LSRE-LCM researchers bring water sustainability activities to public schools

Researchers from LSRE-LCM/FEUP carried out a series of outreach sessions in three public schools in Porto metropolitan area, within the scope of the WAVES project – Seawater & Wastewater: Turning Challenges into Resources. The sessions were led by Ana Isabel Gomes, Marta Barbosa and Joana Pesqueira, and took place at Escola Básica e Secundária do Cerco on 19 May, Escola Básica de Santa Bárbara on 20 May, and Escola Secundária de Paredes on 27 May. The activities involved students from the 5^th to the 10^th grade.

The sessions introduced key topics related to water scarcity, the use and treatment of urban wastewater, and the role of advanced treatment technologies in water reuse and environmental protection. The students were invited to reflect on daily water consumption habits, the different stages of wastewater treatment, and the importance of removing visible and invisible contaminants from water. Each session also included a hands-on experimental activity based on coagulation/flocculation for colour removal from a synthetic effluent. Through this activity, students observed how treatment conditions influence floc formation and water clarification, linking basic laboratory principles with real challenges in wastewater treatment.

These activities are part of the WAVES project’s commitment to environmental education and public engagement, promoting scientific literacy and sustainable water management awareness among younger generations. The WAVES project (NORTE2030-FEDER-02716600) is funded by the NORTE2030 programme under the Support System for the Creation of Scientific and Technological Knowledge – Integrated R&D Projects.