GLOBE – an international environmental scientific-educational program will be introduced in Georgia. In order to officially open the program, a memorandum of understanding was signed online on April 22, on the International Earth Day, between the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Georgia and CENN - Caucasus Environmental Non-Governmental Network. The memorandum was signed by Minister, Mikheil Chkhenkeli and CENN Executive Director - Nana Janashia.

The program will be introduced with the financial support of The Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC). By the end of the 2019-2020 academic year, up to 5 schools will be selected to implement the program as a pilot, whereas 10 schools will be trained to fully participate in GLOBE by the 2020-2021 academic year. Any teacher will be able to use the teaching modules and materials translated into Georgian. It is noteworthy that GLOBE will have several important tools for online learning.

Mikheil Chkhenkeli: “It is symbolic that the launch of a highly important program for Georgia was initiated on the International Earth Day, for which I would like to thank the Austrian Development Cooperation Organization, NASA and the Caucasus Environmental NGO Network. The GLOBE program includes engaging and interesting topics, the knowledge of which, I think, is essential for all educated people. It is noteworthy that GLOBE's online tools will eventually allow us to cover all schools in Georgia. Additionally, the online training aspect of the program is especially relevant in the fight against the global pandemic. I am confident that the program will be a great success. "

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Austria to Georgia - Arad Benko addressed the participants of the online conference and spoke about the importance of the implementation of the GLOBE program in Georgia.

The GLOBE program is administered globally by NASA. The international network brings together students, teachers, and scientists from different schools to explore the global environment. The program includes learning, environmental research and observation, and the ability to share useful information with each other, as well as with the international scientific community.

The successful introduction of GLOBE's informal international environmental education platform in Georgia will help: to create a wide range of opportunities for scientific and educational practice in public and private schools; connect successful schools and people with various international programs; create new academic knowledge and resources, in conjunction with informing the general public and the global or local environmental challenges and ways to solve them.