This week, students from Lycée Polyvalent du Pays d’Aunis (Surgères – near by La Rochelle, France), a partner school of the EU-CONEXUS alliance, are visiting Klaipeda University’s Žemyna Gymnasium. During their visit, the students also explored the Klaipeda University (KU) STEAM Centre, where they took part in an interactive educational workshop and experienced how science is embedded in everyday life.
Physics hidden in our health and environment
During the workshop at the KU STEAM Centre, participants discovered how physics is deeply intertwined with our health, wellbeing, and daily surroundings. The visiting students explored how environmental lighting affects the human body — from changes in light intensity to variations in spectral composition that can influence our vision and emotional state.
Using a spectrophotometer, the students learned to analyse the spectra of different light sources and understand how this instrument is used to evaluate lighting quality. Through hands-on experiments, they were able to observe real measurement results and clearly see the connection between physical laws and everyday life.
This practical session enabled the students to experience how physics operates around us — often unseen, yet constantly shaping our comfort, mood, and overall wellbeing.
Growing connections: School exchanges continue
This visit is part of the second consecutive year of school exchanges between institutions in Klaipėda and La Rochelle. In spring, students from Klaipeda University’s Žemyna Gymnasium will travel to La Rochelle, continuing their cultural and scientific exploration. These exchanges are becoming a valued and meaningful tradition.
EU-CONEXUS consistently strengthens cooperation between universities and schools, offering young people opportunities to experience internationalisation early in their education and creating long-term value for cities and regions.
EU-CONEXUS mission: Engaging society
EU-CONEXUS is committed to strengthening its societal impact, ensuring that science, innovation, and international opportunities are accessible to the wider public — especially young learners. Engaging schools in educational and international projects is a key part of this mission.
One such initiative is the EU-CONEXUS School Contest “Think Smart, Create Green”, with registration open until 8 December 2024.
Schools are invited to register their teams and join the international EU-CONEXUS community, fostering creativity, curiosity, and interdisciplinary thinking among students.
