To continue our commitment to bringing innovation in education to everyone, at NUCLIO we place the professional development of teachers at the core of our actions. We empower them with essential skills for truly student-centered learning, focused on the digital transition and the integration of new tools and emerging technologies in the classroom, always prioritizing diversity and the creation of more inclusive educational environments.
Throughout the 2024-2025 school year, the NUCLIO team organized and participated in several teacher training events (workshops, webinars, short-term actions and certified courses, winter and spring schools, and much more), both nationally and internationally, within the scope of our projects. And as has been our tradition in recent years, during the month of July, we remained very active, engaging week after week in major international teacher training events that marked the final phase of yet another school year across Europe.
Looking back, here are the most important international events we participated in:
European School Innovation Academy – ESIA Summer Schools 2025, June 29–July 11, Marathon, Greece
The training courses in Greece were divided into two different weeks:
In the first week (June 29th to July 4th), we participated in the summer schools for the following projects:
- Astro-Journeys – this course took participants on an interdisciplinary journey inspired by the Big Ideas of Astronomy.
- SYNAPSES – the training was grounded on the concept of Sustainability Citizenship, presenting the concept as well as the key drivers of change that could catalyse its integration to the national training curricula and educational systems.
- Open Teach C-Hub – the training promoted the use of Open Educational Resources and Practices, as well as the creation and use of digital content through collaboration and the exchange of expertise and best practices among teachers.
During the second week (July 6-11), NUCLIO participated in the summer schools of the following projects:
- STAND – where teachers could delve into the fascinating world of meteors, asteroids, and Planetary Defense through engaging STEAM activities.
- EXPLORE – which introduced teachers to immersive STEM activities related to space exploration, as well as resources and support for classroom implementation. These activities could lead their students to participate in one of the analogue Mars exploration missions conducted in the framework of this project.
- Discovery Space – the course introduced the concept of an “AI-enhanced Deeper Learning Classroom in STEM,” which will stimulate students’ curiosity and critical thinking through an inquiry-based learning experience supported by AI.
- L-STEAM – where teachers had the opportunitty to gain practical artistic skills designed to deepen student engagement and learning in STEAM fields.
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GEO-Academy Summer School – July 13-18, 2025, Sesimbra, Portugal
This summer school was organized by NUCLIO, in collaboration with partners from the GEO-Academy project, and was held at the Hotel do Mar in Sesimbra, built on a hillside overlooking the beach.
The course marked the project’s 3rd international training event and brought together teachers, researchers, and experts to share innovative tools and practices in geotechnologies applied to education.
Participants learned about the GEOBSERVE platform, which provides free training modules as well as resources and guides to support teaching sustainable development in the classroom. Throughout the week, participants collaborated on the development of original learning scenarios that incorporated the tools and strategies they had explored during the workshops.
By the end of the week, teachers left with more than just new knowledge, they left with practical tools, tested resources. They gained confidence in integrating geospatial and digital technologies into their teaching, understood how to embed sustainability into learning, and returned home equipped to inspire the next generation.
ESA/GTTP 2025 – 21–25 July 2025, Madrid, Spain
In the fourth week of the month, part of the NUCLIO team headed to Madrid for the 2025 edition of the ESA/GTTP, a training event that brings together the European Space Agency and the Galileo Teacher Training Program (coordinated worldwide by NUCLIO) to offer professional development opportunities for teachers from around the world. This year, the course was dedicated to the theme “The Sun and Eclipses”, exploring our star and highlighting the upcoming solar eclipses that will be visible from the Iberian Peninsula in 2026, 2027, and 2028.
The hybrid course (in-person and online) took place at the ESAC facilities, ESA’s window to the Universe, and combined lectures and practical sessions. Participants learned about the scientific results obtained by ESA’s most recent missions, connected with leading researchers, toured the facilities, and collaborated on classroom-ready science projects—returning home with new knowledge, practical resources, and fresh inspiration for their students. The program also featured a visit to the Spanish National Astronomical Observatory, on 25th of July.
The training was organized by CESAR (Cooperation through Education in Science and Astronomy Research – the resident educational team at ESAC), and NUCLIO (coordinator of the GTTP – Galileo Teacher Training Program), with the support of the team from the IAC (Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias), The Schools’ Observatory, ICE-CSIC and in partnership with the ESIA (European School Innovation Academy).
We will be back soon with news regarding new training events that we will hold starting in September and throughout the next school year. Have a good holiday and stay tuned to our website and social media!