GreenAgers Awards 2026: Top Green Ideas from Casciana Terme and Lari Middle Schools Honoured
The closing day of the GreenAgers project took place on Saturday, 6 June, at the main campus of Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa, culminating in an award ceremony for students from the lower secondary schools of Casciana Terme and Lari who distinguished themselves for originality, creativity, and commitment to environmental sustainability.
The day opened with institutional greetings from Fabio Iraldo, Vice-Rector for Research Valorisation and Social Impact at Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, followed by addresses from Francesco Tamburini, President of the Associazione Progetto .TER.R.Æ., Maria Rosaria Pizza, Headteacher of the Istituto Comprensivo Casciana Terme e Lari, Enrico Fatticcioni, Councillor for the Environment of the Municipality of Casciana Terme Lari, and Cecilia Giambelli of CONAD Nord Ovest. The addresses highlighted the importance of promoting educational programmes dedicated to environmental sustainability and of strengthening collaboration between schools, research institutions, and local stakeholders.
110 students took part in the closing event of a programme launched in April 2026 and promoted by the Associazione Progetto .TER.R.Æ. in collaboration with the Public Engagement Unit and Institutional Communications of Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies. The initiative was conceived with the aim of bringing younger generations closer to the challenges of the ecological transition through participatory activities, opportunities for discussion, and learning pathways based on direct experience.
During the activities, the classes involved had the opportunity to engage with researchers from the Interdisciplinary Centre for Climate Sciences (CISC) and the Institute of Crop Sciences at Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, exploring topics related to climate change, environmental protection, and sustainable innovation. A dialogue between research and school that made it possible to translate complex scientific content into accessible and engaging tools for younger audiences.
Students worked on designing ideas and proposals oriented towards sustainability, developing projects that demonstrated awareness of environmental issues, an ability to observe and interpret their local territory, and a multidisciplinary approach. The projects presented showed how younger generations can offer original and informed contributions to building a culture of sustainability.
A jury composed of sustainability and communications professionals evaluated the submitted projects, awarding eight prizes to the proposals that stood out for their innovation, creativity, and ability to foster a culture of sustainability among younger generations.
Now in its third edition, GreenAgers confirms itself as an established collaborative experience bringing together schools, associations, and the research community. A project that demonstrates the value of public engagement activities in promoting the active participation of younger generations and strengthening the bond between the university and the local community, through educational programmes dedicated to the major environmental challenges of the present and the future.
