CHOICE Highlights Digital Innovation and Sustainability at Environmental Education Conference in Thrace
On May 30, 2025, CHOICE proudly participated in the conference “Environmental Education for Sustainability – Modern Challenges, Actions, and Collaborations”, held at the Democritus University of Thrace in Alexandroupoli. This event brought together educators, local authorities, environmental stakeholders, and students to discuss the pressing challenges in environmental education and explore collaborative approaches to foster sustainability.
The conference emphasized the need for strong partnerships between schools, universities, environmental organizations, and local communities to build resilient educational programs that respond to today’s environmental crises. Through presentations and interactive sessions, participants exchanged ideas on best practices, digital tools, and experiential learning methods to enhance environmental awareness and action.
During the opening session of the conference, CHOICE celebrated the creativity of local students by showcasing a biodiversity-themed board game developed by Maria Kyranoudi and Eleftheria Uzouni as part of their environmental education coursework—an inspiring example of hands-on learning and community engagement.
Digital Innovation Meets Experiential Learning
As a CHOICE EU Ambassador and project partner, Dr. Ilias Karachalios delivered an engaging presentation closing the first session, focusing on integrating digital tools and experiential learning into environmental education. Highlighting practical applications, he demonstrated how CHOICE’s innovative solutions and campaigns empower learners of all ages to adopt sustainable behaviors, particularly in the area of food sustainability.
Particularly, his presentation covered:
- Digital tools for food sustainability education: Frameworks to enrich learning experiences and drive behavioral change.
- CHOICE educational resources: Materials designed to support schools and communities in promoting climate-conscious choices.
- Sustainable food campaigns: Digital engagement strategies that raise awareness and inspire positive action.
Dr. Karachalios emphasized that the combination of experiential learning methods with digital innovation creates scalable, impactful educational content. He also highlighted the essential role of institutional collaboration among universities, schools, environmental agencies, and local authorities to ensure effective and sustainable environmental education programs.
This conference was particularly important for CHOICE as it aligned perfectly with the project’s goals to mainstream sustainability through awareness, training and stakeholder engagement. The event provided a valuable platform to showcase CHOICE’s approach and to deepen connections with key actors in environmental education in the Thrace region, fostering opportunities for future collaboration.
