Mobile Green Energy Laboratory

The project aims to inspire curiosity and environmental awareness through interactive and hands-on experiences about green energy. Primary and secondary school students, teachers and school community members will explore solar, hydroelectric and wind energy through engaging workshops, bringing STEM education directly to communities, including underserved areas.

Between April and June 2025, the Mobile Green Energy Laboratory project conducted a series of STEM-focused workshops in five partner schools in Gorj County. The initiative aims to increase awareness of renewable energy through interactive, inquiry-based educational activities, especially in rural and underserved communities.
Each workshop followed a structured format, adapted to local school contexts and student age groups. Activities were developed to promote STEM education through real-life observation, hands-on construction, basic coding, and creative storytelling.
Outdoor Energy Demonstrations
The workshops began with direct observations of the equipment integrated into the Mobile Lab. Students measured how much energy was produced by the solar panels and evaluated the performance of the wind turbine based on local weather conditions. At Școala Gimnazială Stănești, for instance, the high wind conditions allowed us to demonstrate real-time turbine energy production, which sparked great interest among students.
Wind Turbine Construction Workshops
In small teams, students used simple materials (such as cardboard, skewers, plastic propeller, and modeling clay) to build functional wind turbine models. They were encouraged to test different orientations of the propellers, applying basic physics and engineering concepts.
Photon Robot Programming
Students worked with the Photon educational robot, programming it to follow a route simulating the journey of green energy from natural sources (sun, wind, water) to residential use. This activity introduced them to logic-based coding and systems thinking in a playful, accessible way.
Educational Comic Book Development
In parallel, students contributed creatively to the comic book series “Aventura lui Aeris”. They designed characters, suggested plotlines, and created illustrations. The main character, Aeris—a superhero formed from clouds and wind—is used as a narrative tool to explain complex scientific concepts in an age-appropriate format. The storyline also includes an antagonist, Baronul Falsitate, who spreads misinformation about renewable energy, prompting critical thinking and discussion.

Schools visited:

• Voievod Litovoi Secondary School – Târgu Jiu

• Nr. 7 Secondary School – Vădeni

• Stănești Secondary School

• (in the future: two additional schools planned for June 2025)

The Green Energy Mobile Lab has proven to be an effective tool for making education about renewable energy tangible, relevant and inspiring for students from various school backgrounds. The combination of experimentation, programming, storytelling and teamwork supports multiple learning styles and encourages both scientific curiosity and environmental responsibility.

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The “Green Energy Mobile Lab” project is carried out with the support of the Științescu Fund, the Vâlcea Community Foundation, the Federation of Community Foundations in Romania and the Romanian-American Foundation. For more details, please visit: https://valcea.stiintescu.ro/proiecte-2025/laboratorul-mobil-de-energie-verde/

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