Sitia Geopark Summer School 2026
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The 6th Summer School on Geosites and Sustainability, titled “Geotrails in the Footsteps of the Sitia Deinotherium”, was successfully completed from 3 to 8 July 2026 in Karidi and across the geosites of the UNESCO Global Geopark Sitia. The event reaffirmed the region’s unique geological and paleontological wealth and highlighted its growing role as a model for education, environmental awareness and sustainable development.
For the sixth consecutive year, the UNESCO Global Geopark Sitia welcomed educators, researchers, academics and scientists from across Greece, offering an immersive learning experience that connected geological heritage with modern educational approaches. This year’s focus on paleontology showcased how fossils and geosites can serve not only as scientific evidence of Earth’s history, but also as powerful tools for teaching, creativity and community engagement.
Participants explored the geological evolution of Eastern Crete through field workshops, scientific lectures and hands on activities, ranging from paleoenvironment reconstruction and fossil conservation to educational geotrails and climate change interpretation. The program emphasized experiential learning and demonstrated how geological heritage can be integrated into contemporary educational practice.
A highlight of the week was the open seminar “Traces of the Past in the Sitia Geopark as Tools for Education and Tourism”, which presented the potential of UNESCO Global Geoparks to link science, education, local development and geotourism. The discussion underscored the strategic direction of the Sitia region: leveraging its natural and cultural assets to strengthen sustainable tourism, scientific outreach and international visibility.
Beyond the academic dimension, the Summer School offered participants a unique cultural and community experience. Shared activities, local interactions, evening events and field installations transformed the area into a living “open air learning laboratory” where nature, culture and science coexist creatively.
The 6th Summer School demonstrated once again that fossils and geosites are not merely remnants of the distant past. They are dynamic resources that inspire learning, collaboration and innovation — and they contribute to the long term sustainable development vision of the Sitia region.
The community now looks ahead to the 7th Summer School on Geosites and Sustainability, continuing to build a network of educators, scientists and citizens who believe that geological heritage can serve as a foundation for knowledge, inspiration and a resilient future.
