Progress across six work packages (WPs) during the first reporting period (M1-M18) is summarized below:
WP1: Project Coordination (led by CSIC)
*Established foundational management tools (e.g. Project Management Plan, Risk Management Plan).
*Ensured alignment across all beneficiaries, facilitating collaboration with NEBS, sister projects (SHORE, BlueLightS), and other networks.
*Conducted regular consortium meetings to track deliverables, milestones, and reports, ensuring compliance with objectives.
WP2: Blue School Accreditation (led by Earthwatch)
*Reduced barriers to Blue School accreditation and co-created pathways to increase impact.
*Delivered key outputs, including the ProBleu Pipeline for Blue Schools, an evaluation of NEBS, and updated guidance for schools.
WP3: Educational Tools and Resources (led by PML)
*Released an initial catalogue of teaching aids, including slides, worksheets, videos, and simulations derived from scientific data.
*Developed digital tools for simulations, virtual journeys, and animations to engage students.
*Opened the catalogue for browsing and downloading without registration to maximize accessibility, while upload access is currently limited to funding recipients.
*Produced deliverables: tools for citizen science and digital teaching aids for assessing ocean and freshwater resources.
WP4: Funding Calls (led by Inova+)
*Launched three of four funding calls, with 46 projects funded so far (11 from Call 1, 35 from Call 2).
*Enhanced promotion and support for applicant schools to reach a broader audience across eligible countries.
*Upcoming Calls 3 and 4 will fund additional projects, further contributing to NEBS growth and the EU mission.
WP5: Assessment of Ocean and Water Literacy (led by KTU)
*Developed tools to evaluate learning outcomes and ocean and water literacy among children and youth before and after project engagement.
*Published a methodology for assessing literacy and learning outcomes, including best practices and tools tailored to school projects.