Blue Trace: Youth-Led Intergenerational Water Action through Citizen Science

Blue Trace turns water literacy into youth-led climate action. Supported by ProBleu and implemented at Konya Ereğli Science and Art Centre in Türkiye, the project enabled learners aged 12–16 to become young citizen scientists and investigate water-related challenges affecting their communities. Rather than receiving information passively, students asked questions, collected evidence, interpreted results, designed solutions and communicated their recommendations to people of different generations.

From local evidence to systems thinking

Working across science, geography, mathematics, technology, engineering, art and citizenship education, students investigated freshwater ecosystems through hands-on fieldwork. They measured temperature, pH, nitrate, phosphate, turbidity and total dissolved solids; recorded observations; compared results; and represented their data using graphs, digital visualisations and interactive maps. Through this process, they learned to connect water quality with biodiversity, climate change, human activities and community well-being. Their observations also contributed to citizen science activities, linking school learning with wider environmental knowledge.

Youth as designers and communicators

Students used the collected data to identify problems and develop responses. They designed prototype mobile applications addressing water-related environmental challenges, created scientific posters and infographics, produced digital maps and communicated evidence-based solutions. An art competition and exhibition enabled them to express water-related messages creatively. These concrete outputs made learning visible and shareable beyond the classroom.

Intergenerational dialogue and collective action

Youth leadership was at the centre of the project. Students explained their findings to younger peers, teachers, families and community members, led awareness activities and encouraged responsible water behaviours. Parents participated in a dedicated seminar, academic experts contributed scientific knowledge, and the municipality supported field activities by providing transport, venues, vehicles and personnel.

These encounters created meaningful dialogue between young people and adults. Students contributed data, questions and future-oriented ideas, while adults shared experience, expertise and local capacity. This reciprocal exchange helped transform water protection from a classroom topic into a shared community responsibility.

Impact and transferability

The project strengthened water literacy, scientific inquiry, digital competence, systems thinking, critical thinking, collaboration and active citizenship. Student outputs and family and community participation demonstrated increased awareness and willingness to take action. The project also strengthened connections among the school, families, academia, local government and the wider public.

To make the model reusable, the activities were documented in an accessible project package containing implementation guidelines, learning materials, assessment tools and examples of student work. Educators can adapt the approach to different age groups and local water contexts. Schools can begin with local observations and accessible measurement tools, then expand the model through digital mapping, creative communication and community partnerships.

Blue Trace demonstrates that intergenerational fairness becomes tangible when young people are trusted not only as learners, but also as evidence producers, solution designers and community leaders. By combining local water investigations with citizen science, interdisciplinary STEM learning and collective action, the project contributes to SDGs 4, 6, 13, 14 and 15. It also develops GreenComp competencies including valuing sustainability, supporting fairness, systems thinking, critical thinking, problem framing, futures literacy, collective action and individual initiative.

Project Instagram page:

https://www.instagram.com/bluetraceprotectthewaters/