Previous work: Climate Action Hackathon Programme for Secondary Schools
In collaboration with Newpark Comprehensive Secondary School, Co. Dublin

Completed by Dr Roberta Bellini and Dr Aisha Bello-Dambatta

Background
Transition year students in Newpark Comprehensive Secondary School attended a Science module and a Sustainability one, as part of their 2021-2022 school year. They were interested to explore the concept of water-energy nexus and eager to share their ideas in what would be relevant for other young people like them.

Challenge
There is a lack of awareness of the link between water use and energy consumption and therefore of the potential of taking climate action by saving water. How to raise awareness and promote life-long water-saving behaviour in young people in an engaging and interactive programme, in ways that they can relate to?

Solution
We co-designed a programme about the water-energy nexus that culminates into a fast- paced challenge-driven team-based climate action hackathon. Students work in team to ideate and design solution to reduce the carbon footprint of water use. More details about the programme can be found here.

Benefits
Students said their understanding of the water-energy nexus deepened and the likelihood of undertaking a climate action project in their school increased as a consequence of attending the programme. Teachers said the students were engaged throughout the programme and that they also learnt a lot about the link between water use and climate change.

Educational programmes

Discover more about the different educational programmes we offer on themes relating to the water-energy nexus.