As part of their prize for winning first place in the E³UDRES² School Competition - a highlight of the E³UDRES² Science Festival 2025 in St. Pölten - the students of HTL Wiener Neustadt took part in a hands-on workshop focused on sustainability and eco-design, held on June 12 at their school environment.
Led by Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Dr. techn. Viktoria Leitner, Professor of Digital Management and Sustainability at St. Pölten UAS, the workshop challenged students to think critically and act creatively by designing and constructing a sustainable bridge. The session began with a short introduction to key principles of sustainability, exploring the eco-factors of different materials and how to assess their environmental impact through simplified calculations.
Hands-On Learning for a Sustainable Future
Students were then divided into five teams of five to six members each and provided with materials including bamboo sticks, metal straws, paper straws, and wheat straws. Their task: build a bridge strong enough to hold several liters of water, while minimizing ecological impact.
The challenge was both technical and reflective — requiring students not only to make structural calculations and design decisions, but also to weigh those choices against sustainability criteria. It was an opportunity to bridge the gap between science communication and real-world application, following their earlier participation in the photovoice competition, where they visualized and voiced their perspectives on the climate crisis.
The E³UDRES² team extends special thanks to the students for their dedication, to Susanne Hackstock, teacher of the winning class, for her support, and to Viktoria Leitner for her expert guidance. Coordination and on-site support were provided by Eva Nikolopoulou.
Photos & Videos by Jelena Gudejl and Eva Nikolopoulou.
This workshop served as a powerful continuation of the competition’s core message-empowering students to take active, informed steps toward a more sustainable future.
