Project Aanwaaiers: gather data with your class and explore biodiversity
Contribute to real research
Classes in the final three years of primary schools in the province of Utrecht can now sign up for Project Aanwaaiers. The format of the project is simple: pupils place pots filled with soil outside, water them for six weeks, and then photograph the seedlings that have naturally been blown in and started growing in the pots. By doing so, they help collect data on local plant biodiversity. Our scientists use this data to study the best ways to design nature in urban areas. At the same time, pupils learn about biodiversity and why protecting it is so important.
Researcher Monique de Jager: “I started Project Aanwaaiers because I want to find answers to questions like: how are plants and animals affected by their environment? What happens to them when there are fewer and fewer places for them to live? And can plants still spread their seeds under these conditions?”
The Program
The project kicks off on 12 May, when students place their soil-filled pots outside and take part in an introductory lesson, which lasts about an afternoon. During this lesson, they learn about biodiversity and why it is important to protect it. They also receive information on how the experiment is done and what the relevance is of it.
For the next six weeks, students will water their pots. Then, on 23 June, they will take photos of their pots and send them to our researchers. They will use the images to count how many plants have started growing in the pots.
Beyond the basic program, there are several optional modules that teachers can include in their lessons during the six-week period. These modules follow the head-heart-hand approach, and each focusses on a different theme. They are all designed to help students connect with nature—both literally and figuratively.
Insights
The data collected provides valuable insights for researchers. Monique de Jager: “How many seeds actually make it to a schoolyard? And how does that relate to the surrounding environment? What factors might explain the differences we see?”
Even if no plants grow in the pots after six weeks, reporting that outcome is just as important. “That kind of information is incredibly valuable,” says De Jager. “In fact, those are the places that teach us the most.”
If we can identify the factors that influence how many seeds travel through the air, we can use that knowledge to make urban environments greener in the best possible way.
Protecting Nature
Once the project is complete, all results will be shared on the project’s website. Using these insights, De Jager and her colleagues aim to contribute to better ways of protecting nature. "We would be very happy when many schools participate," says De Jager. "If we can identify the factors that influence how many seeds travel through the air, we can use that knowledge to make urban environments greener in the best possible way."
Connecting with nature
De Jager also hopes the project will help students feel more connected to biodiversity. De Jager: “Through this project, students get a hands-on experience of how science works and are encouraged to think about the world in a way that is not just about people. But most of all, it is also a lot of fun to participate!”