LIFE on mARTS

The “LIFE on mARTS” project aimed to address the objectives of the participating organizations from a dual perspective. On the one hand, it promoted collaboration between cultural, artistic, and s...

The “LIFE on mARTS” project aimed to address the objectives of the participating organizations from a dual perspective. On the one hand, it promoted collaboration between cultural, artistic, and scientific institutions and the educational sector, aiming to develop innovative and interdisciplinary educational models that would foster the cultural growth of younger generations and enhance the teaching of STEM/STEAM subjects. On the other hand, the project encouraged the international openness of the partners, creating a concrete opportunity for exchange between different methods and approaches (artistic and scientific), thus supporting joint experimentation and professional development. The encounter between the Italian and Greek educational systems stimulated the creation of shared practices, replicable paths, and skills useful for managing future European initiatives, strengthening the capacity for networking and promoting the integration of creativity, science, and active citizenship. Finally, the final online meeting was held on May 30th, where teachers were given a detailed presentation of the project's results, the tools available to them, and where to consult and download them.

The “LIFE on mARTS” project involved the creation of interdisciplinary working groups composed of teachers, artists, and scientific partners. The first campus took place in Sansepolcro (February 15–17, 2024), where 25 teachers participated in training activities hosted by CasermArcheologica. This was followed by three online webinars (April 15, 17, and 22) titled “Models of Science Teaching Through the Arts,” each attended by approximately 100 participants. The second campus was held in Heraklion (Crete) from September 9 to 15, 2024, with 15 Italian and Greek teachers. On that occasion, the “Naturographies” exhibition was inaugurated, showcasing the results of Roberto Ghezzi’s artistic residency, featuring works created in various natural environments and later analyzed by the museum’s scientific team. To conclude, 8 workshops were organized—4 in Italy and 4 in Greece—targeting both teachers and students, providing an opportunity to test the developed educational models in the field. These activities involved a total of 45 teachers and 155 students.

The “LIFE on mARTS” project produced tangible and transferable results. The following outputs were created: - 1 Educational Kit containing 10 activities for teachers, complete with learning objectives, materials, detailed instructions, original photographic documentation, and links to supporting video tutorials; - 4 “Scientific & Artistic Small Guides” for students, focused on climate change and environmental issues, using expressive and artistic languages to enhance understanding; - 4 video lessons documenting the workshops and activities carried out, designed to help teachers and schools replicate the experiences; - 8 workshops based on the Art & Science method, with over 200 participants, including 2 that led to spontaneous school exchanges and twinning projects; - 1 “Art & Science” exhibition hosted at the Natural History Museum of Crete, visited by approximately 200 students. - 1 Final meeting to disseminate the results and tools dedicated to teachers and students All materials produced have been made available online to encourage dissemination and reuse.