EXPLORING THE Blue Biotech Sector...

The Blue Economy that encompasses sustainable technology and production, holds significant promise for future careers and innovation. Its Blue Biotech sector is an exciting field with immense potential to drive European innovation and economic growth; its complexity, however, makes it difficult for non-professionals to understand. To harness its potential, it is crucial to increase awareness and support for this sector.

### The Problem

• Despite the importance of blue biotech, European schools lack engaging learning materials to help teachers explain the sector's significant impact on European industry and inspire students towards future careers in this field. However, without professional development programs that can effectively equip teachers with the knowledge and tools to educate students about blue biotech, incorporate information in curricula about developments in the field and the exciting career opportunities it offers, specialized jobs and profiles within blue biotech are largely invisible to young people, limiting their interest and understanding of the industry.

### The Solution

• Digital learning offers a scalable and easily accessible solution for educators. By creating digital education assets, we can harness the power of public participation, referred-to as citizen science - to advance research, enhance environmental stewardship, and foster a deeper connection between people and marine ecosystems. Using real-world problems and case studies related to blue biotech in classroom activities can help students understand the relevance and impact of the field while understanding blue biotech value chains, the environmental and social challenges, economic and sustainability opportunities, and highlight the various careers and roles within the blue biotech value chain.

### The Challenge

We invite participants to the Nordic hackathon with the goal of creating a digital education asset that achieves the following:

• **Maps Blue Biotech Value Chains**: Clearly illustrate the different stages and processes involved in blue biotech value chains.
• **Explains Environmental and Social Challenges**: Provide insights into the environmental and social challenges addressed by blue biotech.
• **Highlights Economic and Sustainability Opportunities**: Showcase how blue biotech contributes to sustainable economic growth and innovation.
• **Promotes Careers in Blue Biotech**: Highlight various careers and roles within the blue biotech sector to inspire students and citizens to pursue these paths.

### Desired Outcomes

• **Engaging and Interactive Content**: Develop digital content that is interactive and engaging for high school students and the general public.
• **Educator-Friendly Tools**: Ensure the content is easy for educators to integrate into their curriculum.
• **Scalability and Accessibility**: Design the digital asset to be scalable and easily accessible to schools and educational institutions across Europe.

### Impact

• By participating in this challenge, you will contribute to:
• Increasing awareness and understanding of the blue biotech sector.
• Inspiring the next generation to pursue careers in blue biotech.
• Supporting sustainable innovation and economic growth in Europe.

Join us in this exciting challenge to bridge the gap between blue biotech and education, and help shape a sustainable future for all.