Copernicus Earth Observation Programme for climate education: a novel approach to design-based outreach experiences for young learners

Educating young people about climate change is essential for fostering informed and engaged citizens. This study presents an innovative learning experience developed within a replicable framework, grounded in a pedagogical design informed by relevant literature. It adopted a Design-Based Research (DBR) methodology to explore the potential of the Copernicus Earth Observation (EO) Programme in shaping effective climate outreach initiatives for high school students, with the overarching goal of increasing climate awareness. Using a structured methodological approach, we reviewed existing educational initiatives to identify Key Success Features (KSFs) for impactful climate outreach. Based on this analysis, we designed a learning experience informed by phenomenon-based approach, a solid and widely recognized pedagogical foundation. The Learning experience was then implemented with high school students. Its evaluation allowed us to derive key design principles and formulate recommendations to support broader adoption. This methodology not only enabled the development of practical solutions but also enriched our understanding of how to integrate Copernicus EO resources into climate education effectively. In addition to supporting the broader uptake of Copernicus, the study aims to inspire a new generation of climate-aware citizens and EO professionals.