CORDIS

Fuel cell and hydrogen technologies (FCH-T) have a central role in the development of renewable energy sources and in the reduction of environmental damage due to conventional energy production using fossil sources. However, this general awareness is often not sufficiently based upon technological knowledge and recent research developments. Ecological thinking and technological knowledge will play a fundamental part in the culture and habits of future generations by contrasting the lack of understanding of the interaction between technological, environmental, economic, and social systems and the lack of specific knowledge of energy and FCH-T. Better understanding of such challenges by the general public, from pupils to their families will be central to the technological, economic, and social progress. The young people attitude toward science and technology will decide the direction of their future studies and interests, helping them in choosing their future professions and, in general, in developing a positive and ecologically based relationship with the world. This will guide and help the transformation of society toward sustainable energy systems. The purpose of the FCHgo project is to encourage a culture of ecological awareness and to develop behaviors based upon sound knowledge of key technologies by the coming generations. The project will provide a wide activity of dissemination of a toolkit for teachers and pupils of primary and secondary schools (educational programme delivery model - EPDM), ensuring technical and pedagogical excellence through a narrative approach. The EPDM (translated in 10 European languages) will be disseminated mainly through the FCHgo website. An annual award to the best idea to employ FCH-T will contribute to raise the awareness on this issue.

WP1 warranted an effective scientific, technical, financial governance of the project. The Consortium Agreement was arranged, with detailed indications and norms for project activities and property right management. Two meetings were organized: the Kick-off meeting, and the International Co-design meeting, the latter preceded by local co-design workshops in each country. The Quality Assurance and Risk Management, and Data management were implemented.
WP2 activities involved a co-design and a co-creation phase of the EPDM, involving both partners and stakeholders. Both phases took into account differences in school systems, in age of addressees. The first version of the EPDM included all the materials to be used in pilot classes to provide physical and mental involvement for pupils and teachers. The EPDM material is available on the FCHgo website.
During WP3 action, after the establishment of a plan of activities, workshops were organized for teachers training in all European partners’ countries, with a wide research-action leading to further widespread dissemination and exploitation of EPDM. During workshops, the EPDM and its framework were introduced, and practical experiments were carried out in order to test materials. Educational activities in the classrooms started in October in all countries. The amount of delivered lessons is between 25% and 40%, depending on the country and the level of schools. These activities are still ongoing, in accordance with the planned schedule.
WP4 aimed at launching an open European contest targeting all level of schools, in order to increase awareness and interest of FCH technologies. With the aim of reaching a larger number of classes and schools and to better organize all the aspects, the consortium decided to anticipate the launch of the contest to February 17, 2020. Therefore, the WP4 action started in 2019. The title of the contest is: ‘World of the future: the best FCH application’. The deadline for the collection of proposals has been planned for July 31, 2020. The documents for the public announcement of the award call were prepared.
The activities in WP5 focused on communication, dissemination and exploitation. The project dissemination and exploitation plan has been conceived as a living document, outlining workshops, conferences and other public events for promoting the FCHgo activities. The corporate identity color code, font, logo and key visual were selected and utilized to create the project brochure and poster. The official FCHgo website was created, providing a good basis for disseminating the project goals to externals and its public recognition. The website update is ongoing, with articles regarding singular project activities (EPDM, classroom activities and award), published also on the project newsletter. Media accounts of the project were also opened on Twitter, Linkedin, Instagram and Facebook (488 followers total).
WP6 set out the ethical requirements and their compliance in the project, the risk and data management, engaging actively in respecting a communitarian approach to data safety and ethical and legal implications. The quality assurance of Data Responsibility was also shared in the FCHgo Communication, Dissemination and Impact Working Group and the Policy compliance Responsibility. All FCHgo activities carried out in all partner countries, non-European members included, are compatible with European and international law.

During 2020, the FCHgo project partners will continue to pursue the objectives of the project. The warranting an effective scientific, technical, financial governance of the project will be continued. The final version of the EPDM will be delivered in 10 European languages, ensuring a co-production approach and scientific excellence. The EPDM will be tested through educational activities in primary and secondary schools in the partner countries, allowing to improve and exploit it, so to achieve its most effective and usable version that will also ensure awareness raising. Indicators to measure the effects of the activities on the pupils, teachers and general public will be evaluated and measured. The obtained results together with the input of stakeholders and the Scientific Advisory Board will validate the final version of the EPDM.
The organization and running of the FCHgo Award will continue in 2020. This contest will raise strong motivation among teachers, pupils, local communities and stakeholders. Dedicated juries with representatives from partners and stakeholders will be set up in each country; each age group (8-10, 11-14, 15-18) will be awarded separately for the best project at national level. An international award ceremony will then be held in Brussels within the FCHJU programme review and stakeholder forum. The contest will be also held beyond the end of the project, ensuring a continuing awareness on FCH-T and its applications, in terms of technological, ecological, economical and societal perspectives.
The FCHgo website will be constantly updated and will continue to act as a point of exchange of educational materials. This will ensure to well communicate the project to all targets. In addition, it will allow to develop an effective networking and exploitation activity to make the educational materials acquired and used by European primary and secondary level schools, beyond the partners’ countries and project’s duration. Moreover, the announcement of the contest and its applications will run through a dedicated section of the website. Finally, ethical requirements will be constantly monitored to ensure their application throughout all project’s activities.