Satellite event: Schools in action for the climate

Edu Day is an annual event dedicated to bringing together the world of education and the cultural, scientific and educational institutions of the local area. The 2025 edition will be held on Wednesday 3 September, from 2pm  to 6pm, at the Chiostro M9 and the Candiani Cultural Centre in Mestre (Venice).

The event brings together museums, foundations, libraries, universities, cultural centres, research institutions and organisations involved in educational activities to offer teachers and school administrators a comprehensive overview of the proposals aimed at schools for the 2025/2026 school year.

DVRI is participating, also as a Partner of the European Climate Pact, with the proposal: SCHOOLS IN ACTION FOR THE CLIMATE. OBJECTIVES SCHOOLS FOR THE CLIMATE is an educational and participatory programme that invites children and young people to reflect on the relationship between climate change and the Venetian lagoon environment. 

The project aims to:

• Promote accessible scientific knowledge about climate change
• Stimulate critical thinking and reflection on the present and future of the city Encourage the active participation of students and schools
• Enhance the role of schools as agents of territorial transformation All activities are designed to be cross-curricular, involving teachers and students from primary, lower secondary and upper secondary schools, with methods and tools  adapted to different age groups.

THE THREE ACTIVITIES 

1. WEBINARS FOR TEACHERS (October – December 2025)

Three online meetings, each lasting 90 minutes, led by Italian experts and researchers (all European Climate Pact Ambassadors) to offer up-to-date scientific content and practical tools for classroom work. The meetings are preparatory to the other activities (CONTRO CLIMA and SAVENICE).

Objectives:

• To provide basic materials on climate, adaptation and mitigation
• To explore the relationship between Venice and climate change
• To support the design of independent teaching activities

Proposed topics:

• Global and local climate: data, scenarios and perception
• European climate policies
• The role of coastal cities and communities
• Ideas and tools for climate education in schools

TARGET: secondary school teachers Expected output: certificate of participation and digital teaching kit 

2. “CONTRO CLIMA” COMPETITION (January – April 2026) 

Creative expression competition for primary and lower secondary schools. Classes are invited to create collective or individual projects (texts, drawings, videos, podcasts, comics, collages, photographs, etc.) that reflect on one of the following questions:

• How do you imagine your city in a sustainable future?
• What actions can we take to care for the climate?
• What does climate change mean to you? 

Promotion: The selected works will be:

• published on the DVRI website and on the EuCliPa.IT website
• promoted as part of the European Commission's European Climate Pact initiative Deadline for submission: 31 March 2026

3. “SAVENICE” PROJECT (January – April 2026)

Activity aimed at secondary schools, which involves the development of concrete proposals for climate mitigation or adaptation in the Venetian context. 

Method: Students, divided into small groups, develop project proposals accompanied by scientific tutors from universities, research centres and cultural institutions of the DVRI. Proposals may concern mobility, urban greenery, water and lagoon ecosystem management, use of public space, communication, etc. 

Objectives:

• To introduce young people to urban climate design
• Enhance the role of schools as civic actors
• Develop analytical, conceptual and communication skills
• Promote Area 4 of GreenComp (the European Framework of Competences for Sustainability) with a specific focus on collective and political action. 

Final presentation: Public event to present the best proposals at the end of the school year.