Jems
At the begining of April 2025 an engaging AllerShield educational workshop took place in Zadar, bringing together 30 young school-age children from the “Zarus” Scout group at the Zadar Youth Centre. Aerobiology experts from the Institute of Public Health Zadar curated a dynamic program filled with interactive and educational activities, making science accessible and fun for the participants.
Exploring Air Quality and Pollen Allergens
Children were introduced to key concepts surrounding air protection, pollen allergens, allergies, and the AllerShield project. Under expert guidance, they actively participated in hands-on activities, including:
– Identifying the visual characteristics of allergenic and invasive plants common in the region
– Sampling pollen grains from the air
– Preparing microscope slides using fresh and dry plant material
– Developing skills in microscopy and recognizing key pollen allergens in Zadar
Through these activities, children learned to distinguish different pollen types and grasped the symptoms and impact of pollen allergies. The session emphasized small meaningful actions which families can take to improve air quality, mitigate climate change, prevent invasive plant spread, and protect health, biodiversity, and the environment.
Impressions from Participants
The workshop left an inspiring impact on children and educators alike. Participants relished the opportunity to independently explore environmental research in creative and imaginative ways. One enthusiastic 7-year-old shared, “I had a great time and I liked collecting pollen from different plants.”
In general children showed great interest in alergen pollen and air quality. Scout group leaders were really satisfied with workshop because it was an upgrade of children’s knowlege and skills in enviromental protection and presevation.
The children were surprised to discover how many of them were affected by allergies, and they particularly enjoyed investigating unassuming flowers that are often the culprits behind allergic reactions.
More about the project and partners is available here.
