SOIL-XR

ECECT Brings SOIL-XR to the Cyprus Planetarium SOIL-XR September 9, 2026 15:58 pm On 5 September 2026, ECECT participated in an educational STEAM event at the Cyprus Planetarium, where it delivered an interactive workshop linked primarily to the SOIL-XR project. The activity focused on helping participants better understand the importance of soil health, biodiversity, erosion and environmental monitoring through practical demonstrations and simple experiments. Rather than presenting soil only as a surface for agriculture, the workshop introduced it as a complex and living ecosystem that supports biodiversity, stores water, provides nutrients and contributes to wider environmental resilience. Participants explored what can be found beneath the soil surface and discussed the role of microorganisms and other forms of soil life. The workshop also demonstrated how erosion occurs and why the loss of topsoil can affect ecosystems, agricultural productivity and the long-term condition of the land. A strong technological element was incorporated into the session. Participants used soil-moisture sensors and micro:bit technology to observe how digital tools can measure environmental conditions and help us better understand soil behaviour. This practical component allowed participants to connect environmental concepts with real monitoring methods used in agriculture and environmental management. The workshop encouraged discussion around questions such as why healthy soils matter, how biodiversity contributes to soil quality and how technology can help monitor environmental change. By combining environmental science with experimentation and digital tools, the activity aimed to make soil-related topics more accessible and engaging for a broad audience. Through activities in Cyprus and Italy, SOIL-XR works to bring soil knowledge closer to students, educators, researchers and local communities, while encouraging greater understanding of soil health, sustainability and regenerative practices. 🔗 Learn more about the project: https://www.soilxr.eu/ Latest news ECECT Brings SOIL-XR to the Cyprus Planetarium 09 Sep 2026 Projects Another memorable year with Robotex Cyprus! 06 Jul 2026 News Co-Design the SOIL-XR Learning Platform in Italy 26 Jun 2026 Projects Co-Design the SOIL-XR Learning Platform in Cyprus 26 Jun 2026 Projects Take the SOIL-XR Survey! 26 Jun 2026 Projects Popular news Another memorable year with Robotex Cyprus! 06 Jul 2026 News Co-Design the SOIL-XR Learning Platform in Cyprus 26 Jun 2026 Projects ECECT Brings SOIL-XR to the Cyprus Planetarium 09 Sep 2026 Projects Co-Design the SOIL-XR Learning Platform in Italy 26 Jun 2026 Projects The SOIL-XR project is officially underway! 26 Jun 2026 Projects

Co-Design the SOIL-XR Learning Platform in Italy SOIL-XR June 26, 2026 17:39 pm Students help shape the future of soil learning through SOIL-XR Co-Design Workshops in Italy  As part of the SOIL-XR project, the Bluezona team recently organized a series of 3 co-design workshops in Italy, bringing together students to actively contribute to the development of the project’s immersive learning platform.  The workshops were designed to place young people at the center of the innovation process, recognizing them as the future users of the SOIL-XR platform. Rather than simply testing a finished product, participants were invited to become co-designers, sharing ideas and feedback that will help shape the visual, functional, and narrative elements of the future Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) learning experiences.  During the sessions, students were introduced to the goals of the SOIL-XR project and explored key soil-related topics that will form the basis of the platform, including soil formation and layers, soil erosion, soil organic carbon, soil biodiversity, and the relationship between soil and water. To encourage active participation, students engaged in a variety of hands-on activities that connected scientific concepts with real-world experiences.  These included building miniature soil profiles to understand soil layers, exploring soil erosion through practical experiments, examining the importance of soil organic carbon and regenerative agricultural practices, and discussing the role of biodiversity in maintaining healthy soils. The insights gathered during these co-design sessions will play an important role in guiding the development of SOIL-XR. By involving students directly in the design process, the project ensures that the final platform responds to the interests, learning needs, and expectations of its target audience. Latest news Co-Design the SOIL-XR Learning Platform in Italy 26 Jun 2026 Projects Co-Design the SOIL-XR Learning Platform in Cyprus 26 Jun 2026 Projects Take the SOIL-XR Survey! 26 Jun 2026 Projects The SOIL-XR project is officially underway! 26 Jun 2026 Projects RoboXR – Project Completion 26 Jun 2026 Projects Popular news Co-Design the SOIL-XR Learning Platform in Italy 26 Jun 2026 Projects Co-Design the SOIL-XR Learning Platform in Cyprus 26 Jun 2026 Projects Take the SOIL-XR Survey! 26 Jun 2026 Projects The SOIL-XR project is officially underway! 26 Jun 2026 Projects RoboXR – Project Completion 26 Jun 2026 Projects

