When Origami transforms STEM into practical art: “doing math with your hands”. The Origami pre-project, designed for the CurieuCity #3 festival, introduced Brussels students to the art of paper folding while exploring its connections to STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics).

This workshop demonstrated that origami, an ancient discipline, can be a playful yet rigorous approach to understanding complex scientific and mathematical concepts. Students learned how to “do math with their hands” through simple folds and the construction of modular origami. They explored complex concepts such as Platonic solids, Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometries, while working with paper. These discoveries sparked discussions on practical applications of these shapes in fields like aerospace, road safety, and the military.

The Origami pre-project traveled through five Brussels schools: Jules Vernes (19 November), Daschbeck (21 November), Robert Dubois & Core Congrès Daschbeck (28 November), and the Institute of the Sisters of Our Lady (29 November).

The students’ creations from the Origami pre-project will be showcased at the CurieuCity #3 festival during the workshop on 30 November and 1 December. This workshop highlights a creative approach to STEM, fostering imagination, precision, and curiosity among young participants.

For more information, visit the festival’s website: Origami Workshop CurieuCity #3.

Kosmos is an exciting pre-project designed for CurieuCity#3, that will take place over four workshops on 8/11, 15/11, 22/11, and 29/11.

In collaboration with students from Brede School Nieuwland and the organization Hubbie, this immersive workshop invites everyone to explore the fascinating universe of stars, comets, and planets through dance. In this interstellar experience, participants are guided by astrophysicist Else Magnus from the VUB and artists from Atelier Léon to discover and embody the mysteries of our galaxy.

They learn to mimic the movements of celestial bodies, such as the interactions between the Sun, Earth, and Moon, star collisions, and comet trajectories. This unique project, blending dance, scenography, and science, gives participants the opportunity to become moving celestial bodies, making tangible the force of a star that collides, grows, and implodes in a collective choreography.

As part of CurieuCity #2, Secondary 5 students in Chemistry Techniques at the Athénée Royal Andrée Thomas took part in the Lichens GO pre-project, a participatory science programme aimed at assessing air quality by studying lichens .

Lichens, the slow-growing organisms that grow on trees, are genuine indicators of the level of pollution accumulated over several years. Studying them offers a complementary approach to modern sensors for measuring air quality.

The preliminary project was carried out in two phases:

Student training: The students were first trained to recognise and understand lichens, and to apply the Lichens GO protocol for a rigorous scientific study.

Field work: In the second phase, the students assessed the quality of the air near the Wiels Marsh by putting their knowledge into practice in the field.

The results of this study will be presented in the form of a photo exhibition at La Marelle, enabling visitors to discover the relationship between lichens and air pollution, while at the same time showcasing the students’ work.

To see the exhibition on the festival programme, follow this link: https://curieucity.brussels/en/lichensgo-exposition/

This preliminary project shows how participatory science can involve young people in concrete actions linked to their local environment.

As part of the pre-projects for our CurieuCity #2 festival, pupils from De Wereldbrug, Parkschool, Sint-Augustinusschool and Freinetschool Keerpunt Vorst are taking part in a fascinating workshop entitled ‘Goodbye plastic thanks to microbes’. The workshop is led by Vincent Crabbe, a researcher at the VUB, and immerses pupils in the wonderful world of microbes and their crucial role in the environment.

During the workshop, students discover what microbes are, where they can be found, and how they can contribute to the production of bioplastics. They leave with not only a positive attitude towards these micro-organisms, but also a better understanding of the importance of developing microbes for sustainable applications.

Armed with this knowledge, each class, under the guidance of Britt Bakker, set about producing its own microbial film. The students create unique short films in which fascinating microbes play the leading roles. Their creations will be shown at a mini-film festival during CurieuCity, giving the students the opportunity to share their work with the public.

CurieuCity is not just another festival, it’s an experience that forges links within local communities by combining fun activities with scientific questioning. For editions #2 Forest and #3 Marolles, we are proposing #MugFacts, a participatory project that revitalises our neighbourhoods through an interactive and social game, in collaboration with OPSCHEPfabriek.

#MugFacts is a game of research and reflection that invites residents of the Forest and Marolles neighbourhoods to take part in a unique collective experiment. For 5 weeks, each participant will receive a multiple-choice question by private message on WhatsApp. The answers, collected each week, are then displayed in the district’s shop windows in artistic and intriguing forms, transforming the streets into a space for exploration and curiosity.

Each participant is given a personalised mug, which becomes the symbol of their participation in the game. As they wander around the neighbourhood, they will discover their mugs clinging to those of their neighbours, sparking conversations and creating an informal but powerful bond between residents.

