acaSTEMy: Erasmus+Teacher Academy - News

ERASMUS+ Teacher academy AcaSTEMy 7th HYBRID SEMINAR - Croatia, 20. 02. 2026 - 15:00H (CET)

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 15:10:00 +0000

The Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar invites you to the 7th AcaSTEMy hybrid seminar titled “Foundations of the Education Future: Integration of Transversal Skills in a 21st Century Learning Outcomes” by Professor Predrag PALE, PhD.

The hybrid seminar will take place on the 20th of February 2026 from 15:00 to 18:00 (CET) in person at City Library, Djakovo, Ulica bana Josipa Jelačića 30.

(Note: The first hour of the seminar will be in English, and there will participate, in addition to Croatian participants who will participate in in-person format, international participants who will participate by videoconference. The remaining time of the seminar will be held in Croatian with only in-person format Croatian participants).

Venue:

City library Đakovo, City Đakovo, Ulica bana Josipa Jelačića 30

Agenda:

15:00–15:05 Welcoming words from the Croatian project coordinator of the Erasmus+ acaSTEMy - Prof. Josip Burušić

15:05–16:05 Lectures "Integration of Transversal Skills in a 21st Century Learning Outcomes”- Prof. Predrag Pale

16:05–17: 45 Questions and Discussion

17:45–18:00 Summary of the seminar; Closing remarks- Prof. Josip Burušić

Zoom link for participation:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86719016648

Abstract:

Many educational strategies and policies are focused on STEM. However, many of world current challenges lie in non-STEM areas or are requesting additional skills for solving challenges. In order to overcome some of most present challenges, on both individual and collective levels, building and practicing transversal skills are of paramount importance. Effective interpersonal communication, project and change management, negotiation, and conflict resolution - along with teamwork - are sine qua non for effectively leveraging technical solutions for the benefit of humanity. Thevast collection of data, ultra-fast processing, ubiquitous communication, and artificial intelligence are eclipsing the traditional teacher and school. Everything about education is under scrutiny. The perspective on the topic from a viewpoint of prominent Croatian STEM expert and educator, who is focused on the transversal skills importance, will provide us excellent insights in way how to develop STEM and engineering education with a soul. At the same time, audience will have possibility to get information related to traditional educational dilemma if hard skills are indented to build systems, and transversal skills are needed to build a society.

Presenter short Bio:

Predrag PALE, PhD is a hard-core engineer passionate, not only for leveraging technology for the benefit of people and society, but also for demystifying, simplifying technology itself. Early in his technical career and career of Professor at University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, he discovered the crucial role transversal skills play in the success of technical projects and the tangible benefits they deliver to users. Today, he believes that interpersonal communication - including human-to-AI interaction—is vital for the mankind’s future. He is zealous in making education not only utterly efficient and effective, but also a pleasant, exciting, motivating experience.

acaSTEMy 6th hybrid seminar "Digital Media for Chemistry Lessons" - 26th of November 2025 from 10:30 to 11:30 CET

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 11:04:00 +0000

Full link to 6th hybrid seminar is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiDcTY0cz3k

LMU, member of acaSTEMy Erasmus+ teacher academy, organize and invites you to 6th acaSTEMy hybrid seminar.

This hybrid lecture explores how digital media can be purposefully and pedagogically integrated into chemistry teaching. Aimed at pre-service and in-service chemistry teachers, it starts from the guiding question “Why do we need digital media in chemistry lessons?” and discusses the educational and professional expectations for teachers in light of the ongoing digital transformation in schools.

The session examines what digital media are and how they can enrich the teaching and learning of chemical terminology, representations, and experimental methods. Drawing on Mayer’s Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning and Sweller’s Cognitive Load Theory, it highlights key cognitive and design principles that support effective learning and help balance mental effort in multimedia-based instruction.

Frameworks like SAMR and ICAP help reflect on technology use and learner engagement, emphasizing that the best approach depends on learning goals, student needs, and material complexity. Teachers are encouraged to choose and adapt digital tools thoughtfully to maximize learning effectiveness for each situation.

Using Augmented Reality (AR) as an illustrative example, the lecture demonstrates how digital tools can enhance visualization and understanding of submicroscopic, macroscopic and representative levels in chemistry. Altogether, it provides practical insights for designing pedagogically sound and cognitively oriented digital learning environments in chemistry education.

