October 2, 2026
Mindspark+ is proud to participate as a key partner in the implementation of HEALTHEN BSB, a 30-month transnational initiative to tackle water pollution and fish toxicity through innovative educational technology and Green Informatics.
About the Project
HEALTHEN BSB (“Green Informatics for Student Awareness: Water Pollution and Its Impact on Human and Environmental Health” — BSB01178) is an innovative project funded under the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme 2021–2027 (Specific Objective RSO2.7 – protecting and preserving nature, biodiversity, and green infrastructure, and reducing all forms of pollution).
With a duration of 30 months, from 17 July 2026 to 16 January 2029, the project addresses the pollution of water bodies—rivers, lakes, and seas—and its impact on human health and the environment, focusing on marine pollution and fish toxicity in the Black Sea Basin.
The core aim is to raise awareness among youth and educators across the participating regions, connecting everyday human activities and choices with environmental quality and public health.
Green Informatics as a Catalyst for Change
The project leverages methods
and tools from Green Informatics—a rapidly evolving field that utilizes information technology in the interest of the natural environment and sustainable development.
Through Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), the initiative achieves:
- Increased environmental awareness.
- Effective communication on critical environmental issues.
- Environmental monitoring and surveillance systems to protect and restore natural ecosystems.
Innovative Educational Actions & Humanoid Robots
At the heart of the project is the joint development of a holistic educational program based on the principles of non-formal education. The program integrates:
- Interactive scenarios and games tailored for humanoid and social robots, capturing the audience’s interest from the very start.
- Independent usability, ensuring that educational materials can be used with or without robots to facilitate easy replication.
Pilot Testing
The educational program will be pilot-tested with elementary school students (approximately 200 students per country) across the five participating nations, as well as at a dedicated Health and Environment Center in the Municipality of Volvi, which will remain operational after the project concludes to serve students, citizens, tourists, and stakeholders.
The Consortium
The project brings together 6 specialized institutions from 5 countries, combining multi-disciplinary expertise:
Municipality of Volvi (Greece), Mindspark Plus (Greece), “Ion Creanga” State Pedagogical University of Chisinau (Moldova), Burgas State University “Prof. Dr. Assen Zlatarov” (Bulgaria), Karadeniz Technical University (Turkiye), “Dunărea de Jos” University of Galatsi (Romania)
Key Outputs & Deliverables
- Development and validation of the Holistic Educational Program (RCO116).
- Implementation of a joint pilot action across 5 countries (RCO84).
- Deployment of a humanoid robot and establishment of local environmental education centers in Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Romania.
- Cross-border networking and cooperation among 6 organizations (RCO87).
- Organization of a joint public event in Volvi, Greece (RCO115), accompanied by a project-end evaluation study.
All developed materials and outputs will be publicly available through the🔗 official project website .
The Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme 2021–2027 is a key European Union cross-border cooperation initiative designed to foster sustainable regional development and strengthen links among countries surrounding the Black Sea Basin. Co-funded by the EU under the Neighborhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), the program brings together member states and neighboring partner countries to address shared ecological, economic, and social challenges. By funding collaborative transnational projects, Interreg NEXT BSB focuses primarily on protecting natural ecosystems, mitigating environmental pollution, enhancing climate change resilience, and promoting joint research and innovation for a greener, more sustainable future across the region.
The content of this material is the sole responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. Reproduction is authorized, provided the source is acknowledged and any changes made are indicated.
