SHORE: EmpOweR Students as the agents of cHangE

Project Information

SHORE

Grant agreement ID: 101112815

DOI

10.3030/101112815

EC signature date 22 May 2023

Start date 1 August 2023

End date 31 July 2026

Funded under

• Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Total cost

€ 2 998 518,75

EU contribution

€ 2 998 518,75

Coordinated by

YILDIZ TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
Türkiye

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SHORE (SHORE: EmpOweR Students as the agents of cHangE)

Reporting period: 2023-08-01 to 2025-01-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

During the first 18 months of implementation, the SHORE project made significant progress towards its objectives as outlined in Annex 1 of the Grant Agreement. The consortium successfully launched key infrastructures, developed core educational tools, engaged a wide range of stakeholders, and ensured effective coordination and communication among partners. Under WP1, YTU established a comprehensive management structure, organized kick-off and general assembly meetings, and led efficient administrative, financial, and risk management procedures. The SHORE Management Platform was developed for internal communication and project tracking. In WP2, base analyses were conducted across seven country hubs to assess the state of ocean literacy, and over 230 interdisciplinary educational resources were developed and uploaded to the SHORE Community Platform. Teachers were trained through regional workshops and webinars, and schools were guided in applying to the Network of European Blue Schools (NEBS). WP3 focused on empowering students and fostering community engagement, with over 91 events organized and more than 8,200 participants reached. A total of 29 school projects were selected and funded through the first open call, with each receiving mentorship support. Inclusion efforts for Ukrainian students were implemented in Türkiye, Romania, and Poland. WP4 delivered the SHORE Community Platform (shoreedu.com) which integrates educational modules, interactive tools, and gamification features such as the DeepBlue Knowledge Challenge and AquaQuest. The platform also includes a carbon and water footprint calculator linked to a tree planting initiative. Additionally, the Water Literacy Action Center was officially established at YTU as the first of its kind in Türkiye, supported by the national Higher Education Council (YÖK). WP5 ensured strong visibility and outreach by launching the SHORE website and social media accounts, publishing over 300 posts, 25 articles, and 12 videos. Mission Ocean & Waters Night events were held in four countries with more than 600 attendees. WP6 finalized the first open call and coordinated evaluation and mentoring processes, while WP7 ensured all activities complied with ethical standards regarding data protection, inclusivity, and research integrity. These results demonstrate the project's strong alignment with its mission to promote ocean and water literacy, encourage inclusive and innovative education, and empower the next generation as agents of change.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

During the first 18 months, the SHORE project achieved substantial technical and scientific progress aligned with its mission to promote ocean and water literacy through interdisciplinary education, stakeholder engagement, and open-schooling methodologies. Scientifically, the consortium developed a robust foundation for Blue Literacy across seven regional hubs by conducting baseline analyses on ocean literacy, environmental education practices, and community engagement potential (WP2). These analyses informed the design of region-specific educational strategies and blue school initiatives.

Over 230 educational resources were created, categorized into five thematic areas: climate change, biodiversity, sea-based activities, hazardous substances, and sustainable use of resources. These resources were structured into modular content and uploaded to the SHORE Community Platform (WP4), which serves as a digital hub supporting formal and informal learning processes. The platform integrates interactive tools such as gamified learning modules (DeepBlue Knowledge Challenge, AquaQuest), a carbon and water footprint calculator, and a multilingual virtual learning environment.

SHORE supported the implementation of 29 blue projects in primary and secondary schools through a structured open call mechanism (WP6). Each funded project received technical mentorship from regional Country Hubs to ensure alignment with project objectives and to support the integration of ocean science themes into school curricula. Technical monitoring tools were applied to track project outcomes and collect data for evaluation.

The Water Literacy Action Center was established as a scientific and educational hub at Yıldız Technical University under WP4. It developed interdisciplinary curricula and hosted capacity-building workshops to institutionalize ocean literacy in higher education. Additionally, stakeholder-driven citizen science initiatives and student-led environmental campaigns were organized, often involving ecological data collection and local ecosystem monitoring.

At the consortium level, technical management tools were deployed through the SHORE Management Platform to monitor progress, track milestones, and support collaborative project delivery (WP1). Ethics compliance and data protection protocols were implemented to ensure integrity in all research and educational activities (WP7).

These activities have laid the groundwork for widespread adoption of blue literacy principles, and the technical tools and educational frameworks developed during this period will continue to be used, adapted, and expanded in the remaining project phases and beyond.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The SHORE project developed a replicable model to enhance ocean and water literacy, delivering over 230 educational resources, an interactive community platform, and 29 school-led blue projects across Europe. The Water Literacy Action Center at YTU was established as Türkiye’s first center dedicated to this mission, supporting both education and policy engagement.

These outcomes foster early environmental awareness, integrate ocean topics into formal education, and promote inclusive participation. The project also contributed to behavioural change through gamification, footprint calculators, and community events.

To ensure further uptake, key needs include: continued research in different contexts, policy integration into national curricula, access to funding for schools, and the international expansion of successful models. Sustaining and updating the digital platform will be essential for long-term impact.

At the end of the project, SHORE will present detailed results including user data, project outputs, and recommendations for scale-up and replication.

SHORE logo