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Andreas Ch. Hadjichambis

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Urban gardens: Green corners in our city

Greek

Cyprus

Program description This program is performed within the school premises or in the surrounding area and it involves CYCERE’s Environmental Educators visiting the school unit periodically as to provide information and guidance for developing the urban garden. It is organised in such a way as to support the understanding of environmental concepts and to allow implementing activities during the whole academic year as for the students to better comprehend the importance and richness of the urban garden they designed. Basic steps of the program Initially, the Environmental Group of the school involving both students and teachers is selected and organised as to be in charge of the development of the urban garden. Researching for and selecting the area inside or nearby the school premises where the garden will be established follows and afterwards planning of the garden and management of the area and the soil take place. Then, the students are asked to select the seeds / seedlings to be planted based on the information and evidence provided for the requirements, the needs and the adjustments of the plants. The students are then split into small groups and planting of the garden and development in general begins. CYCERE is responsible for coordinating the student groups and to organise the activities in collaboration with the school. After the planting is completed, the students are asked to think about the maintenance of the garden by answering questions (such as: How often should each plant species be watered? What is the best way to eliminate weeds? What is the importance of gardens for our life?) as to adopt environmental friendly maintaining practices for their garden. The program is evaluated after it’s finished. It is worth to be mentioned that the schools participating in this program are awarded with the Green Flag ‘Urban Gardens: green neighbourhoods in my town’ that can be raised in their garden or their school. At the end, a valuation of the program takes place Note: The schools, which participate in this Environmental Education Program are being awarded with the Green Flag: Urban gardens: Green corners in our city, which can be placed in their school unit.

Andreas Ch. Hadjichambis

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  • 18
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  • 25+

Investigating the Effectiveness of an Inquiry-Based Intervention on Human Reproduction in Relation to Students’ Gender, Prior Knowledge and Motivation for Learning in Biology

Greek

Cyprus

Despite the importance of understanding how the human reproductive system works, adolescents worldwide exhibit weak conceptual understanding, which leads to serious risks, such as unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Studies focusing on the development and evaluation of inquiry-based learning interventions, promoting the knowledge of human reproduction, are very few. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an inquiry-based intervention on human reproduction in relation to students’ gender, prior knowledge and motivation for learning in biology. Data collection methods included students’ pre- and post-tests, evaluating students’ conceptual understanding regarding human reproduction, and measurements of students’ motivation employing the Motivational Learning Environment survey. The sample for the pre- and post-test conceptual understanding data included the whole population of the 7th graders in Cyprus (n = 6465). Students’ motivation data were collected from a representative sample of the entire 7th graders population (n = 946 students). Statistical analyses indicated a statistically significant increase in students’ conceptual understanding as well as in their motivation for learning in biology. However, students’ gender, prior knowledge and initial motivation for learning in biology seemed to mediate the effectiveness of the inquiry-based intervention. All of these variables are deemed, therefore, as of great importance for the design, implementation and evaluation of biology teaching interventions.

Andreas Ch. Hadjichambis

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  • 18
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  • 25+

Environmental citizenship research and the European Network for Environmental Citizenship

English

Cyprus

By way of an introduction to environmental citizenship, it is a very important concept for the protection of the environment and the success of any environmental policies being pursued. This relatively new term comes mainly from the political science arena but has soon entered with claims in other different fields, such as the economy, social sciences and, more recently, education. Therefore, research on environmental citizenship finds applications in all these areas of science and society. Environmental citizenship is related to the pro-environmental behavior of citizens, which should include both individual and collective actions. Until now, there have been many different attempts to define environmental citizenship, resulting in the creation of several definitions focusing and emphasizing different dimensions and priorities of environmental citizenship.

Andreas Ch. Hadjichambis

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  • 18
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  • 25+

Ecology of Cyprus Coastal Threatened Habitats

Greek

Cyprus

Andreas Ch. Hadjichambis

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  • 18
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  • 25+

The Red Flora Data Book of Cyprus

Greek

Cyprus

The Red Flora Data Book of Cyprus is an important product of research activity and it was funded by the Research Promotion Foundation within the framework of the Research Project KIPRINIA 93/5th EE-2002 having as grant holder the Cyprus Forestry Association. The red data books and the red data lists are used internationally, containing all the endangered plants and animals by classifying them into categories of risk of extinction, based on quantitative criteria and defined methodology. The most widely used criteria and categories are those created from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (International Union for the Conservation of Nature-IUCN). The red data books are a necessary and important tool for the elaboration of valid and credible action plans for the conservation of the species and the biodiversity.

