Special Academic Unit for Environmental Education, Education and Communication
Special Academic Unit for Environmental Education, Education and Communication
The Special Academic Unit of Environmental Education, Education and Communication is the continuation of the Environmental Education, Education and Communication Laboratory, which was officially established on 18 October 2000, by the Government Decree No.283, in the Government Gazette 234/τ.A’/31.10. 2000, under the direction of Professor Konstantina Skanavi, serving research and educational purposes of the unified field of the disciplines of Environmental Education, Environmental Education and Environmental Communication and Interpretation.
In particular, the purpose of the unit is to meet the teaching needs at undergraduate and postgraduate level in the Department of Public and Community Health, as well as in other Departments of the University of West Attica, while promoting the research of the theoretical framework and applications in Environmental Education, Education, Communication and Interpretation through an interdisciplinary approach. Consequently, research projects are implemented on topics related to the fields of knowledge of the Special Academic Unit, such as the evaluation, comparison and monitoring of the characteristics and environmental profile (environmental sensitivity, knowledge, attitude, behaviour, action, participation) of Greek and European citizens in general.
Our aim is, once the exact environmental identity and profile of mainly Greeks and European citizens is clarified, to design and implement environmental communication, education and interpretation programmes. These programmes are applied in the formal education system (formal environmental education), to population groups not covered by the formal education system (non-formal environmental education including environmental interpretation) and overall to all population groups as recipients of environmental information, through lifelong learning processes based on their everyday experience and the educational influences of their environment (informal environmental education) with the ultimate aim of enhancing environmental awareness and knowledge of the environment.
In the light of the above and based on the logic that the main purpose of environmental education is to reshape human behaviour, the objectives of our workshop are:
In conclusion, the complexity of environmental problems and the seriousness of environmental issues require active citizens with the necessary skills and abilities to participate effectively in environmental decision-making. The Special Academic Unit for Environmental Education, Education and Communication is active in research, promotion and support of actions to develop environmentally responsible citizens.
Video from SkyrosProject 2016
Professor Konstantina Skanavi
Dr. Vaso Petrenitis, Senior Researcher
Dr. Valentina Plaka
Kalliopi Marini, Junior Researcher
Evangelia Reclitou Tsagaki, Junior Reseracher
Theodoulou Giannos, PhD
Ioannis Theodoulou is a graduate of the Department of Marketing & Advertising (Marketing), School of Management and Economics, TEI of Thessaloniki. Subsequently, he obtained a degree from the School of Dramatic Art “Mary Voyatzi-Traga”. She also holds a degree from the Pedagogical Department of Primary Education of the National Kapodistrian University of Athens. His postgraduate training took place at the Teaching School ”Alexandros Delmouzos” of the Department of General Education of the University of the Aegean. His studies continued with the award of the postgraduate diploma of specialization: ”Diploma de estudios avanzados del tercer ciclo la Grecia medieval y moderna: Estudios sobrie su lengua, literatura, historia y civilization” from the
‘Linguistic, cultural, literature, culture and civilisation’, from the University of Granada in Spain. He was also awarded a degree from the Department of Communication, Media & Culture, School of International Studies of Communication and Culture, Panteion University. He also holds a Master’s degree from the National Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Physical Education and Sports Science, in the field of Pedagogical and Humanistic Studies. He has professional experience from foreign countries and numerous participations in conferences and seminars. He currently works as a primary school teacher and is a PhD candidate at the Department of Public and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of West Attica.
Fotis Mylonas, PhD Candidate
Fotis Mylonas is a teacher in Primary Education in Piraeus, with a degree from the P.T.D.E. of the Kapodistrian University of Athens. He holds a Master’s Degree in “Educational Administration” from the University of West Attica, as well as numerous certifications from training courses. He has participated in scientific conferences, while his writing work includes articles published in scientific journals, as well as books that have been published. He maintains the blog “Educational Vima” and is an elected member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Primary Education Teachers of Nikaia-Piraeus. He is currently a Lecturer and postgraduate student in the Master of Science in “Environmental Communication and Health Promotion” at the University of West Attica.
Within the framework of the ”Skyros Project” and in cooperation with the Skyros Port Fund, an organized Environmental Communication Action Centre has been established at the port of Linaria in Skyros.
The action centre hosts students who, as part of their practical training, implement environmental education programmes.
There are 2 pavilions and a shelter specially designed for activities of the research group such as a) environmental camp, b) tourist observatory, c) evaluations of responsible environmental behavior, d) environmental lectures, etc.
