The projects of students from schools across Cyprus impressed the Jury of the EU-Conexus School Contest “Think Smart, Create Green”. The national final of the contest was held at Frederick University in Nicosia on 27 March. 

Through inspired ideas -ranging from a slipper made of fruit waste, corks, and discarded tennis balls, to a robotic system for separating recyclable and non-recyclable waste, as well as a smart irrigation and water management system- the participating students showcased the creativity, innovation, and environmental awareness of a new generation seeking solutions for a more sustainable future.

The Think Smart, Create Green School Contest is organized annually by the EU-CONEXUS European University Alliance and implemented in Cyprus by Frederick University, as a member of the Alliance. The University warmly congratulates all participants from secondary schools across Cyprus, who presented their ideas and made a strong impression on both the Jury and attendees of the national final.

The winners

For the quality and innovation of their proposals, 1st place in the 12–14 age category was awarded to team “Scarto” from Kokkinochoria Gymnasium “Panos Ioannou”, while in the 14–17 category, 1st place was awarded to team “Aquawise” from Agios Georgios Lyceum, Lakatamia.

The Jury highlighted the high standard of the proposals and the students’ meaningful understanding of contemporary environmental challenges. The panel consisted of Mr Charalambos Theopemptou, Green Party Member of the House of Representatives; Dr Nasia Tziortzi and Mr Yiannos Loizides, members of the academic staff of Frederick University; Ms Kyriaki Koumenidou, researcher at the University’s Sustainable Energy Research Group; and Mr Peter Nikandrou, Head of the Nicosia Admissions Office of Frederick University.

Team Scarto presented a summer slipper as a final product of recycled waste. To create the material, the students used apple and potato peels boiled in water collected from air conditioners, seeds, and natural dyes from beetroot, spinach, and walnuts. For the sole, they used corks from wine bottles and discarded tennis balls. Their central argument was that the concept of “waste” reflects a lack of imagination, and that a new way of thinking is needed - one that transforms what we consider useless into opportunity. The team consisted of students Theodora Georgiou, Maria Antoniou, Antigoni Alexandrou, and Michalis Charalambous, under the guidance of teachers Theofanis Petroudis and Therapon Therapontos.

The team from Agios Georgios Lyceum Lakatamia developed and presented Aquawise, a smart water management and irrigation system that optimizes water use through automated, data-driven decision-making. Using soil moisture sensors and two ESP32 microcontrollers, Aquawise autonomously controls a hydraulic valve, irrigating crops with water from an elevated gravity-fed tank. Unlike conventional irrigation systems based on preset schedules, Aquawise operates as a fully autonomous system, assessing environmental conditions and performing irrigation actions in real time, ensuring precise water delivery tailored to plant needs. This approach significantly reduces water waste while maintaining optimal soil moisture levels. The team successfully tested Aquawise in their school garden, demonstrating its effectiveness as a low-cost solution for sustainable water management. The team members were Konstantinos Kokkofytis, Andreas Kassinos, Giorgos Nearchou, and Stefanos Siathas, under the guidance of teacher Stelios Sergiou.

As for the rest of the winning teams, In the 12–14 category, 2nd place was awarded to team “Greenins” from Stavros Gymnasium and 3rd place to team “Fight for Earth” from Aglantzia Gymnasium. In the 14–17 category, 2nd place went to team “Tidekeepers” from The English School, and 3rd place to team “Global Eco Heroes” from Pascal English School, Limassol.

The innovative school contest “Think Smart, Create Green” brings together young people aged 12–17 from across Europe, aiming to promote smart solutions and sustainability. The competition is organized for the sixth consecutive year by the EU-CONEXUS European University Alliance, while the national stage in Cyprus is implemented by Frederick University, a full member of the Network.

The two teams that won the national final will compete in the international final, to be held online on 27 April, with the participation of student teams from France, Spain, Ireland, Greece, Croatia, Lithuania, and Romania.

The EU-CONEXUS European University Alliance focuses on smart, urban coastal sustainability and aims to develop innovative educational methods and interdisciplinary approaches in the fields of blue growth, circular economy, and sustainability. The participating universities are: La Rochelle Université (France), Agricultural University of Athens (Greece), Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest (Romania), Klaipėda University (Lithuania), Universidad Católica de Valencia “San Vicente Mártir” (Spain), University of Zadar (Croatia), South East Technological University (Ireland), University of Rostock (Germany), and Frederick University (Cyprus).