Speaker: Dr. rer. Nat. Melanie Ripsam

Melanie Ripsam is a Research and Teaching Associate in Chemistry Education at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich. Her research focuses on teaching and learning in chemistry, with particular interest in fostering students’ understanding of the substance–particle concept and supporting the use of chemical language through (multiple) external representations, especially in digital learning contexts. She investigates how technologies such as augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) can promote scientific thinking and inquiry-based learning in chemistry. Her research aims to identify effective strategies for designing digital chemistry lessons and to support both pre- and in-service teachers in implementing meaningful digital instruction. Prior to joining LMU, she contributed to the DigiProMIN project at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), where she developed and evaluated professional development programs for science teachers.

Zoom Meeting Link:

https://lmu-munich.zoom-x.de/j/63504183660?pwd=ZGT3MPUPubvzaFoWj7K7EUW4u8FEIE.1

Meeting ID: 635 0418 3660, Passcode: 101989

acaSTEMy 5th hybrid seminar -30 of October 2025 from 10:00 to 15:00 (CET) - NEW APPROACHES IN ONCOLOGY

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 07:53:00 +0000

The Buca Faculty of Education invites you to the AcaSTEMy 5th hybrid seminar titled “New Approaches in Oncology" with participation of Assoc. Prof. Dr. GizemÇALIBAŞI KOÇAL and Asst. Prof. Dr. Nazlı MERT ÖZÜPEK from Institute of Oncology.

This seminar will focus on recent advancements in oncology, providing an excellent opportunity to exchange insights, discuss current research, and strengthen collaboration among project partners.

The hybrid seminar will take place on the 30 of October 2025 from 10:00 to 15:00 (CET) at The Buca Faculty of Education of the Dokuz Eylul University. The first hour of the seminar will be in English by videoconference. The remaining hour of the seminar will be held in Turkish in an in-person format.

The Zoom link for online participants is:

https://zoom.us/j/98695019996?pwd=IDFQRLiHvBcfkHpa6mTYuiysgkb92Y.1

The Seminar flayer is here:

acaSTEMy 4th hybrid seminar - 17th of September 2025 from 13:30 to 15:00 (CET)

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 10:53:00 +0000

“Green Chemistry for the Future of Society and Industry”

The Interdisciplinary Center for Educational Innovation of the University of Latvia invites you to the AcaSTEMy 4th hybrid seminar titled “Green chemistry for the future of society and industry” by Dr. Chem. Eduards Baķis.

The hybrid seminar will take place on the 17th of September 2025 from 13:30 to 15:00 (CET) at the Interdisciplinary Center for Educational Innovation of the University of Latvia. The first hour of the seminar will be in English by videoconference. The remaining hour of the seminar will be held in Latvian in an in-person format.

The Zoom link for online participants is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83641107916?pwd=bDsicya1hOgH4ZcagmanCDJpd6kvZA.1

Agenda:

13:30–13:35

Welcoming words from the project coordinator of the Latvian team, Kārlis Greitāns

13:35–14:15

Presentation on "Green Chemistry for the Future of Society and Industry" by Dr.Chem. Eduards Baķis

14:15–14:25

Questions from the audience

14:25–14:55

Discussion with pre-service students and in-service teachers on site

14:55–15:00

Summary of the seminar and closing remarks by Kārlis Greitāns

Abstract

" Green chemistry for the future of society and industry "

The growing challenges of climate change, resource depletion, and environmental pollution call for a fundamental shift in the way chemistry is taught, researched, and practiced. Green chemistry offers a powerful framework for designing chemical processes and products that reduce or eliminate hazardous substances, minimize waste, and use resources more efficiently. This lecture invites pre-service chemistry teachers to explore how the 12 principles of green chemistry can inspire innovations in areas such as renewable energy, sustainable materials, pharmaceuticals, and everyday consumer products. By connecting scientific knowledge with pressing societal needs, green chemistry demonstrates that responsible chemistry is not a limitation but a pathway to creativity, economic growth, and social well-being. Participants will gain insight into how they, as future educators, can integrate these ideas into the classroom—empowering students to see chemistry not only as a subject of formulas and reactions, but also as a discipline that shapes a more sustainable future.

