Introducing the DigiBlue Project
We’re excited to announce that BonoLab’s “DigiBlue: DigiEduHack” project has been officially selected as one of the three winning proposals in the EU4Ocean 2025 Challenge: “Be a Blue Citizen: Embracing Democracy for Thriving Ocean and Rivers.”
This recognition comes with funding from the European Commission via CINEA, enabling us to bring our vision to life across the Baltic Sea region in collaboration with a dedicated team of partners from Denmark, Estonia, Sweden, and Poland.
🌊 What is DigiBlue?
DigiBlue is a transnational initiative focused on digital storytelling, civic engagement, and sustainability education. At its heart lies a participatory hackathon programme where youth, educators, and local creatives co-create digital stories that reflect regional environmental challenges and cultural heritage—tools that inspire action and understanding.
The project brings together digital tools, pedagogical innovation, and collective storytelling to support young people in becoming informed, creative, and active “blue citizens.”
🔍 What We Aim to Do
Over six months (July to December 2025), the project will:
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Host five hackathons (four local + one online) with at least 200 participants
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Engage over 5,000 community members
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Produce 12 digital story concepts on ocean and river sustainability
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Turn the best prototype into an open-access educational resource
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Showcase outcomes through local exhibitions and a public campaign
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Share learnings and tools for replication across Europe
The themes range from eutrophication, biodiversity loss, climate resilience, to maritime heritage and youth-led sustainability narratives.
🔗 Meet Our Partners
From marine education centres to universities and NGOs, the DigiBlue consortium reflects a diverse, cross-sectoral alliance. Our partners include:
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University of Copenhagen (Denmark)
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Baltic Living Lab (Estonia)
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Gdynia Aquarium (Poland)
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Marint Kunskapscenter i Malmö (Sweden)
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Det Levende Fiskerihavn & iVandet (Denmark)
Together, we’re combining scientific insight, educational expertise, and local cultural engagement.
📣 Call for Experts and Collaborators
We’re currently building a network of mentors, jury members, facilitators, and storytellers. If you have expertise in:
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Science communication
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Education and pedagogy
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Digital media and storytelling
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Marine or environmental science
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Civic engagement and democracy
…we invite you to join us!
Whether you represent a school, NGO, creative studio, public institution, or business, your knowledge can contribute to making this project even more impactful. We are particularly keen to collaborate with those working in and around the Baltic Sea.
📧 To express interest, contact: piret@bonolab.com
🌐 Why This Matters
With the health of our oceans and rivers increasingly at risk, there’s never been a more urgent time to empower citizens—especially young ones—to take part in shaping sustainable futures. DigiBlue brings together digital learning, storytelling, and community collaboration to make that vision tangible and inclusive.
Let’s shape the future of ocean literacy, one story at a time.
👉 Check out the hackathon page: https://digieduhack.com/challenges/hack-the-blue-digital-stories-for-a-water-wise-world