Kickoff meeting of the European Project CURIOSOIL

The kickoff meeting for the project “CURIOSOIL – Awakening Soil Curiosity to catalyse Soil Literacy” began today, February 19th, and will continue until February 21st at the facilities of Fábrica Centro Ciência Viva de Aveiro. This project represents a concerted effort to enrich knowledge and education about soil, in response to the challenges posed by the increasing anthropogenic pressure on this essential resource. Led by Sónia Rodrigues, a researcher at the Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), this Horizon Europe funded project brings together a consortium of 14 partners from different parts of Europe.

Among the project’s initiatives is the creation of a “Soil Curiosity Kit,” which will provide rich and multisensory experiences, and the joint development of a series of educational resources, teaching materials, and teacher training programs. These resources will be implemented at various educational levels throughout Europe, with the aim of integrating the study of soil health into school curriculums and enhancing understanding and awareness for sustainable soil management.

Funded with 6.1 million euros through the European Union’s Soil Mission, part of the Horizon Europe program, CURIOSOIL’s mission is not only to raise the level of soil literacy among various segments of the population – from students and educators to citizens and policymakers – but also to promote the adoption of sustainable practices and foster a shared environmental responsibility.

The launch of the CURIOSOIL project was announced in the media outlets SIC Notícias, Observador and Notícias do Centro.