Education plays a crucial role in addressing the plastic pollution problem. Through the #ErasmusMaris initiative of #JRC Geel (Håkan Emteborg and John Seghers) and #AyamSailing, led by Kamel Labibes, secondary school teachers are supported with materials and methods to map plastic pollution in their local environment, working alongside their students.

With scientific support and infrastructure from the #BlueGrowthResearchLab of Prof. Jana Asselman, around 20 teachers from schools across Flanders recently took part in a hands-on training workshop at the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University.

Teachers are now fully prepared to measure microplastics with their students. The data they collect will also be shared with colleagues at #VMM, helping policymakers and monitoring agencies gain better insight into plastic pollution across Flanders.

Interested in getting involved as a school?
More information about the educational programme can be found here: https://lnkd.in/e343AA5u
More information about the Erasmus Maris educational project: https://lnkd.in/e9_NK9fM

• HOTCO 2025,  the premier hotel investment conference for Central and Eastern Europe, Southeast Europe, Vienna, 21 – 22  January 2025
• LES THERMALIES, the water & well-being exhibition, Paris, 23 – 26 January
• EU4H, 2nd wave calls, 22 January
• Pact for Skills, Brussels, 28 January 
• The EU’s Blue Economy Conference, for Sustainable Growth, Brussels, 4 February
• Destination Europe Summit 2025, Brussels, 6 February
• ITB Berlin, Medical & Health Tourism Pavilion  and Awards, Halle 4.1, 4-6 March
• ESPA Innovation Awards meeting, 7 March  
• Travelux, Venezia, 18 – 22 March
• Empowering rural areas for the future, Rural Pact Conference, Belgium 8 – 9 April
• Modern Technologies in Spa Industry 3.0, Karlovy Vary, 15 April
• Thalasso online workshop, 17 April
• MWC Medi-Wellness Congress, Geneva 28 – 29 April
• EU Tourism Day, May 2025
• The thermal tourism Congress, Budapest, 4 – 5 June

When: Tuesday 3 December – 9.00 -12.00 AM (CET) 
Where: Online Webinar on Thermalism
Registration: please use the following link
Language: presentations will be in English, with translation to French

The Medical Universities of the Grand Est region in France, particularly the Medical University of Nancy, home to the European Institute of Thermalism, will host a webinar organized by DG Sante. This event will feature “structured dialogues”. We are pleased to invite European Spas members to participate in the webinar.

Program & Objectives

The landscape of training in thermal medicine across Europe is diverse and presents numerous development opportunities. This webinar aims to illuminate the French experience in hydrotherapy education and foster collaboration.

1. The context by Sven AERTS – Representing Thermalism in Brussels with the EU Institutions (15 minutes)

2. Presentation of the IET by Dr Jane-Laure DANAN (15 minutes)

3. The training of thermal doctors by Prof. Gisele KANNY (15 minutes)

4. From training to research Prof. Isabelle CHARY-VALKENAERE (15 minutes)

Exchange  (30 minutes)

Patricie’s lecture, “Modern Technologies and Education for Quality and Sustainable Spa Care” will offer a comprehensive view of how innovation and further education are transforming the spa industry. Key topics will include continuous education and professional training as essential tools for adapting to the rapidly changing technological environment.

The presentation will also showcase the educational activities of the Institute of Spa and Balneology, which focus on developing professional knowledge and lifelong learning for doctors, enhancing understanding of spa services and approaches. The lecture will emphasize the importance of investing in education to maintain competitiveness, ensure quality care, and support sustainable spa practices.

Don’t miss Patricie’s insightful presentation at the congress.