The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the University of Thessaly (DECE), specifically the Creative Technologies Learning Lab (http://ctll.e-ce.uth.gr ) research group, organised educational activities to encourage students' creativity in designing innovative solutions to modern sustainability challenges. The activity took place on November 19, 2024 in the Computer Science and Engineering laboratory. It involved 50 students from the 2nd Model Gymnasium of Volos, accompanied by the school principal, Ms. Sofia Kantaraki, and teachers Ms. Vasiliki Valiantza and Mr. Ioannis Kavidas.
The students became familiar with green practices, which pertain to environmentally responsible behaviour and sustainability, defined as the ability to meet our needs in a way that does not deprive future generations of the ability to meet theirs. They participated in active learning activities that promoted critical thinking to develop solutions to problems facing modern society.
Working in teams, they identified sustainability challenges such as air pollution, plastic pollution, promoting renewable energy sources, and more. To protect the environment, they analysed solutions, including electric mobility, public transportation, and recycling. They applied design thinking, a profoundly human-centred methodology for crafting solutions to complex challenges in entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship. This involved processes of exploration, ideation, and prototyping.
The action occurred within the framework of the research project eDea (http://eDea-project.gr ), funded by the Research—Create—Innovate Greece 2.0 program. The project aims to design digital services and content to promote innovation. It will be implemented from 2021 to 2025 with the participation of the University of Thessaly, the University of the Aegean, and the companies Design4Future and Butlair. The scientific coordinator of the project is DECE Pr. Elias Houstis. DECE researcher Dr. Hariklia Tsalapatas coordinated the activities.