Energy saving, water management, waste recycling: tomorrow's sustainable development is in the hands of the younger generations, and they can learn at school how to respect and protect the environment. Theory may well prove insufficient, however the call here is upon practice and everyday individual actions to change collective behaviour patterns. This is the underpinning principle for TESSI - Teaching Sustainability across Slovenia and Italy, the transnational project starting on March 8 and 9 with the kick-off meeting hosted by AREA Science Park in Padriciano, Trieste. 

Following the success of IUSES, the project funded by the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme, aiming to draw the public's attention on energy saving and directly involving high-school students, TESSI is intended to build upon achieved results and further widen the specific focus. Not just energy, thus, but water and waste management and sustainable mobility. Activities address high-school students  from Western Slovenia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, the province of Ferrara, Ravenna, Venice, Padua, Rovigo and Treviso.

The project entails a training stage for teachers, the development of an innovative multimedia, interactive didactic toolkit and a transnational competition rewarding schools and students achieving the highest environmental benefits, showing an effect on real-life daily habits and behaviour patterns. An itinerant exhibition will also be created, involving schools and local communities to further explore the issues of sustainability.

The 36-month project benefits from the cooperation of Trieste-based AREA Science Park (Lead Partner) and Immaginario Scientifico, the University of Ferrara, Slovenski E-Forum of Lubljana and the University of Nova Gorica.

"We analysed critical issues and potential in the geographic context - says Fabio Tomasi, European coordinator of the project - aiming to use these as a starting point for an enhanced, long-term, balanced and sustainable transnational territorial integration. We will learn how to use water wisely, reduce energy consumption, increase the share of renewables, decrease polluting emissions".

TESSI is funded by the 2007-2013 Italy-Slovenia Transnational Cooperation Programme, the European Regional Development Fund and national funds.