Plant blindness is becoming a universal phenomenon among both students and adults. They do not know the names of the plants in their immediate environment, nor are they interested in familiarising themselves with the plants that surround them. Teachers and outdoor education can play a vital role in reversing and preventing this phenomenon;…

Plant blindness has been widely examined in plant education research. However, practical attempts to counteract the common disregard of plants are rare, especially in standard school contexts. We developed and evaluated a teaching concept based upon an 'Educational Seed Mix' comprising eight annual species from six different plant families. With…

The current study aims at monitoring, measuring and evaluating the 'Safe havens for wild birds' campaign, implemented within the framework of the LIFE programme, in Greece and more specifically in the Ionian Islands. The study detects attitude changes that occurred in three target groups (pupils, local hunters and residents) on three islands where…

Introduction: Tooth decay is the most common reason for non-emergency hospital admissions in 5-9 year olds. As such, it is included in the England school curriculum at 8-9 years to facilitate improved oral hygiene and prevent tooth decay. Aim: Measure student and teacher baseline oral hygiene knowledge; determine effect of the e-Bug oral hygiene…

Excessive exposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes sunburn and has been consistently associated with increased susceptibility to melanoma and skin ageing. Acknowledging the need to promote healthy sun exposure habits, numerous educational initiatives have been developed to raise public awareness towards this issue. However, studies…

The "Green Classroom" in the Botanical Garden of the University of Ulm is a learning forum outdoor school that is used by about 2500 school students annually. Its educational concept is based on experiential learning and is geared towards expanding students' biological knowledge and developing positive attitudes towards small animals and…