On 11 May, the Green Energy Park in Zellik welcomed four fifth-year secondary school classes for a Climate Technology Day organised by VUB. Pupils from Sint-Jozefinstituut Ternat, Koninklijk Atheneum Etterbeek and ZAVO Zaventem took part in a varied STEM programme, discovering how engineering, digital technologies and climate innovation come together in the search for sustainable solutions.

A central contribution came from ETRO VUB, represented by Professor Johan Stiens. In his session on the Internet of Things and the transformative role of Big Data, Stiens made a strong case for engineering as a discipline with enormous societal impact. Through concrete examples from everyday life — from laptops and transport to the buildings around us — he showed how engineers shape the world, often invisibly, and why young people should be encouraged to choose engineering and STEM studies.

The day also introduced pupils to broader VUB expertise in climate technology, including electric mobility, wind energy and the Multi-Energy Living Lab at the Green Energy Park. Demonstrations such as the VUB Formula Student race car and the Smart Digital Table Top helped translate complex energy systems into tangible, inspiring experiences for the students.

By combining scientific insight with hands-on demonstrations, the Climate Technology Day gave pupils a vivid impression of what engineering can mean for the future. For ETRO VUB and Professor Johan Stiens, the event was also an opportunity to highlight the importance of electronics, informatics, IoT and data-driven innovation in addressing society’s major challenges — and to motivate a new generation to become part of that effort.