ICSE Science Factory Fairs across Europe

Throughout the ICSE Science Factory project’s lifetime, ICSE Science Factory Fairs have taken place across Europe, bringing science closer to communities and promoting innovative STEM learning. National and local fairs have been organised in Croatia, Germany, Türkiye, Cyprus and Portugal, creating vibrant spaces where students, educators, researchers and industry partners come together to share ideas and explore scientific discoveries.

Within this dynamic environment, the ICSE Science Factory Fair in Germany offered a space full of curiosity and hands-on discovery for students, families, teachers, enterprises and research partners.

Students Present Open Schooling Projects

Across the three-day event, students proudly presented the outcomes of their Open Schooling Projects. Their work ranged from the creative “Forest Pharmacy” initiative, featuring natural products such as lip balm, tinctures and ointments, to research on climate-resilient city trees, solar parking lots, rubber extraction from Russian dandelions and innovative ideas for future food systems.

Interactive elements encouraged visitors to actively engage with the projects. Escape games, tasting stations and small quizzes invited participants to explore the science behind the students’ work and connect with their ideas and research processes.

Strengthening STEM Education Across Europe

The Science Factory Fairs are an important part of the ICSE Science Factory’s mission to transform STEM education through collaboration, creativity and community engagement. From the fairs, the project continues to demonstrate how hands-on learning can inspire the next generation of scientists and innovators.

What stood out most during these events was the enthusiasm with which students presented their ideas. Together with teachers and partners, they created an atmosphere of curiosity, collaboration and meaningful dialogue—showing how powerful science education can be when communities learn and innovate together.