Our Network

The 5 School Living Labs

Regional experimental hubs where students, teachers and researchers co-design learning experiences around science, sustainability and citizenship.

What is a School Living Lab?

A School Living Lab is an open innovation ecosystem embedded within a school environment. It brings together students, teachers, researchers, parents and local stakeholders to co-create, experiment and test solutions to real-world challenges.

Unlike traditional classrooms, Living Labs break down the walls between school and society. They transform the school into a territorial hub of innovation where knowledge flows in all directions and learning happens through doing.

Explore Each Lab

Our Schools

Discover each lab, its story, activities and contribution to the LABWISE network.

01
Preparatory School Kairouan Region Middle School (12-15 years)
Kondar Preparatory School

Kondar Preparatory School

A hub for middle-school experimentation, integrating STEM activities with environmental awareness in the semi-arid Kairouan region.

Kondar Preparatory School serves as the flagship Living Lab for the Kairouan governorate. Located in a semi-arid zone facing significant environmental challenges, the school provides an ideal setting for students to explore climate science, water management and sustainable agriculture through hands-on experiments. Teachers work alongside university researchers to design curricula that connect textbook science with real-world ecological issues.

Key Activities

  • Water quality testing and monitoring workshops
  • Climate data collection and analysis projects
  • Sustainable agriculture experiments in school gardens
  • Science communication and peer-to-peer teaching

SDG Alignment

SDG 04 Quality Education SDG 06 Clean Water SDG 13 Climate Action SDG 15 Life on Land
02
Preparatory School Sidi El Hani Middle School (12-15 years)
Photo coming soon

Ibn Arafa Preparatory School

Located near the Sidi El Hani wetlands, this lab focuses on ecosystem biodiversity and citizen science around local water resources.

Ibn Arafa Preparatory School benefits from its unique proximity to the Sidi El Hani Sebkha, one of Tunisia's most important wetland ecosystems. Students engage in biodiversity monitoring, bird counting campaigns and water quality assessments that contribute to real scientific datasets. The lab fosters a deep connection between young learners and their natural heritage while building rigorous scientific skills.

Key Activities

  • Wetland biodiversity monitoring and bird census
  • Water sampling and ecological indicator analysis
  • Citizen science data collection with university partners
  • Environmental awareness campaigns for local communities

SDG Alignment

SDG 04 Quality Education SDG 14 Life Below Water SDG 15 Life on Land SDG 17 Partnerships
03
Primary School Sidi El Hani Primary School (6-12 years)
Photo coming soon

Sidi El Hani Primary School

Engaging young learners in hands-on sustainability projects, connecting local heritage with global Sustainable Development Goals.

Sidi El Hani Primary School introduces the youngest participants in the LABWISE network to the concepts of sustainability, ecology and scientific inquiry. Through age-appropriate experiments, storytelling workshops and nature walks, children develop curiosity about the natural world and learn to see themselves as active agents of change. The lab also involves parents and grandparents in intergenerational knowledge exchange.

Key Activities

  • Nature discovery walks and ecological storytelling
  • Seed planting and school garden maintenance
  • Recycling and waste reduction creative workshops
  • Intergenerational knowledge exchange sessions

SDG Alignment

SDG 04 Quality Education SDG 11 Sustainable Cities SDG 12 Responsible Consumption SDG 15 Life on Land
04
Primary School Sidi Bou Ali Primary School (6-12 years)
Sidi Bou Ali Primary School

Sidi Bou Ali Primary School

A creative space where pupils explore scientific literacy through storytelling, art and ecological experiments.

Sidi Bou Ali Primary School takes a distinctly creative approach to science education. By blending art, theatre and hands-on experimentation, the lab makes scientific concepts accessible and exciting for young learners. Students create scientific posters, perform eco-theatre pieces and build simple experimental devices, developing both scientific reasoning and creative expression in tandem.

Key Activities

  • Eco-theatre and scientific storytelling performances
  • Art-science fusion workshops (scientific illustration)
  • Simple physics and chemistry experiments
  • Community science fairs and open-door exhibitions

SDG Alignment

SDG 04 Quality Education SDG 05 Gender Equality SDG 12 Responsible Consumption SDG 13 Climate Action
05
Primary School Akouda Primary School (6-12 years)
Photo coming soon

Oued El Arouk Primary School

Based in coastal Akouda, this lab connects marine science education with sustainable development and ocean literacy.

Oued El Arouk Primary School leverages its coastal location in Akouda to immerse students in marine and coastal science. From beach clean-ups and microplastic analysis to tide pool exploration and marine biodiversity cataloguing, the lab transforms the Mediterranean shoreline into a living classroom. Students develop ocean literacy while contributing to local environmental conservation efforts.

Key Activities

  • Beach clean-up campaigns and microplastic analysis
  • Tide pool exploration and marine species identification
  • Coastal erosion observation and mapping projects
  • Ocean literacy workshops with marine biologists

SDG Alignment

SDG 04 Quality Education SDG 12 Responsible Consumption SDG 13 Climate Action SDG 14 Life Below Water
How It Works

The Living Lab Methodology

Each LABWISE School Living Lab follows a participatory, iterative cycle that ensures real impact and continuous improvement.

1

Explore

Identify local challenges and opportunities through dialogue with students, teachers and community members.

2

Co-Design

Collaboratively design experiments, workshops and learning activities that address identified needs.

3

Experiment

Implement hands-on activities in the school and its surroundings, collecting data and observations.

4

Evaluate

Assess impact on scientific literacy, engagement and sustainability awareness using mixed methods.

5

Iterate

Refine and improve the approach based on feedback, then scale successful practices across the network.

Want to see the Living Labs in action?

Browse our photo gallery or join us at an upcoming event to experience the LABWISE approach firsthand.

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