Short Bio- dr. Eduards Baķis

Dr. Eduards Baķis is a Latvian chemist who, after earning his PhD at Imperial College London, returned to Latvia to build his research direction and intellectual space at the University of Latvia. His work focuses on solvent design and sustainable chemical processes, with collaborations across Europe and active engagement in the international scientific community. He is also the organizer of scientific events, including the upcoming 1st Walden Panel on Ionic Liquids in Riga (2026), named after Latvian chemist Paul Walden. Eduards’ motto, “Think slowly”, reflects his belief that chemistry is not just about ready-made inventions but about a process that requires stepping into the shoes of researchers from many disciplines. As a lecturer, he designs and teaches study courses that highlight the societal and industrial relevance of chemistry, inspiring young people to see it as a pathway to sustainability and innovation. From 2020 to 2022, he served on the board of the Latvian Association of Young Scientists and continues to actively support the early-career researcher community.

acaSTEMy 3rd hybrid seminar - “Sustainable agriculture (for people and planet) and new forms of food”

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 11:07:00 +0000

The Institute of Education of the University of Lisbon organize and invites to the 3rd AcaSTEMy hybrid seminar titled “Sustainable agriculture (for people and planet) and new forms of food” by Professor Luís Goulão and Professor Anabela Raymundo.

The hybrid seminar will take place on the 30th of April 2025 from 10:00 to 13:00 (UTC+1) at the Institute of Education of the University of Lisbon.

The Zoom link for online participants is: https://videoconf-colibri.zoom.us/j/92457143941

Agenda

10:00–10:05 Welcoming words from the project coordinator of the Portuguese team, Prof. Cláudia Faria

10:05–10:25 Presentation on "Sustainable agriculture (for people and planet)" by Prof. Luís Goulão

10:25–10:45 Presentation on “New forms of food” by Prof. Anabela Raymundo

10:45–11:00 Questions from the audience

11:00–12:45 Discussion with pre-service students (Biology & Geology and Physics & Chemistry)

12:45–13:00 Summary of the seminar and closing remarks by Prof. Cláudia Faria

Note: The first hour of the seminar will be in English by videoconference. The remaining two hours of the seminar will be held in Portuguese in an in-person format.

More infos:

Abstracts

"Sustainable agriculture (for people and planet)"

Sustainable agriculture must balance strategies to cope with the increasing global demand for [healthy] food with the priority to preserve environmental integrity. This talk explores the integration of the sustainability concept into the food security definition, discussing the implications of integrating agency and ecological resilience to ensure long-term results. The concept of sustainable intensification is examined as a dual pathway to increase agricultural productivity while guaranteeing environmental sustainability and promoting territorial embeddedness, highlighting contextualised roles for precision agriculture, agroecology, or biotechnology in achieving these goals. Discourse surrounding sustainable agriculture often suffers from myths and inconsistencies, such as the oversimplified opposition between agroecological intensification and “conventional” farming, the assumption that local food systems are inherently more sustainable, and the ideological framing of "natural" versus "technological" solutions. Here, we argue that addressing these misconceptions is crucial for evidence-based policy and practice, to ensure that agriculture remains both productive and regenerative, serving both people and the planet in a rapidly changing world.

“New forms of food”

The sharp growth of the world population is evident, with studies indicating that by 2025, we will be more than nine billion people living on the planet. Conventional agricultural systems will not be able to meet these needs. Added to this are the shortages of water, arable land and biodiversity. Protein scarcity is already a reality, and several projects have been developed worldwide to identify alternative sources of protein that are nutritionally balanced, low-cost and versatile in their applications. This presentation will highlight the use of proteins from legumes, algae, mycoproteins, and proteins derived from cellular agriculture. The involvement of companies in the development of products based on these proteins is fundamental so that consumers can rethink and redesign their diets toward healthier and more sustainable eating habits.

