On 5 September 2026, ECECT participated in an educational STEAM event at the Cyprus Planetarium, delivering an interactive workshop linked to the SOIL-XR project – Immersive XR Living Labs for Soil Awareness and Education.

The event brought together approximately 140 participants, including 60 students and 80 adults and accompanying persons, creating an opportunity to introduce soil science and environmental monitoring to both young people and the wider community.

The workshop focused on helping participants understand the importance of soil health, biodiversity, erosion and environmental monitoring through practical demonstrations and simple experiments. Rather than presenting soil simply as a surface for agriculture, the activities introduced it as a living ecosystem that supports biodiversity, stores and filters water, supplies nutrients to plants and contributes to resilient ecosystems.

Participants explored what can be found beneath the soil surface and discussed the important roles played by microorganisms and other soil organisms. Through practical demonstrations, they also explored how soil erosion occurs and why the loss of fertile topsoil can affect ecosystems, agricultural productivity and the long-term condition of the land.

Technology formed an important part of the workshop. Participants were introduced to soil-moisture sensors and micro technology, demonstrating how digital tools can be used to measure environmental conditions and investigate differences in soil moisture. This hands-on element connected environmental science with practical monitoring approaches used in agriculture, education and environmental management.

Throughout the activity, participants were encouraged to discuss questions such as: Why are healthy soils important? How does biodiversity contribute to soil health? What happens when soil is degraded or eroded? How can technology help us understand changes in our environment?

By combining environmental science, practical experimentation and digital tools, the workshop made soil-related concepts more visible, accessible and engaging for different age groups.

Activities such as this contribute to SOIL-XR’s wider objective of strengthening soil literacy and citizen engagement. Through its Living Labs and educational activities in Cyprus and Italy, the project brings students, educators, researchers, citizens and local communities closer to soil science while encouraging greater understanding of soil health, sustainability and responsible land management.

SOIL-XR is implemented by Bluezona in Italy  and ECECT in Cyprus within the SOILSCAPE programme and contributes to the objectives of the European Mission “A Soil Deal for Europe”.