Andreas Ch. Hadjichambis

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  • 18
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  • 25+

Conservation Reasoning and Proposed Actions for the Protection of Threatened Plant Species: Insights From a Sample of Rural and Urban Children of Cyprus

English

Cyprus

Abstract Investigating children’s beliefs and values toward threatened biodiversity can contribute to their understanding about nature and to the prevention of sociopolitical issues that may emerge when nature policy is being implemented. This study investigates children’s beliefs about threats to plants, the personal values associated with conservation, and actions children consider desirable regarding the conservation of three threatened plant species of Cyprus. Photos of threatened plants were used during interviews with 60 students (30 urban and 30 rural residents) aged 10–12 years. Results showed that participants deemphasized anthropogenic threats, while attitudes of individual responsibility were prevalent. Participants proposed actions of higher effectiveness mainly when they felt that they would be able to implement them. Findings suggest that an educational policy on threatened plant conservation should adopt a social character, focusing on attitudinal development and participatory learning approaches that will enhance children’s sense of ownership and efficacy.

Andreas Ch. Hadjichambis

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  • 18
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  • 25+

Evaluating the impact of the Earthkeepers Earth education program on children’s ecological understandings, values and attitudes, and behaviour in Cyprus

English

Cyprus

Abstract The recent educational reform in Cyprus moved education about sustainability to the forefront of environmental learning. The present study examines the impact of an earth education program, Earthkeepers, on children’s ecological understandings, environmental values and attitudes, and behaviour. The program was implemented during two consecutive years with 491 4th to 7th graders from nine different schools in Cyprus. Quantitative data were collected using individual concept, attitude and behaviour questionnaires, and a satisfaction survey. Qualitative data were collected using individual semi-structured interviews with twelve students and nine teachers from six different schools. Data analysis showed gains in students’ understanding as well as significant changes towards more proenvironmental values, attitudes and behaviour. Interviews confirmed the quantitative results and verified students’ behaviour.

Andreas Ch. Hadjichambis

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  • 18
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  • 25+

Integrating Sustainable Consumption into Environmental Education: A Case Study on Environmental Representations, Decision Making and Intention to Act

English

Cyprus

Abstract During the last decades, current consumption patterns have been recurrently blamed for rendering both the environment and our lifestyles unsustainable. Young children are considered a critical group in the effort to make a shift towards sustainable consumption (environmentally friendly consumption). However, young people should be able to consider sustainable consumption as a potential venue, among their options. The present study investigates the effectiveness of an environmental education program aiming to familiarize children aged 8-12 with the notion of sustainable consumption by focusing on children’s environmental representations and their intentions to act (decision-making). Findings revealed that the program employed influenced children’s environmental representations into becoming more sustainable ones. In addition, the environmental program provided children with more environmental criteria, allowing children to report their intentions to act as sustainable consumers. Relating children’s environmental representations to their decision-making criteria, findings indicated an emerging relationship between children’s environmental representations, and their intentions to act, as reflected through the decision-making process.

Andreas Ch. Hadjichambis

  • From
  • 18
  • To
  • 25+

Attitudes and behaviours of adolescents towards antibiotics and self-care for respiratory tract infections: a qualitative study

English

Cyprus

Abstract Background To understand attitudes and behaviours of adolescents towards antibiotics, antimicrobial resistance and respiratory tract infections. Design Qualitative approach informed by the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were undertaken. We aimed to inform the development of an intervention in an international setting to improve antibiotic use among adolescents; therefore on completion of thematic analysis, findings were triangulated with qualitative data from similar studies in France, Saudi Arabia and Cyprus to elucidate differences in the behaviour change model and adaptation to diverse contexts. Setting 7 educational establishments from the south of England. Participants 53 adolescents (16–18 years) participated in seven focus groups and 21 participated in interviews. Results Most participants had taken antibiotics and likened them to other common medications such as painkillers; they reported that their peers treat antibiotics like a ‘cure-all’ and that they themselves were not interested in antibiotics as a discussion topic. They demonstrated low knowledge of the difference between viral and bacterial infections.Participants self-cared for colds and flu but believed antibiotics are required to treat other RTIs such as tonsillitis, which they perceived as more ‘serious’. Past history of taking antibiotics for RTIs instilled the belief that antibiotics were required for future RTIs. Those who characterised themselves as ‘nonscience students’ were less informed about antibiotics and AMR. Most participants felt that AMR was irrelevant to them and their peers. Some ‘non-science’ students thought resistance was a property of the body, rather than bacteria. Conclusion Addressing adolescents’ misperceptions about antibiotics and the treatment of RTIs using a behaviour change intervention should help improve antibiotic awareness and may break the cycle of patient demand for antibiotics to treat RTIs amongst this group. Schools should consider educating all students in further education about antibiotic usage and AMR, not only those taking science.