Short Bios:

Luís Goulão, PhD in Agronomic Engineering from the Technical University of Lisbon and post-graduate in Sustainable Agriculture. Currently serving as Professor and Vice-Dean of the School of Agriculture at the University of Lisbon (ISA). His research and teaching bridge agriculture, food security, and nutrition with food policy and development outcomes, at national and global levels, emphasizing tropical regions’ contexts. He co-chairs the University of Lisbon’s Thematic Interdisciplinary Network “Agri-Food and Forestry (redeAGRO)”, and is a member of the coordination board of the university’s Interdisciplinary College “Food, Farming and Forestry (F3)”. He is also part of the Coordination Board at ISA’s Research Centre “Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food (LEAF)”, and the Scientific Committee of Doctoral Programmes in “Agricultural Innovation in Tropical Food Chains”, “Sustainability Science”, and “Development Studies”. Additionally, he serves on the Advisory Board of the Agrinatura-EEIG, the European Alliance on Agricultural Knowledge for Development, to support Agricultural Research for Development. Previously, he was a researcher at the Tropical Research Institute (IICT), coordinating the “Agri4Safe” Research Group, which focused on agriculture and food security research to support international cooperation with African countries. He was also a Visiting Lecturer at the Eduardo Mondlane University’s Centre of Biotechnology in Mozambique. He has worked as a European expert for the EU-Africa High-Level Policy Dialogue Working Group on “Science, Technology and Innovation for Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA)”, contributing to the roadmap towards building the EU-Africa Research and Innovation Partnership.

Anabela Raymundo, is a Chemical engineer, MSc in Food Science and Technology and a PhD in Food Engineering. Associated Professor with Habilitation, integrating the LEAF (Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food) – coordination of the group Food and Feed https://www.isa.ulisboa.pt/en/leaf/research-groups/group-3-food-feed. Main research areas of interest: functional properties of macromolecules; development of new food products; evaluation of the rheological behavior of different food matrices and relations with the structural composition. Main work focused on the use of poorly exploited food sources (e.g., microalgae and seaweed biomass, insects and food industry by-products) for the development of high-value products. Participates in several national and international research. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5266-1685. Coordination Committee of the TERRA Associated Laboratory. Board Member of PortugalFoods and a founding member of CoLab4Food. Coordinator of the Master’s in Food Engineering (ISA). Appointed Member of the National Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (CNCTI), Portugal – a government’s advisory body.

acaSTEMY 2nd hybrid seminar organized by University of Tartu - “Greenhouse gas emissions from terrestrial ecosystems on the rise"

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 13:04:00 +0000

University of Tartu organize and invite all interested to a 2^nd hybrid seminar from the series of "STEM step-up" titled “Greenhouse gas emissions from terrestrial ecosystems on the rise” by professor Ülo Mander.

Changes in land use, material cycling, and the energy balance of natural ecosystems due to climate warming have themselves become driving forces behind the continued rise in global temperatures. This increases the persistent rise of carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in the Earth's atmosphere, despite regulations on fossil fuel combustion. Gross CO2 emissions from terrestrial ecosystems are higher than those from fossil fuel burning. In recent years, natural ecosystems are increasingly emitting not only CO2 but also other potent greenhouse gases (GHG) —methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). Thus, a bias in the GHG balance of land ecosystems toward emissions can significantly impact the overall balance, even more than restrictions on fossil fuel use. Therefore, while limiting fossil fuel use of course remains crucial for preventing greenhouse gas emissions, addressing both natural and human-impacted ecosystems is also needed.

This lecture focuses on main processes related to GHG emissions from terrestrial ecosystems analysing mitigation and adaptation opportunities. The main focus is given to wetlands, especially peatlands.

The hybrid seminar will take place on the 6th of March 2025 from 13:00 to 16:00 CET at the University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46-108, Tartu, Estonia.

The first hour of the seminar will be in English and recorded. The remaining two hours of the seminar will be held in Estonian in an in-person format.

The Zoom link for online participants is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83226459974.