In the framework of the research activities of the Special Academic Unit, population groups have been studied to determine their environmental profile. The scientific tool in determining the environmental profile was a questionnaire, the design of which was based on the individual behaviour models of environmental studies.
Programmes
Practical Exercise in Skyros “Environmental Campaign: SKYROS 2015” Awareness Campaign in the framework of the cooperation between the Environmental Education, Education and Communication Laboratory of the Department of Environment of the University of the Aegean, and the Skyros Port Fund. The project was awarded at the Tourism Awards 2016 (gold award), at the Facilities Management Awards 2015, at the Environmental Awareness Award Ecopolis 2016
New Internship in Skyros “Environmental Campaign: SKYROS 2016” Starting 18th June 2016
First Academy of Environmental Educators, 11 July 2016, in Skyros
EU PROMETHEUS 2014-Forest Fire Emergency Response in Wildland-Urban Interface (participation in the development of the forest fire model for the exercise scenario), 2014.
E-learning, Lifelong Learning Programmes of the University of the Aegean, 2013-2014 (Modules: a) Active Citizenship b) Online Social Communication and Natural Disaster Support.
Operational Programme for Education and Lifelong Learning, Support and Promotion of Multi-island HEIs: Education and Support to Local Communities (ESPA), Development of Environmental Communication Skills to Avoid Traumatized Communities due to Natural Disasters, 2013.
The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) αξιολόγηση συνεργασίας με Bronx School; Περιβαλλοντική Εκπαίδευση μέσω κήπων στα σχολεία, 2012.
Specialization Program in Environmental Counseling through the Internet (e-counseling), Citizens Academy, 2011.
Specialization Seminars in Special Education, Counseling Center for Psychological Support, University of the Aegean, 2009-2011.
Integrated Multiple Level Wetlands Monitoring System using Innovative Technologies (WETMUST), Regional Development Fund of Central Macedonia, 2008.
Evaluation Study of the Environmental Education Program implemented by the Hellenic Ornithological Society at the Environmental Awareness Park “A.Tritsis” (Ilion, Attica), 2008.
Design of Environmental Education Seminars for the Ministry of Defence, 2007.
Interreg, MANWATER (Management of Water Resources and Wetland protection in tourism developing areas), 2007.
ΕPΕΑΕΚ: Environmental Education Educational Material. Project manager of a project with a budget of 3.100.000 euro (evaluated as the best, the project was not funded), 2007.
Training of teachers and staff of environmental education, EPEAEK II, in cooperation with the National Technical University of Athens. The object of the project is the Design, Organization and Execution of Seminars within the thematic framework of education for sustainable-integrated development, 2005 – 2007.
SEMINARS 2005 – 2006, Environmental Actions, Education for Sustainability, participation in a series of training actions of the Ministry of the Environment throughout the country with the cooperation of the Centres for Environmental Education, 2005 – 2006.
Research Capacity Building Programme, “PENED 2003”, funded by the GGET for “Design of models for active participation of women and socially vulnerable groups in environmental decision making”, 2005 – 2008.
Protection and promotion of a protected area of the Natura 2000 network in the bay of Kaloni, Lesvos.
School Environmental Education Programmes, Participation in the achievement of the objective of the programme “School Environmental Education Programmes – SEPs”, i.e. the support of School Units for the design and implementation of integrated SEPs, based on the principles and philosophy of the E.E. and with the use of the infrastructure created during the implementation of the EPEEK I
Environmental Awareness based on the requirements of the European Community Directives. The aim is to raise environmental awareness (according to the principles and theoretical background of Environmental Education) of the citizens of the Republic of Cyprus in order to successfully meet the requirements of the European Community Directives.
Study for the promotion and tourist development of the anonymous cave of the Ermakia Community. The aim of this study was to determine the environmental profile of people visiting caves, in order to enable the design of environmental education actions that meet the needs of visitors and are in line with their wishes.
Evaluation of environmental education material. The first part of the evaluation of the Gaia Centre aimed to formally measure changes in the knowledge, attitudes and values of a representative group of the population visiting the Centre, induced by the tour of the exhibition modules. The measurement of these changes was based on the analysis of responses to closed-ended questionnaires, which addressed issues discussed in the exhibition modules. – Goulandris Museum, Gaia Centre.
2019
2018
2017
2016
Undergraduate theses supervised by Professor Konstantina Skanavi that were awarded:
2015
2014
2013
2012