The global decline in biodiversity on our planet has alarmed many scientists and its significance is also increasingly being discussed in our society.
The Elisabeth Selbert Comprehensive School has set itself the goal of providing its students with comprehensive information about the importance of biodiversity and showing them options for action. For this reason, the first Biodiversity Day took place on May 30, 2017, which has now become an established part of the school program. Years 5 to 7 are currently taking part in Biodiversity Day. Expansion is being considered. By regularly revisiting the topic, the aim is to enable students to engage with the topic in more depth.
The offering on this day is supported by a variety of extracurricular institutions.
These include:
- The Alexander König Research Museum, with which the Elisabeth Selbert Comprehensive School has a cooperation agreement. Prof. Dr. So far, Misof has given an introductory lecture on the topic for the beginner classes in all years, which gave the students a clear first insight into the topic and formed an important motivation and basis for further study of the topic.
In addition, the ZFMK has offered several workshops on animal biodiversity.
In May 2019, with the help of the ZFMK and students from the biology didactics department at the University of Bonn, Prof. Schersoi carried out biodiversity monitoring on the ESG school grounds for the first time. The museum provided several experts who, with the help of participants in the taxonomy workshop and a class from the school, examined the biodiversity on the school grounds. Both plant and animal species were collected and identified. 72 species of insects, 61 species of plants and 20 species of birds were found. As a reward, the school received €5 per species found with the aim of increasing biodiversity on the school grounds. Part of this money was invested in the school garden. Various seeds for wildflower meadows were sown here.
- The House of Nature
- Botanical Garden of the University of Bonn
- Institute for Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES) – Agroecology & Organic Agriculture (AOL)
- Green School of Flora Cologne
- Cologne Zoo School
- Rhine-Sieg Biological Station
- Bonn Biological Station
- Zentrum for Environmental Education ZUB e.v.
The next Biodiversity Day is expected to take place in June 2024