AGENDA FOR SEMINAR :

13:00–13:05 Welcoming words from the project coordinator, Prof. Miia Rannikmäe
13:05–13:50 Presentation on "Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Terrestrial Ecosystems on the Rise" by Prof. Ülo Mander
13:50–14:00 Questions from the audience
14:00–15:45 Discussion in Estonian with in- and pre-service students and university staff
15:45–16:00 Summary of the seminar and closing remarks by Prof. Miia Rannikmäe

SPEAKER BIO

Ülo Mander, Professor of Physical Geography and Landscape Ecology, University of Tartu (UT), Estonia. Ph.D. in biology/ecology. Member of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. Research interest: biogeosciences (carbon and nutrient cycling in wetlands and forests), landscape ecology (landscape structure and biogeochemistry), ecological engineering (constructed wetlands and riparian buffers zones). Supervisor of 44 PhD theses and 4 postdocs, currently supervising 7 PhD students and 2 postdocs. Participation in 20 EU 5th, 6th, 7th FP, Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe projects; ERC Advanced Grant holder. Was visiting professor at research centers in Germany, Sweden, Norway, Japan, China, USA and France. Editor/member of editorial board of 7 scientific journals. Expeditions to tropical peatland forests in Peru, Malaysia, Reunion, Rep. Congo and Uganda.

acaSTEMy Training the Trainers second workshop

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 12:48:00 +0000

The second Training the Trainers workshop will be held next Wednesday, January 29. The agenda includes sessions on AI in education, micro-credential implementation, and collaborative learning unit developments.

Link for TTT workshop is

https://uef.zoom.us/j/64197059515?pwd=OeH0lW8WrEcLIgsbsmzY1ZRSMurQwz.1

Agenda for TTT workshops include:

First acaSTEMy TTT workshop, 02. December 2024

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 20:45:00 +0000

In the frame of Erasmus acaSTEMy project (full name: Trans-national STEM Teacher Education Focussing on Transversal Competence and Sustainability Education) University of Eeastern Finland (UEF) organized very informative and productive ‘First Train The Trainers”.

Participants from 8 countries was informed about modern approches in using digital tools in designing training courses and participated in discussion related to planned acaSTEMy training modules and MC.

The Youtube saved video from TTT workshop is available at the link: https://youtu.be/RSS84kHiiFI (in English ).

The full Program of TTT event is presented here:

AcaSTEMy team member Kārlis Greitāns is awarded with the degree of Doctor of Science (Ph.D.)

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 14:22:00 +0000

The Promotion Board of the University of Latvia in Educational Sciences awarded Kārlis Greitāns the degree of Doctor of Science (Ph. D.) in social sciences at the meeting of 31 October 2024.

The doctoral thesis of dr. Greitāns "Professional development of natural science teachers for changes in practice" is aimed to understanding of a cause of changes in the practice of science teachers in the context of professional development. Research work explore causal relationships determination in the changes in the teaching practice of a science teacher. In the frame of thesis dr. dr. Greitāns developed and tested appropriate solutions for the professional development of science teachers.

acaSTEMy Consortium In-Person Workshop, Croatia, Split, University of Split, October, 8th-10th 2024

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 13:06:00 +0000

As a consortium member, the Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences organized the second Erasmus+ Teacher Academy acaSTEMY project meeting. The meeting was hosted by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Split, one of the consortium’s associated partners, from October 8 to 10, 2024.

Over the course of three productive days, project partners discussed the progress made across all six work packages. The project team continued its empirical research, involving nearly 900 teachers from seven countries. During the Split meeting, the team members discussed the inspiring outcomes of the initial quantitative and qualitative analysis. The indications of the preliminary results are integrated into the design of six teaching-learning modules, that will be produced within the project. In addition, initial data analysis was used for further planning and conceptualisation of deliverables, such as journal articles and presentations.

A second key focus of the meeting was the development of the 6 teaching-learning modules, 4 micro-credential courses and teacher training materials. The team refined the content of teaching-learning modules and micro-credential courses and aligned them with the project's overall goals. These training activities will cover various important topics, such as integrating the Green Deal into STEM education and developing transversal skills for STEM teachers. Additionally, the team analyzed best practices in STEM teaching from the participating countries, using this data to for the development of comprehensive manuals for teachers and educators. These materials will provide guidance on effective STEM instruction and align with the modules being created.

Lastly, the team concentrated on finalizing the structure and content of the various workshops, training courses, and seminars that will be conducted throughout the project. Plans for job-shadowing opportunities, as well as supervision and co-supervision for students preparing to enter the teaching profession, were also discussed, ensuring that practical, hands-on learning experiences are embedded within the project's outcomes.

Photos: