CHKALOVKA, Armenia – On November 24, the American University of Armenia (AUA) Acopian Center for the Environment, in collaboration with the Cambridge International School (CIS) and 10 schools from the Gegharkunik region, held a final conference to present the outcomes of the Recording Impacts on Vital Ecosystems through Responsible Water Stewardship (RIVERS) project. During the conference, more than 70 students from the different schools presented their weekly water quality measurements and discussed the main implications with community representatives.
The following schools participated in the RIVERS project: No. 1 Secondary School of Karmirgyugh, No. 2 Secondary School of Karmirgyugh, No. 2 Secondary School named after Ghandilyan of Gavar, No. 8 School of Gavar after Buniatyan, No. 1 Secondary School named after Makaryan of Sarukhan, Secondary school named after Khachatryan of Lchavan, Secondary school named after ARA Grigoryan of Karchaghbyur, No. 1 School of Noratus, No. 1 School of Chambarak, Secondary School of Ddmashen, and CIS Armenia.
The RIVERS initiative was funded by the European Union’s Mission Ocean ProBleu project. The capacity building of the schools took place during the EU Horizon Europe OTTERS project led by the AUA Acopian Center.
The conference, which formed part of the European Union’s (EU) Green Week, opened with welcoming remarks by Gregory Chahrozian, head of the Science Faculty at CIS, and adjunct lecturer at AUA. “What began as weekly lessons evolved into an important reminder that safeguarding our environment is a shared effort, and every contribution matters,” he said. Davit Avakian, representative of the EU Delegation to Armenia, remarked on the importance of supporting youth-involved projects.
Dr. Garabet Kazanjian, assistant professor at AUA Akian College of Science and Engineering and aquatic researcher at the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment, and manager of the OTTERS project, then introduced the concept behind the RIVERS project and how citizen science activities in schools can have a two-fold benefit in both improving environmental monitoring programs, while also raising awareness and promoting water stewardship in Armenia’s youth. The conference was attended by five mayors from the Geghargunik region, as well as members of the local civil society and media.
Thereafter, students from the participating schools presented the results of their regular water quality measurements. In the RIVERS initiative, each of the schools had adopted a river near their school and conducted weekly measurements, starting in the spring of 2025. Measured parameters included water temperature, pH, electroconductivity, water flow rate, ammonia, nitrite, and phosphates, as well as water color and odor. CIS students then summarized the results collected by all the schools and presented trends and challenges in the Lake Sevan Basin, using Armenia’s river health standards, which identify 5 categories ranging from excellent to insufficient.
CIS analyzed figures showing high phosphate levels among sample sites and nitrate estimates that had three sites well above the levels for the “insufficient” water health category. The presentation closed with discussion questions directed at community leaders and representatives: what can the local community and authorities do to improve the water quality in Lake Sevan’s water basin? Community members shared their insights and opinions about the importance of scaling up such programs and turning them sustainable in the long term. All attendees were highly encouraged by the youth’s active involvement and the passion they had developed toward their environment and STEM fields.
Several related workshops followed the presentation of results. The Armath schools involved in the project presented computer games they had created to capture attention and spark conversations about water monitoring and health. One game had the user practice testing water samples, simulating work done on site by school students, offering the opportunity to observe how the kits work without the physical supplies. Another had the player adopt the character of a rain drop, “eating” items in the river but losing points if they were plastic and other pollutants.
Additionally, Dr. Jaume Piera, a research group leader at the Spanish National Research Council, spoke about the importance of citizen science: “We need more data from everywhere, and all the time.” He added that the public can play a key role in filling these data gaps. Dr. Piera introduced MINKA, a citizen observatory app connected to academia, where users can upload photos of plants or animals, with or without identifications, while other members active on the app can verify the identifications. He demonstrated how to use MINKA, using the example of the Armenian Gull and Black-necked Grebe he had captured that same morning in Sevan.
Dr. Piera’s talk was followed by a workshop led by Dr. Vardan Asatryan of the Scientific Center of Hydroecology and Zoology of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia. Dr. Asatryan introduced a citizen science tool, EcoServ, which was developed for Armenia to assess river health. EcoServ is currently focused on the Hrazdan River, featuring quick, visual questions that users can answer about hydrobiology, hydrochemistry, and macroinvertebrates to understand the negative ecological conditions affecting this river. Lastly, identification toolkits were distributed to students and conference participants to help them identify Lake Sevan macrophytes (aquatic vegetation).
Ruzanna Ghulyan, Head of Armenian Curriculum at CIS, closed by urging the continued exchange of ideas between parents, students, teachers, and communities. She also highlighted the imperative involvement of government representatives in these efforts, as well, noting interesting ongoing educational projects in Armenia and the significant lack of state support. Ghulyan concluded by underlining the importance of citizens playing an active role in caring for their homeland.
The AUA Acopian Center for the Environment, a research center of the American University of Armenia (AUA), promotes the protection and restoration of the natural environment through research, education, and community outreach. The AUA Acopian Center’s focus areas include sustainable natural resource management, biodiversity protection and conservation, greening the built environment, sustainable energy, as well as information technology and the environment. Visit http://ace.aua.am.
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