Through this preliminary project, CurieuCity aims to create social links by encouraging interaction between neighbours and shopkeepers. With #MugFacts, the aim is to revitalise the oldest social network: everyday encounters. The festival also seeks to arouse scientific curiosity by asking questions and displaying the answers in a way that encourages participants to think and talk about scientific subjects, all in a fun and accessible atmosphere. Finally, CurieuCity hopes to enhance the neighbourhood by transforming shop windows into ephemeral galleries, highlighting local art and the thoughts of local residents, thereby strengthening the sense of belonging to the community.

Game closure:
At the end of the 5 weeks, the participants will get together for a convivial moment, where they can discuss the results of the game over a drink in their personalised mugs. This moment of sharing will mark the end of the #MugFacts experience, leaving behind lasting connections between residents.

#hyperlocalcentral #100%❤️HUMAN #empowering #positive

As part of the CurieuCity#2 festival, which focuses on biodiversity and the natural sciences, a preliminary project was carried out with the participation of pupils from several schools: Athénée Royal Andrée Thomas (1st differentiated class), École du Bempt (4th primary, Cigognes and Hirondelles classes) and École Saint Augustin (4th primary A and 4th primary B). The pupils explored fascinating questions such as: Why are plants green? Where is chlorophyll found? How can pigments be extracted from plants?

Through a variety of experiments, they discovered the fundamental role of plants in food webs and had fun learning about the scientific approach. A food web is the set of food interactions between living beings in an ecosystem, representing the food chains of an ecosystem. The food webs they created for the Duden Parks, the Wiels Marsh and the Bempt Park will be presented in the form of photo exhibitions at the Wiels Marsh.

To see the exhibition on the festival programme, follow this link: https://curieucity.brussels/en/focus-on-chlorophyl-exhibition/

As part of the CurieuCity festival, Molenbeek Saint Jean school, in partnership with Fablab’ke and the Inforsciences department of ULB, developed an exciting pre-festival project: the creation of a greenhouse and a water recovery tank, followed by a botany workshop to scientifically observe what can be cultivated there.

This project, conducted from February to April 2024 with a primary class, emphasized the importance of material reuse and raising young people’s awareness of the circular economy and sustainability. It perfectly illustrates how informal learning and practical projects can inspire young generations to become responsible innovators and creators.

You could discover this project in the form of a photo exhibition – Fablab’ke Exhibition – and a workshop “Plants to crunch” at CurieuCity #1 – Discover the City of the Future, held from May 3-5, 2024, in Molenbeek.

Fablab’ke Exhibition – Fablab’ke, an educational digital manufacturing workshop, collaborated with students and their teacher to transform their garden. The children actively participated in every step of the project, from discovering the garden to the final assembly of the greenhouse and water recovery tank. The project aims to raise young people’s awareness of contemporary issues such as climate, green energy, and the circular economy. Visitors to the exhibition are invited to discover the hard work and creativity of the young participants through a series of photographs. These images testify to the children’s engagement in an innovative and fun educational process.

>For more information, visit the Fablab’ke website: www.fablabke.be

Plants to crunch – This workshop explores the anatomy of plants (fruits and vegetables) found in gardens and on our plates, showing that everything in the plant world is a true delight! Children aged 8 to 12 learn to connect everyday foods with the origins of the products we consume. By having fun in this “food laboratory,” children will appreciate the fruits and vegetables on their plates and be introduced to botany and the food pyramid.

>Find all the activities of the Inforsciences department of ULB at: https://sciences.brussels/carte/

Themes: Urban Agriculture, Urban Food, Circular Economy, Informal Learning

#upcycling #horticulture #greenhouse #active learning #garden #youth #botany #nutrition #plant anatomy #food pyramid

Dive into the heart of urban innovation and sustainability with this unique installation that blends art, education, and environmental engagement. This project, created by artist Cassamajor O. Ánima (BackToSoilBasics) a week before the festival, brings together students from Albert School and KET&CO in an educational and immersive collaboration with nature.

This installation has been integrated into the CurieuCity#1 festival program – Discover the City of the Future as A Work of Collaboration and Education. It aims to be a center for collaboration, education, and experience of nature. The water tower symbolizes urban resilience and serves as a living laboratory, where visitors can interact with radical architecture and environmental sustainability policies. Visitors are invited to explore various forms and uses of water while discovering the importance of sustainability in our cities. This installation engages participants to redefine their relationship with the urban environment and become aware of the urgency of sustainable ecological practices.

Towards a Participative and Decolonial Ecology This installation embodies an innovative fusion of decolonial ecology and collaborative urban permaculture practices. It aims to raise awareness of sustainable and inclusive environmental management methods, enriched by circular education practices. The eco-futuristic water tower invites rethinking urban architecture in harmony with nature and encourages active citizen participation.

Themes: Urban Agriculture, Informal Learning

#urbansustainability #decolonialecology #urbanpermaculture #participatorydesign #earthregeneration