As part of the CRossWATER project, hydrogeologists from the Institute of Earth Sciences co-organized Polish-German educational workshops for fourth-grade primary school students. The workshops took place on 9 June 2026 at the Water Treatment Plant in Zgorzelec. The event brought together 37 pupils – 18 students from Primary School No. 2 in Zgorzelec and 19 students from Dietrich-Heise-Schule in Görlitz.
The main objective of the workshops was to raise awareness about the importance of groundwater resources, their limited availability, and the impact of climate change on water resources. Participants had the opportunity to learn about fundamental hydrogeological concepts, including groundwater flow, contaminant transport, and methods used for water monitoring. The theoretical part was complemented by demonstrations of aquifer models and presentations of equipment used in field investigations and water monitoring.
The programme also included practical laboratory activities, during which students learned about methods for assessing the quality. In addition, biomonitoring techniques using freshwater mussels were presented, and participants were introduced to the concept of the water footprint through examples showing the amount of water required to produce clothing items.
The workshops concluded with a guided tour of the water supply facilities under the theme “Where Does Tap Water Come From?”, during which participants followed the journey of water from its source to consumers. Thanks to German-language interpretation provided throughout the event, students from both sides of the border were able to take part in all activities together, expanding their knowledge of water resource protection and the importance of cross-border cooperation.
Educational activities carried out within the CRossWATER project play an important role in building environmental awareness among the youngest residents of the border region and promoting responsible water use in the face of ongoing climate change.
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Reference: Krzysztof Janik
Note author: Krzysztof Janik
