After introducing over 22,000 high school students to scientific research, the Scienteens Lab – an educational initiative of the University of Luxembourg – is expanding its reach. With Sustainability 4 Life, the lab enters a new field: raising awareness among adults about sustainable development through practical, interactive workshops designed for both individuals and companies.

Five workshops to change our habits

Sustainability 4 Life includes five complementary workshops focused on key aspects of the energy and ecological transition. Three are already available – on CO₂, renewable energy, and energy storage. Two more are in development: one on forests and climate change, and another on energy efficiency.

These workshops, held either on campus or in the workplace, offer concrete actions that can be applied in participants’ daily lives or within their organizations. “This project is, above all, an invitation to act. Understand better to choose better. Choose better to pass it on.”, says Elisabeth John.

An initiative born from awareness

The idea stems from a clear observation: adults make daily choices at home, at work, in how they move, that directly affect their environment and that of their children, colleagues, or friends.

“When a parent chooses public transport with their child, they reduce energy consumption and, at the same time, instill a sustainable reflex in the next generation.” From this logic of ripple effect, Scienteens Lab designed a program capable of triggering collective change through individual actions.

A young initiative… with long-term promise

Launched in 2024 after a pilot phase, Sustainability 4 Life has already received encouraging feedback from participants and partners. The team is working to amplify its impact through digital tools, evolving learning materials, and partnerships with committed stakeholders.

Its long-term goal is clear: “We want to support the energy transition by equipping citizens with the right tools. Our aim: to build an informed, self-reliant community that can effectively reduce its footprint.”

A mission supported by academic expertise

As a project of the University of Luxembourg, Sustainability 4 Life is built on a rigorous, interdisciplinary, and science-based approach. A key goal is to move knowledge beyond lecture halls and into the service of society at large. “As scientists, we have a responsibility — to share our knowledge in ways that are useful, applicable, and meaningful.”, says Mrs. John.

By rephrasing Descartes’ famous saying, the project highlights the urgency of becoming aware of the impact of our lifestyles and their transformative potential. “Take time to understand your energy consumption. Ask yourself what you’re ready to change. Every action matters. And you’re not alone.”