© Michael Bakas
Over the past four months, members of the ERUA community at the University of the Aegean (UAegean) have actively contributed in a series of underwater and coastal clean-ups across Lesvos island, joining the efforts of the UAegean Student Diving Club “Nikolaos Tzanopoulos” and numerous local partners committed to protecting the island’s marine environment.
ERUA has been a proud member of this joint initiative, in the framework of its student-led Clean-ups, through volunteer participation and communication activities, helping to mobilise members of the university community and highlight the importance of environmental stewardship and community engagement.
Led by the UAegean Student Diving Club, the initiative brought together students, teaching and administrative staff, Erasmus+ participants, local authorities, schools, environmental organisations, volunteer groups and residents in a shared effort to remove waste from coastal and underwater ecosystems while promoting environmental awareness and active citizenship.
© Michael Bakas
The Student Diving Club of UAegean, “Nikolaos Tzanopoulos”, is a student organization dedicated to promoting respect for and protection of the marine environment through education, research, and hands-on activities. Founded during the 2004–2005 academic year, the Student Diving Club has continuously combined academic knowledge with practical field experience, contributing to the study, documentation, and conservation of the Aegean Sea’s marine ecosystems. Since its establishment, more than 300 students have been trained and actively participated in the Club’s activities. Αctivities include scientific diving, support for marine research projects, coastal and underwater clean-up campaigns, educational seminars, photography exhibitions, and environmental awareness initiatives for both the academic and local communities.Through these activities, the Student Diving Club promotes scientific collaboration, environmental responsibility, and active student participation in the protection of the marine environment.
© Michael Bakas
A Collective Effort for Cleaner Seas
The ERUA clean-ups campaign began in March at UAegean, with an underwater and coastal clean-up in the harbour of Thermi village. It continued in April at the suburbs of Mytilene, at the small harbour of Kratigos , where university students worked alongside local kindergarten pupils, educators, parents, municipal representatives and recycling experts. Through hands-on activities, children learned about waste management, recycling and environmental stewardship, while divers removed litter from the seabed.
In May, volunteers gathered at the harbour of Panagiouda village for one of the largest actions of the campaign. The Student Diving Club collaborated with the NGO “Why Not”, the Volunteer “Green Team”, the “Green University” initiative, the Municipality of Mytilene and Aegean Recycling. International students participating in Erasmus+ and international postgraduate programmes joined certified divers and local volunteers in cleaning both the seabed and the surrounding coastal area.
© Michael Bakas
The Panagiouda action highlighted both the scale of marine pollution and the impact of collective action. More than three tonnes of waste were recovered from the harbour and adjacent coastline, including tyres, plastics, cables and metal objects.
The results were remarkable. Volunteers recovered large quantities of waste, including dozens of tyres, plastic bottles, cables and even metal ship components that had remained submerged for years. More than three tonnes of waste were collected and delivered to the Municipality of Mytilene for proper management and recycling.
© Michael Bakas
The final spring semester action took place in June at the harbour of Skala Eresou. Organised in collaboration with the Eresos Initiative – Environmental and Social Association, the event brought together student divers, local volunteers and community members to clean both the harbour floor and the surrounding coastline.
What stands out most for you, during these initiatives?
“Τhe feeling of being a team with people you may not know, that you probably don’t even share the same language, but you share the same passion and love for the ocean and the need to protect the environment, and that’s the only thing that counts.”
Katerina Lalaouni,
Learning Beyond the Classroom
For the members of the UAegean Student Diving Club, environmental action is closely linked to their academic studies. The University of the Aegean hosts two departments dedicated to environmental and marine sciences, the Department of Oceanography and Marine Biosciences and the Department of Environment, making these initiatives a natural extension of students’ educational experience.
Each clean-up action provided participants with valuable opportunities to apply scientific knowledge in real-world settings while raising awareness about marine pollution and its impact on coastal ecosystems. Volunteers frequently encountered marine organisms living among discarded materials and carefully returned sea urchins, crabs, starfish and other species to their natural habitat during the clean-up process.
© Michael Bakas
The initiative also highlighted the international character of the UAegean community. Erasmus+ students and students from international master’s programmes actively participated throughout the campaign, contributing to intercultural exchange while working together towards a common environmental goal.
Building Bridges Between University and Society
The success of these actions was made possible through the leadership of the UAegean Student Diving Club and the collaboration of numerous partners, including the Green University of the UA, the Aegean Recycling, the municipality of Mytilene, environmental organisations, schools, volunteer groups, recycling services and community associations. Together, they demonstrated the power of collective action in addressing environmental challenges and fostering a culture of sustainability. None of that would be possible without the contribution of the local diving center “Lesvos Diving Center” which provided all the diving equipment for the divers of the student diving club.
Beyond the tonnes of waste removed from Lesvos’ coastlines, the initiative strengthened connections between the UAegean and local communities, promoted active citizenship and encouraged participants to become ambassadors for environmental protection.
© Michael Bakas
ERUA would like to express its sincere appreciation to the UAegean Student Diving Club “Nikolaos Tzanopoulos” for its dedication, expertise and long-standing commitment to protecting the marine environment of Lesvos. We also thank all students, teaching and administrative staff, local organisations, municipalities, schools, volunteers and community partners who contributed to the success of these actions.
By bringing together people from different backgrounds, disciplines and generations, these initiatives embody the spirit of ERUA: building bridges between universities and society while working collectively towards a more sustainable future.
What message would you like your fellow ERUA students from the other universities to take away from these efforts?
“During those actions, not only we contribute to saving -even at the least bit- our planet, but we also make fun memories with our fellow students! We ‘re here to have fun and keep our oceans plastic free!”
Maria Mariatou,
