🌿 Science, Discovery and Action at School 🌿
We are proud to announce the launch of an exciting new environmental initiative at The English Centre: the ECI Biodiversity Community. This project invites students, families, and staff to connect with nature, contribute to scientific research, and help protect biodiversity — starting right here at school.
Our mission is simple but ambitious:
🔍 To measure and improve biodiversity in our school environment, while also encouraging awareness and action in the wider community — and even in the places our school community travels to.
In just the first few weeks of the project, our students have already recorded over 25 species on school grounds using the iNaturalist app, a powerful citizen science platform. Among the fascinating species observed so far are:
🦎 Tarentola mauritanica – the Moorish gecko
🕷️ Sphodromantis viridis – the African giant mantis
🐞 Pimelia chrysomeloides – a striking darkling beetle common in southern Spain
These discoveries, made during simple walks through our school garden, show just how rich and surprising our everyday environment can be — if we stop and look closely.
🌱 Students Leading the Way
The project is currently led by a passionate group of senior school pupils:
Lucía Galnares Viveros, Lola González Martínez, Blanca Cardona Sánchez, Jaime Jos González, Arturo García Rivas and Lucas Moy Canalejo.
Meeting weekly, this team explores the campus, makes scientific observations, and promotes biodiversity awareness through habitat improvements and digital campaigns.
We are also planning a future school trip to Doñana National Park, one of Europe’s most important biodiversity hotspots. While this trip may not take place this term, students involved in the project will help organise and prepare for it well in advance.
📱 How You Can Join the ECI Biodiversity Community
We’d love for families and members of our wider school community to get involved!
Here’s how you can participate:
- Download the iNaturalist app (free on iPhone or Android)
- Create a free account
- Search for and join our project: “ECI Biodiversity Community”,
- Start recording wild organisms — insects, plants, fungi, birds — anything natural, and then add your observations to our project of course
Please note: iNaturalist is designed to record observations of wild organisms, so avoid uploading photos of pets or cultivated plants.
Not sure how it works? Watch this quick tutorial:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xENz1xRu0wI
Whether you’re exploring a local park, your garden, or on holiday, your observations help build a bigger picture of our region’s biodiversity — and support scientists studying environmental change.
💬 Need Help?
If you have any questions or would like help getting started, please contact Mr Wallace via the Ecinet. He’ll be happy to guide you or your child through the setup.
Let’s observe, learn, and protect the life around us — together!
#ECIBiodiversidad #iNaturalist #BiodiversityECI #CienciaCiudadana