awards. 379 of the initiatives submitted were classified as being eligible for the prizes in one of the contest's three categories: "Understanding our biodiversity", "Solving an environmental problem" and "Improving your environment".
A total of 170 projects reached the evaluation phase and seven of them were declared winners, two in each category and one with a special mention. The projects were selected on the basis of their originality, creativity and quality, innovation, their applicability in real contexts, and their alignment with the 3Ps for Biodiversity: Protect, Preserve and Prevent, which is the motto for these awards.
The Endesa Foundation Project Manager, María Teresa Gimeno, pointed out that "The innovative and cooperative spirit that exists with regard to the care and preservation of our biodiversity is clearly reflected in the projects for this edition and this shows the enormous commitment that young people have with regard to the care of the environment. This encourages us to continue developing more initiatives and projects such as the Eco-Innovation Awards, which contribute to the development of society and to achieving a future in which coexistence between ourselves and the rest of the species that surround us is one of the keys to progress."
Miguel Ángel Sancho, President of the European Society and Education Foundation, highlighted "the role of education in the promotion of ecological culture and the contribution made by this contest to the acquisition of skills, habits and attitudes which generate a real impact on the lives of students and on the care of nature."
The following were the winners in the VII Edition:
In category 1, "Understanding our biodiversity", IES Fuentesnuevas, in León, won the first prize with their project entitled "The use of new technologies to improve biodiversity in viticulture in the El Bierzo region", which featured adding value to organic farming and making good use of the scientific method and creativity.
In this same category, the second prize was awarded to the project entitled "La avispilla del castaño" (chestnut gall wasp) presented by CPI Uxío Novoneira, in Lugo, for addressing adaptation to the environmental needs of the families involved and the chestnut tree problem in the El Bierzo region.
In category 2, "Solving an environmental problem", IES Pasqual Calbó i Caldés de Mahón, Balearic Islands, which last year won the second prize, was awarded the first prize on this occasion with a project entitled "Invasive flora: Gardening as the problem or the solution", which proposes to study the environmental problems resulting from the introduction of invasive alien species worldwide and in particular, in Menorca. The project also includes intervention strategies, both with regard to immediate environment and for the entire island.
The second prize in this category was awarded to the Sagrada Familia Gavà educational centre in Barcelona, for its project entitled "Oasis escolares" (School oases), which consists of the construction of an oasis free of pollution in their own school.
Finally, in category 3, "Improving your environment", the first prize was awarded to the project entitled "SOS MARIOLA" presented by the San Roque School in Alicante. The main objective is to improve the Sierra de Mariola Nature Reserve, the most important park by extension in the province of Alicante. The Jury highlighted all the dimensions of the ecosystem included in the project, both natural and also social and heritage.
The Esclavas SCJ school in Jerez was awarded the second prize in this category with the initiative entitled "El saber de los vencejos" (What the swifts already know), which aims to understand the close relationship we have with our planet through the swifts. This project also has a long history, since they have been developing it in this centre for 10 years now.
In this same category, the Jury awarded special mention to the Marqués de Vallejo Special Education Centre in La Rioja, for their project entitled "Sembrando entornos" (Sowing environments), focussed on rubbish collection. They also created a nursery of seeds and plants for the reforestation of the surrounding area.
The Value of the Prizes
In categories 1 and 2, the first prize consisted of €2,000 and the second prize €1,000. In category 3, the first prize consisted of €4,000 and the second prize €1,000. An economic contribution of €1,000 euros was also awarded to the initiative with special mention.
All the winning projects will also receive national coverage in the press and on digital channels. The educational centre that was awarded first prize in each of the categories will also receive a statuette made with reusable materials designed by the Navarrese sculptor Mª José Recalde.
About the Endesa Foundation
The Endesa Foundation is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. A quarter of a century of social work that enables us to look to the future with the challenge of continuing to progress, with a broad and conscious outlook on human beings and the rest of the species that surround us to build a world in which there is room for everyone.
With this in mind, the Endesa Foundation contributes to social development and the conservation of biodiversity through education, training for employment, culture, volunteering and urban biodiversity projects so that there is a future in which we can all live together and in balance with each other.
About The European Foundation Society and Education
The European Foundation Society and Education is a private and independent entity that promotes research and debates on the multiple aspects that shape the strategic role of education as a foundation for the progress and development of democratic societies.
Through its research department, it promotes studies, debates and analysis on educational news that they approach from an interdisciplinary perspective. This department specialises in promoting environmental education through integral ecology.