On 1 September 2024, the Centre for Social Studies (CES) began the ATHENE project: Citizen Science as a methodology for developing skills in children and youth. This three-year action-research project has as its main objective the creation of an innovative methodological tool, designed to be applied directly in classroom contexts.

As part of the activities of the Citizen Science and Education Working Group (CC.Edu), the initiative promotes collaboration between students, teachers and researchers, using the principles of engaged citizen science as a basis for learning and developing competences. The methodological tool will be made available on an open-access digital platform and will include autonomous learning modules, support resources, training actions and e-portfolios.

Standing out as a pedagogical innovation initiative, the tool developed as part of ATHENE encourages the active participation of children and youths, placing them at the centre of the educational process and strengthening their autonomy and leading role in learning. In line with various national and international initiatives at the forefront of education, the tool follows the guiding principles of the Profile of Students Leaving Compulsory Education (PASEO), promoting an inclusive and integrated education that prioritises the development of transversal and essential skills to face the challenges of the future.

The ATHENE project highlights the individual skills, knowledge and experiences of children and youth, valuing them as central elements of the teaching-learning process. As well as promoting critical reflection on the learning acquired, the project enables participants to become active agents of their own educational trajectories and mentors for other young people. At the same time, it fosters fundamental skills for their educational and professional careers, such as initiative, autonomy and creativity.

The project is coordinated by CES, in partnership with the Faculty of Economics of the University of Coimbra, and is funded by the Portugal2030-CENTRO2030-Portugal programme. It also has seven social co-investors: ‘la Caixa’ Foundation/BPI Bank, the Union of Parishes of Coimbra, the Municipality of Cantanhede, the Municipality of Pampilhosa da Serra, the Municipality of Mortágua, the Bissaya Barreto Foundation and the company Combo Ltd.

ATHENE benefits from the support of the Directorate-General for Education, the Directorate-General for School Establishments, the National Strategy to Combat Poverty, the University of Coimbra, the Portuguese Institute for Sport and Youth, the Institute for Child Support, the Youth Foundation, the CES Observatory for Education and Training Policies, the OPERAS European Research Infrastructure and the Pro-Child Collaborative Laboratory.

The CES team began working with several classes from the partner schools, continuing the preparatory actions that involved meetings with the school heads, teachers and representatives of the partner municipalities. In Coimbra, the activities are taking place at the Coimbra Centro School Group and the Rainha Santa Isabel School Group; in Cantanhede, at the Gândara Mar-Tocha School Group; in Mortágua, at the Mortágua School Group; and in Pampilhosa da Serra, at the Escalada School Group. These partnerships cover classes from the 1st cycle to secondary and vocational secondary education, reinforcing the project's commitment to pedagogical innovation and the transformation of teaching and learning processes.

ATHENE is coordinated by Cláudia Pato de Carvalho and Rita Campos. The team also includes researchers Ana Maria Seixas, Fernando Fontes, Miguel Cardina, Rosa Monteiro and Sofia Gonçalves.