Co-Design the SOIL-XR Learning Platform in Cyprus SOIL-XR June 26, 2026 17:24 pm As part of the co-creation and development of the SOIL-XR Extended Reality (XR) Platform, the ECECT team organized a co-design workshop on 7 June 2026 at Athalassas Park, followed by two additional workshops on 22 June 2026 at STEM Education Cyprus in Nicosia. The workshops brought together students, teachers, and environmental enthusiasts to collaboratively shape the visual, functional, and narrative elements of the future XR learning experience. Through interactive activities, discussions, and hands-on experiments, participants explored key soil-related topics, including soil composition, soil layers, soil biodiversity, soil erosion, and soil health. Participants also had the opportunity to use micro:bit technology to measure soil moisture and learn how digital tools can support environmental monitoring and sustainable land management. The sessions provided valuable insights into users’ needs, expectations, and ideas, helping to ensure that the SOIL-XR platform will be engaging, educational, and relevant to its target audiences. Participants were encouraged to share their perspectives on how immersive technologies, such as Extended Reality (XR), can enhance environmental education and increase awareness of soil conservation and sustainability. The co-design process is a key component of the SOIL-XR project, ensuring that end users actively contribute to the development of the platform, its educational content, and its interactive XR experiences. Individuals interested in participating in future co-design activities will have another opportunity to engage with the project during the Robotex Cyprus 2026 competition on 27 and 28 of June 2026, where the ECECT team will host a dedicated booth featuring interactive soil-related activities, demonstrations, and opportunities to provide feedback that will further support the development of the SOIL-XR experience. Latest news Co-Design the SOIL-XR Learning Platform in Cyprus 26 Jun 2026 Projects Take the SOIL-XR Survey! 26 Jun 2026 Projects The SOIL-XR project is officially underway! 26 Jun 2026 Projects RoboXR – Project Completion 26 Jun 2026 Projects RoboXR Showcased at the MASTER XR Final Event in Oldenburg 18 Jun 2026 Projects Popular news Co-Design the SOIL-XR Learning Platform in Cyprus 26 Jun 2026 Projects Take the SOIL-XR Survey! 26 Jun 2026 Projects The SOIL-XR project is officially underway! 26 Jun 2026 Projects RoboXR – Project Completion 26 Jun 2026 Projects DITEC – First TPM Meeting 06 Nov 2025 DITEC

Take the SOIL-XR Survey! SOIL-XR June 26, 2026 17:02 pm Help us design the future of soil education. The SOIL-XR project aims to transform the way soil is taught and experienced by developing innovative digital learning tools, including Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR and VR). By combining science, education, and technology, the project seeks to create engaging, interactive, and meaningful learning experiences that make soil more accessible and relevant to diverse audiences. As part of this effort, we are conducting a short survey to better understand the needs, interests, and expectations of different user groups. The survey is primarily aimed at youth and students (approximately 11–25 years old), while also welcoming valuable input from teachers, educators, and experts. Your feedback will play a key role in ensuring that the tools we develop are educationally effective, scientifically accurate, and suitable for real learning environments. The survey takes approximately 5 minutes to complete and is entirely anonymous.  No personal data, such as your name, email address, or IP, is collected or linked to your responses. All data will be analysed exclusively in aggregated and anonymised form, in full compliance with GDPR regulations. Your participation will directly contribute to: identifying key knowledge gaps and learning needs understanding user preferences and expectations designing engaging AR-based learning experiences defining the technical and educational requirements of the platform Take the survey Please select your preferred language:  English: https://forms.gle/yG3Lb5AtPuNoqMhD8 Greek: https://forms.gle/VKLh8UDZ2VpjSqVS9 Italian: https://forms.gle/7STAGeDcKGZr2j8R9 Participation is voluntary, and by completing the survey, you consent to the anonymous processing of your responses for research purposes. Latest news Take the SOIL-XR Survey! 26 Jun 2026 Projects The SOIL-XR project is officially underway! 26 Jun 2026 Projects RoboXR – Project Completion 26 Jun 2026 Projects RoboXR Showcased at the MASTER XR Final Event in Oldenburg 18 Jun 2026 Projects RoboXR Pilot Testing Successfully in Cyprus  18 Jun 2026 Projects Popular news Take the SOIL-XR Survey! 26 Jun 2026 Projects The SOIL-XR project is officially underway! 26 Jun 2026 Projects RoboXR – Project Completion 26 Jun 2026 Projects DITEC – First TPM Meeting 06 Nov 2025 DITEC RoboXR Showcased at the MASTER XR Final Event in Oldenburg 18 Jun 2026 Projects

The SOIL-XR project is officially underway! SOIL-XR June 26, 2026 16:55 pm SOIL-XR is a collaborative initiative between partners from Cyprus and Italy aiming to improve soil literacy through immersive technologies, Living Labs, and co-creation activities. By combining citizen science, environmental education, and XR technologies, the project seeks to make soil learning more interactive, accessible, and engaging for different audiences. Following our internal kick-off meeting held in March, the consortium has already started developing the project’s Living Lab methodologies and co-design activities focused on soil awareness, regenerative practices, and innovative educational approaches. Through participatory workshops and immersive XR experiences, SOIL-XR will actively engage teachers, students, researchers, scientists, local communities, and environmental stakeholders in exploring the hidden world beneath our feet. The project aims to promote a deeper understanding of soil ecosystems and their importance for biodiversity, climate resilience, food systems, and sustainable land management. Our Living Labs in Sicily and Cyprus, together with a virtual XR environment, will explore topics such as soil biodiversity, soil and water interaction, soil erosion and conservation, regenerative agriculture, and soil organic carbon through hands-on and collaborative learning experiences. In the coming weeks, we will launch the T2.1 Needs Assessment & Requirement Mapping survey to gather insights from educators, students, researchers, and stakeholders and help shape the future SOIL-XR learning experience. SOIL-XR is funded through the SOILSCAPE Open Call under the Horizon Europe programme. Latest news The SOIL-XR project is officially underway! 26 Jun 2026 Projects RoboXR – Project Completion 26 Jun 2026 Projects RoboXR Showcased at the MASTER XR Final Event in Oldenburg 18 Jun 2026 Projects RoboXR Pilot Testing Successfully in Cyprus  18 Jun 2026 Projects New DITEC Outputs For Human-Centered IT Education 15 Jun 2026 DITEC Popular news The SOIL-XR project is officially underway! 26 Jun 2026 Projects RoboXR – Project Completion 26 Jun 2026 Projects DITEC – First TPM Meeting 06 Nov 2025 DITEC RoboXR Showcased at the MASTER XR Final Event in Oldenburg 18 Jun 2026 Projects RoboXR Pilot Testing Successfully in Cyprus  18 Jun 2026 Projects