NaBiFors STEM

Understanding and Communicating Soil Health

An Interdisciplinary Approach to Teaching About Soil, Sustainability, and Research | NaBiFors MINT brings together research, schools, and teacher education: Students, teachers, and researchers collaborate to develop innovative teaching materials that convey soil health, sustainability, and climate-related processes in a clear and research-based manner.

The NaBiFors MINT («Healthy Soil») project combines research, teacher training, and classroom practice in a cyclical, interdisciplinary approach. The project is based on a collaboration between the Institute of Geography and Regional Research at the University of Klagenfurt, the Ingeborg Bachmann High School, and the Gegendtal Middle School. The goal is to help both high school and college students experience firsthand the importance of soil health, sustainability, and ecological interactions.

The focus is on closely linking theoretical knowledge with practical experience: student teachers participate in fieldwork alongside professional geographers, conduct soil sample analyses, and evaluate the results in the laboratory. The scientific findings are directly incorporated into the development of educational teaching materials. These materials—including worksheets, digital research projects, sketching exercises, soil profile comparisons, and multimedia content—are tested, evaluated, and iteratively improved at partner schools. This creates a close feedback loop between research, teacher education, and classroom practice.

The project places particular emphasis on digital resources: map applications, soil profile databases, videos, and online research tools are specifically used to promote sustainable, competency-based learning. Students learn to independently analyze and critically reflect on soil processes, climate factors, and ecological relationships. Topics such as soil compaction, permafrost, soil sealing, and sustainable land use are made tangible through concrete examples and scientific methods.

At the same time, the project strengthens the role of girls and young women in the natural sciences by ensuring that female teachers and researchers are visibly involved and serve as role models. The lesson plans promote introductory science activities, inquiry-based learning, and an awareness of the importance of soil ecology for climate protection, agriculture, and society.

The OER materials developed as part of the project were designed to be flexible, adaptable, and widely accessible. They are distributed on public platforms and as part of professional development programs. An accompanying article in *Geographie Aktuell* documents the theoretical foundations, implementation steps, and empirical findings. In this way, NaBiFors MINT makes a lasting contribution to quality improvement in STEM education and to strengthening environmental education.

Using the GECKO platform, the competency model outlines skills that both teachers and students can acquire as part of the project.