Pupils visited the exposition of innovation by scientists and startups in Kaunas

How to put pupils the engineers‘ shoes and introduce with innovation developed in Lithuania? On the 31^st of January Kaunas STP innovation community has invited the 8th and 11th grade pupils from KTU Engineering Lyceum. The pupils have attended the exhibition of innovation by engineers, IT and chemistry researchers in the field of mechanics, medicine, electronics engineering. Most of the innovation exhibited in Kaunas STP Technology Demonstration Centre are successfully sold abroad, some can be found on the shelves of local supermarkets.

“As a part of business and science community, we show the fruits of the daily work of innovators: not only the prototypes lying in the scientists' drawers, but also the commercialized and already sold innovative products on the market. 3D bone implants replacing human bones, or cleaners based on good bacteria are the examples. Children are interested in learning about it, they are driven by modern technologies and innovative solutions. After all, the implementation of creative engineering solutions in practice begins with the progress of society. Whether it is a 16-year-old or an older person, we all realize that ideas and products come from the market, so age is not limited to create and generate ideas,” says Jūratė Danėnienė, Project Coordinator of Kaunas STP Technology Demonstration Centre.

Also, Technology Demonstration Centre has been exhibiting some works of KTU Engineering Lyceum. Business consultants have selected the most innovative solutions: a homemade CD-ROM, an electric rifle created by the pupil, a prototype of a smart greenhouse, and other innovative solutions. In this way, pupils' works in the community of innovators are displayed next to scientists and start-up products, promoting the idea that an innovative solution may be delivered at school, not only in universities or laboratories.

Pupils were impressed by electric bicycle gear enabling any bicycle into electricity, as well as titanium skull implants designed to reconstruct the skull after trauma, 3D micro printing applied in nanotechnology. The smart nose also has attracted the attention - the device is enabled to inform about the quality of food via the mobile app.

"Every stage of product development is interesting for students - both phase of the prototype of the product and the debut in the market, especially the one that has entered the markets of countries like the US, the UK, and in Asia. Pupils said they had realized that creative ideas come from innovative and eager to learn minds. This was the purpose of our visit – we wanted to boost pupils' curiosity and interest in technology, ”says Danėnienė.

Pupils were invited to meet the innovations by the creators from Kaunas Science and Technology Park thanks to the Erasmus+ program project “LEARN STEM - Innovative STEM learning in schools”. The project aims to improve and create new pedagogical methods for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in secondary education, based on innovative approach.