The Eco-Schools programme has established itself at ESCS as an important space for introducing students to sustainability research, providing undergraduate students with the opportunity to participate in research projects and present scientific work from the early stages of their academic journey.

This commitment has helped bring students closer to research and the scientific community, providing experiences that would typically only arise at more advanced stages of their academic training. Over the past few years, several ESCS students have taken part in conferences and scientific events, contributing to work developed in collaboration with the School’s teaching staff.

In 2024, six students took part in the 1st FEE EcoCampus International Conference, held at the Lisbon School of Education (ESELx) from 26 to 28 April. Two papers developed as part of the Eco-Schools programme were presented.

The first paper, “Sustainable Nooks: Unveiling the Potential of Pocket Ecosystems”, was co-authored by students Lara Ziesmann, Pedro Ferreira and Rita Serra, together with Cláudia Silvestre, Alexandra David and Vítor Gordo.

The paper “Unveiling European Perceptions and Actions on Climate Change and Sustainable Energy” was also presented, with the participation of students Hugo Veiga, Margarida Bento and Pedro Tavares, together with Cláudia Silvestre.

In 2025, ESCS continued its participation in research and scientific dissemination initiatives. At CCS 2025, the e-poster “Communication for Change – the Voice of ESCS Students” was presented. It was developed jointly by Cláudia Silvestre, Alexandra David, Raquel Ferro and Carlota Lagoa, with the participation of students Hugo Veiga, Margarida Bento and Pedro Tavares.

Also in 2025, ESCS student Raquel Ferro took part in the 12th CIED Meeting 2025, as part of the presentation “Seeds of Sustainability: Effective Learning, Sustainable Projects and Institutional Culture”, developed jointly with Cláudia Silvestre.

In 2026, the ESCS Eco-Schools programme continued to encourage and support students’ participation in scientific initiatives, namely through the submission of the paper “Students For The Planet – +Limpa” to U!REKA Connects 2026, authored by students Lucas Torres Ribeiro and Rafael Narciso, together with the teaching team responsible for the project.

This journey demonstrates the growing involvement of ESCS students in research projects related to sustainability and highlights the Eco-Schools programme’s commitment to creating opportunities for undergraduate students to engage, from an early stage, with research practices, scientific communication and knowledge sharing.

Participation in these initiatives enables students to develop skills such as critical thinking, autonomy, scientific communication and academic maturity, enriching their higher education experience and contributing to their future integration into the labour market.

For ESCS, this commitment reinforces its dedication to innovation, sustainability and the recognition of its students’ talent, fostering a research culture that brings teaching staff and students together in the development and dissemination of knowledge.

By creating opportunities to experiment, conduct research and present ideas, the ESCS Eco-Schools programme has established itself as a true laboratory for introducing students to sustainability research, demonstrating that involvement in scientific projects can begin during undergraduate studies and contribute to a more critical, participatory education oriented towards building a sustainable future.