The Donetsk Regional Ecological and Naturalistic Center's Academy of Young Researchers held its regular meeting, which was devoted to the topic "Soil — Home to Living Organisms." The event was attended by 34 students from educational institutions in the region, including 7 students from the Donetsk Regional Ecological and Naturalistic Center.
The young naturalists learned that soil is not just earth, but a living system inhabited by bacteria, fungi, insects, earthworms, and other organisms without which life on the planet would be impossible. They decompose organic debris, create fertility, and maintain the natural balance.
During the practical part, the children observed how live worms pass through different types of soil in the "Soil Filter" experiment and explored the microcosm of the soil.
A special guest at the meeting was Oleksiy Burkovskyi, head of the Donetsk regional organization of the All-Ukrainian Ecological League, agronomist, ecologist, and screenwriter. During the discussion, he helped the children gain a deeper understanding of the role of soil in nature and talked about the main environmental threats affecting its condition: erosion, pesticide contamination, and littering with household waste.
The speaker shared tips on how everyone can contribute to soil conservation—sorting waste, composting organic residues, planting trees, and not overloading the soil with chemical fertilizers.
The event was a great opportunity for children to feel like real nature explorers who know how to observe, analyze, and draw conclusions.