On Friday 6 March, Dugo Selo Secondary School was full of life and curiosity. As part of the Erasmus+ programme, the school hosted pupils from abroad who had come to Croatia for new experiences, new knowledge and the chance to see different approaches to education. Engaging STEM workshops, run in cooperation with FabLab Zagreb, were organised for them and for the local secondary school pupils, bringing together technology, creativity and hands-on work. Around 25 pupils from Croatia, Austria, Germany, Luxembourg and Romania took part in the workshops, which added to the international and diverse atmosphere of the meeting.

The school turned into a small technology workshop. On the tables were 3D printers, digital models and a variety of 3D-printed logic games, and the pupils watched with great interest as a digital design became a real object. Through hands-on activities they learned the basics of 3D modelling and how complex models are used in everyday life, discovering how technology can be a tool for solving concrete problems.

The DIY bioplastics workshop drew particular interest. The pupils discussed and learned about types of plastic, the importance of recycling and the need for sustainable solutions. Through simple experiments they could see how bioplastic can be made from natural ingredients, which for many opened up a new perspective on how science and ecology can go hand in hand.

The workshops unfolded in a dynamic and stimulating atmosphere, with plenty of questions, conversation and joint exploration. Meetings like these show how STEM activities and international cooperation through the Erasmus+ programme,with the support of FabLab Zagreb, can inspire young people, spark their curiosity and bring the world of technology closer to them in a fun and understandable way.