The pilot phase of SEAMIND, an EU-funded ERASMUS marine-education project coordinated by MER, has successfully wrapped after a multi-day programme delivered across three contrasting beaches; Lady’s Mile, Amathus and St. Raphael and our laboratories.

As Cyprus’s first programme of its kind focused exclusively on the marine environment, SEAMIND engaged 15 learners aged 10–13 in lab and field activities designed to build scientific skills and ocean stewardship.

The Programme delivered:

• Three purpose-built teaching modules debuted: Marine Habitats & Species Adaptations; Species Identification & Life Cycles; Impacts on the Sea & Solutions.
• Each module includes 5–6 hands-on activities, field guides and safety materials, taking learners from observation to action.
• Lab and fieldwork covered sampling, stereoscopy, and microscopy examination of marine organisms, use of field guides and monitoring techniques, water-quality testing (salinity, temperature, pH using YSI sensors), experiments on the ecological value of Posidonia oceanica, drones and ROVs for coastal biodiversity monitoring, and introductory mapping
• Additional learning experiences included turtle-nest visits, fish dissections, food-web role-play, sand-dune experiments, a noise-pollution game, and beach clean-ups.

Families described the programme as “a wonderful experience,” asking for more frequent offerings and updates on future activities. “Our child left thrilled and is already waiting for the next one,” said one parent; another thanked the team for “the amazing opportunity.” The SEAMIND team is sharing the full Marine Educational Packages with the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth and other competent bodies, inviting consideration for integration into Cyprus’s public-school curriculum.

To track learning and wellbeing, the team conducted interviews and questionnaires measuring each child’s connection to nature, marine knowledge, behaviours, self-esteem and mood. Preliminary analysis is under way. Full results will be released in autumn 2025, when the complete educational packages will also be freely available on MER’s website.

For additional information, partnership opportunities, or guidance on implementing SEAMIND activities in schools and community programmes, please contact: info@merresearch.com | +357 25636700