Loop Lab: Innovation in green educatio

By project DESICE

Published on 13 June 2025

Greece

Kentriki Makedonia

Thessaloniki

About this good practice

Loop Lab is a student-led initiative redefining how young people engage with sustainability through **aquaponics**—a soil-free cultivation method combining fish farming and plant growing in a circular, resource-efficient system. Born from an entrepreneurship contest in Thessaloniki, Loop Lab addresses two key needs: promoting sustainable agriculture and equipping youth with practical knowledge.

Our mission is to transform sustainability into an **interactive learning experience**, making complex ecological concepts accessible through engaging tools: educational kits, a STEM game, and a digital simulator. These products help learners explore **natural cycles, resource conservation, and circular thinking**, empowering students, teachers, families, NGOs, municipalities, urban farmers, and STEM trainers to apply sustainable practices.

Loop Lab puts the future of climate-resilient living into everyone’s hands. Our **STEM Game Kit** introduces younger students to aquaponics through hands-on learning. The **Interactive Educational Kit**, designed for schools, includes sensors and curriculum-aligned lesson plans. The **Circular Economy Simulator** lets users digitally model aquaponics systems, test variables, and analyze outcomes—bridging physical learning with digital innovation.

Supported by the Universities of Patras and Macedonia, Loop Lab inspires action, systems thinking, and hands-on discovery, bringing sustainability to life in classrooms, communities, and beyond.

Resources needed

With €2,500 in seed funding, our 6-month student enterprise of 22 students (8 hrs/week) delivers \~29 person-months. Supported by 5 teachers, 2 expert mentors, and resources from upcycled materials, schools, and community donations, we focus on sustainability and innovation.

Evidence of success

Loop Lab has sold 5 STEM toys and 1 educational kit to the 6th Junior High School of Volos, partnered with the Heraklion Museum and NOESIS, and was named an ambassador of the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature. With €1,716 in sponsorships, working prototypes, and a 15-unit/month capacity, it also won the PMIEF Best Application of Project Management Award and will represent Greece at the GEN-E European Entrepreneurship Festival in Athens, highlighting its innovation and impact.

Potential for learning or transfer

This practice is highly transferable due to its modular design (educational kit, STEM toy, simulator), interdisciplinary approach, and suitability for diverse educational settings. Key success factors include strong academic mentoring, strategic partnerships, in-house production with 3D printing technology, and alignment with global trends in STEM and circular economy education. These aspects make Loop Lab an inspiring model for other regions aiming to integrate sustainability and innovation into education and agri-food practices. It has also been showcased in key events such as the Trophy-Trofi Meet-up at AUTH, the Ministry of Environment’s LIFE-IP CEI-Greece teleconference, the MEdIES Mediterranean outreach network, and the Open Lectures of the University of Thessaly, highlighting its educational and environmental relevance