AQUA LAB, a laboratory where school students can conduct research, carry out experiments and develop projects focused on the sustainable and efficient use of water resources, has been presented in Astana.
The presentation took place during the practical seminar “AQUA LAB: WATER. STEAM. GREEN SCHOOL,” El.kz reports citing the press service of Kazakh Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation.
What students will do
The new laboratory is located within the TANYM multifunctional complex. As part of the project, students will explore water conservation issues through hands-on activities, develop STEAM projects and test their own solutions.
The project was initiated by the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. It is being implemented by the Information and Analytical Centre for Water Resources, the Ministry of Education, and the Akimat of Astana, with the support of partner organizations.
Representatives of 20 flagship schools in the capital responsible for educational and extracurricular activities and specialized instruction took part in the seminar. For these schools, AQUA LAB can serve as a platform for integrating academic knowledge with research-based learning and practical activities.
“Su Sandygу” to serve as the methodological foundation
The laboratory’s methodological framework will be based on the “Su Sandygу” educational resource, developed as part of the “Water and Education” project. The resource contains educational materials and practical approaches related to water education and environmental awareness.
The “Water and Education” project has received support from the French Development Agency (AFD), the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), and UNICEF. The resource materials will be used by teachers in preparing school-based research projects and practical learning activities.
Vice Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Talgat Momyshev noted the importance of providing students with opportunities to apply the knowledge they acquire through practical research.
“It is important that students not only acquire knowledge about water, but also have the opportunity to apply it in practice to conduct research, carry out experiments and develop their own solutions. ‘Su Sandygу’ and AQUA LAB complement each other: the resource provides teachers with methodological tools, while the laboratory creates opportunities for students to engage in practical work,” Talgat Momyshev said.
Which schools will participate in the project
Following the seminar, schools in Astana are expected to be selected to participate in the piloting of the educational practices. Joint research and environmental projects are planned to be implemented at these schools.
AQUA LAB will help bring the issue of water conservation from the theoretical sphere into practical school-based learning. For students, it provides an opportunity to independently investigate water-use challenges, test hypotheses and develop their own solutions that can subsequently be applied in environmental projects.
