At the beginning of September, the SeaTecHub project connected Croatia and Cyprus on a new level through its first student exchange!

In cooperation with the 20000 miles Society and the Cypriot partner ΑΚΤΗ / AKTI Project and Research Centre, 11 students from Cyprus spent a week in Croatia, joining local students to explore Šibenik, the island of Silba, and Zadar. Through an interactive and hands-on programme, they discovered ocean literacy concepts and the potential of the blue sector in an engaging, experiential way. 🌍💙

Day 1–2: Šibenik – Understanding the Sea and Our Role 🌊

The exchange began in Šibenik, where students were introduced to the local marine environment and the goals of the SeaTecHub project.

A highlight was a public lecture by Giannis Loizides from AKTI Project and Research Centre on Wednesday, 3 September, held at the Visitor Centre “Kanal sv. Ante”. The lecture focused on:

• 🌊 Conservation of the sea and coast

• 🏘️ The role of local communities and local authorities in protecting the marine environment

• 🤝 How collaboration between experts, institutions, and citizens can drive sustainable change

Giannis Loizides’ visit to Šibenik-Knin County formed part of the SeaTecHub international expert activities, aimed at strengthening cross-border cooperation between Croatia and Cyprus in developing innovative technologies for a healthy and productive sea.

As the hosts highlighted, international exchanges like this show just how crucial cooperation between local communities, experts, and young people is for raising environmental awareness, preserving the sea, and supporting sustainable development.

Central Part: On Silba – Living Ocean Literacy on an Island 🏝️

The heart of the exchange took place on Silba island, where the research spirit truly came alive.

Students:

• Took part in practical ocean literacy activities, learning to observe the sea as young scientists,

• Experienced the unique rhythm of island life, and

• Joined a unique cleaning action on uninhabited Silba reefs, seeing first-hand the impact of marine litter and the importance of protecting remote marine habitats.

These days on Silba helped students connect emotionally and practically with the sea – not just as a topic of study, but as a shared home that needs care.

Hands-on Science: Workshops & Citizen Science 🔬

Throughout the programme, students participated in workshops that blended science, fieldwork, and community engagement:

• 🌊 Measuring coastal processes – observing waves, currents, and coastline changes

• 🪸 Citizen science protocols for tracking sea urchins – learning how simple, standardised observations can contribute to real scientific data

• 🗣️ Interacting with locals – hearing the story of Silba and understanding how daily life, culture, and livelihoods are interconnected with the sea

These activities gave students a taste of how ocean literacy, science, and society come together in the blue sector.

Final Stop: Zadar & the University – From Theory to Practice 🏛️🐟

After the island part, the group travelled to Zadar, where they visited the University of Zadar and the Aquarium Laboratory for Aquaculture (Sphinx).

Here, students saw how:

• theoretical knowledge about the sea,

• concepts of the blue economy, and

• ideas discussed during the week

are translated into real research, technology, and practical applications. This visit helped connect everything they had experienced in Šibenik and Silba with future study paths and career opportunities in the blue sector.

A Week That Built Bridges – Scientifically, Personally, Professionally 💙

The youth exchange between Croatia and Cyprus brought participants closer to the sea on multiple levels:

• Scientifically – through lectures, workshops, and field measurements

• Personally – by living, learning, and working together across cultures

• Professionally – by discovering concrete opportunities within the blue sector and blue economy

This was just the first part of the SeaTecHub student exchange, and it has already sparked new connections, ideas, and friendships that will continue to grow within the project.

🙏 Thank you to everyone involved – the students, mentors, local hosts, and partner organisations – for your energy, curiosity, and commitment.

📸 Stay tuned! In our next posts, we’ll show you more of what we did, where we went, and how the students experienced this blue journey! 🌊✨