Clyde in e Classroom Merks 25 Year o Inspirin Young Ecologists

E Clyde in e Classroom project is celebratin a remairkable milesteen—25 year o fosterin a luve for ecology amang bairns in e West o Scotland. Iss innovative initiative has transformed 2,000 classrooms intae vibrant fish hatcheries, inspirin ower 50,000 young minds tae appreciate the importance o local biodiversity.

Laanched in 2001 by the Clyde River Foundation at e University o Glesga, e project aims tae cultivate future stewards o the River Clyde. It immerses pupils in hands-on lairnin aboot e ecology an wildlife o their local environment. E program emphasises sustainability, addressin pollution an ither threits tae precious freshwatter ecosystems.

E success o Clyde in e Classroom is evident in e paths taken by its former pupils. Many hae pursued studies in zoology, returnin tae the University o Glesga tae deepen their unnerstandin o the natural warld. Iss fu-circle moment brings joy tae the project team, fa witness e impact o their efforts firsthand.

Initially involvin jist five skweels, e project has grown exponentially. E day, it raxes aroond 100 skweels an engages 3,000 bairns each year. A key component includes e introduction o broon troot egg hatcheries in classrooms, far students lairn tae maintain watter quality an care for e fish as they hatch an grow. Efter wikks o nurturin, e young fish are released intae local rivers, merkin a significant moment for baith students an e environment.

This year, e project will laanch at e Glesga Science Centre fae January 8 tae 16, 2025. Hunners o bairns will gaither tae explore the ecology an history o the River Clyde, lairnin foo tae care for their hatcheries. E Science Centre has bin a steadfast partner syne the project’s inception, unnerscorin e importance o engagin young lairners in scientific exploration.

Dr. Willie Yeomans, Catchment Manager at e Clyde River Foundation, expressed pride in e project’s lang-term impact. “Education projects hae bin pairt o oor core wark for 25 year. We are delichted aat e scale an rax o the project is shawin lang-term impact,” he stated. Monie lairners involved e day wir ance students in e program, pyntin oot its lastin legacy.

Stephen Breslin, CEO o Glesga Science Centre, emphasised e importance o sic initiatives. “We believe aat aabody should hae the opportunity tae engage wi science an explore the warld aroond them,” he said. E Centre looks forrit tae walcomin mair pupils iss year tae lairn aboot freshwatter biodiversity an ecology.

Crown Estate Scotland has bin e main sponsor for e past decade, supportin e project’s mission tae educate young fowk aboot e ecology o the Clyde River catchment. Oster Milambo, Director o Property at Crown Estate Scotland, noted e alignment o their goals wi the project’s vision. “We believe supportin successive generations o young fowk tae lairn aboot e ecology o the Clyde River catchment is a natural fit wi oor core purpose,” he remairked.

As Clyde in e Classroom celebrates its 25th anniversary, it stands as a testament tae the pouer o education in nurturin environmental stewardship an fosterin a deeper connection tae nature amang e youth o Scotland.