We’re incredibly proud to celebrate the success of our good friends and partner school in Croatia, Elementary School Sibinjskih žrtava, whose Tesla’s Classroom project was recently recognised as one of the most successful initiatives in the country under the EEA Grants-funded “Local Development and Poverty Reduction” programme. At the national closing ceremony in Zadar, their project received second place in the public vote – a true testament to the passion and dedication of the students, teachers, partners, and the wider community.

As partners in the EEA Grants-funded STEM projects in Croatia, we at GeoCamp Iceland have followed their journey with admiration. Tesla’s Classroom is a shining example of what happens when curiosity, creativity, and sustainability come together. From a fully equipped modern STEM learning space to a rooftop solar power plant, a greenhouse, and an outdoor learning gazebo – this initiative offers students a hands-on, real-world education that encourages research, critical thinking, and environmental responsibility, in true Tesla spirit.

Congratulations to everyone involved in this inspiring project! We are honoured to be your partners and look forward to continuing our collaboration where science, technology, and nature build the future together.

You can read more about our project with Sibinj Elementary School here.

On April 12, 2024, the collaboration between GeoCamp Iceland and the municipality of Lipik, Croatia, reached its successful conclusion, celebrated at a final event in Lipik. This two-year partnership, supported by the EEA Financial Mechanism under the “Energy and Climate Change” program, focused on exploring geothermal energy potential and advancing sustainable practices in the region. The project has been hailed as a significant step forward in using geothermal resources for energy and beyond.

Ólafur Jón Arnbjörnsson, Director and Founder of GeoCamp Iceland, attended the event and shared his reflections on the collaboration. He expressed his satisfaction with the mutual knowledge exchange and the progress made during the partnership. “People often rely more on fossil fuels than on geothermal energy, which is understandable given the focus on energy in the context of climate change,” he said. “Although we are leaders in the use of geothermal energy in Iceland, we see that other applications of geothermal water are also important in the future.”

The event highlighted the achievements of the project, which included the development of comprehensive technical documentation for geothermal energy use in Lipik, knowledge exchange between Icelandic experts and local Croatian stakeholders, and the creation of educational programs to engage the local community. The collaboration also explored innovative ways to utilise geothermal water in areas like agriculture and tourism, broadening its impact beyond energy production.

During the celebration, attendees participated in presentations and discussions that detailed the project’s outcomes and its potential to influence sustainable development in the region. Site visits to Lipik’s geothermal resources provided a tangible connection to the project’s goals, showcasing the region’s natural assets and their possibilities. Panel discussions brought together local and international experts to reflect on the partnership and explore further innovations in geothermal applications.

The collaboration underscored the importance of international partnerships in addressing global energy and environmental challenges. Lipik’s Mayor expressed deep gratitude for Iceland’s support and highlighted the project as a foundational step for the town’s sustainable future. The event also served as an opportunity to envision how the lessons learned from this initiative could inspire similar projects worldwide.
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Ólafur Jón Arnbjörnsson closed the event by reaffirming GeoCamp Iceland’s dedication to fostering international cooperation. “This partnership demonstrates the power of shared expertise and mutual learning,” he said. “By working together, we can empower communities to harness their natural resources responsibly and create sustainable solutions for future generations.”

With the project’s completion, Lipik is well-positioned to implement its geothermal strategy, paving the way for sustainable growth in energy, agriculture, and tourism. GeoCamp Iceland remains committed to promoting renewable energy and environmental education through similar partnerships, furthering its mission to inspire global change.

• Press release in English: https://izvori-lipika.hr/en/2024/06/lipik-and-iceland-together-in-the-research-of-geothermal-potential/
• Pree release in Croatian: https://www.compas.com.hr/clanak/9/12797/lipik-i-island-zajedno-u-istrazivanju-geotermalnih-potencijala.html

Representatives from GeoCamp Iceland participated in the conference in the "Education of Tomorrow: Shaping Employee 4.0 in the World of New Technologies", organised by the INFOTECH Foundation in cooperation with the Białystok University of Technology and GeoCamp Iceland.
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The conference, which took place on 29 November 2023, was part of the two-year project "Technologies of the future in today's school", which received a 217.000 EUR support from the EEA Grant funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

Among topics at the conference were discussed challenges and opportunities for future employees in Poland and Iceland in the era of automation, course development on vocational level on the "Basics of Programming", and the teaching curriculum for "Programming Secondary School".

The conference also offered an excellent opportunity for networking and exchanging knowledge and experience on the future of professional education in the digital era.

The past year we've been fortunate to participate in an EEA funded project on implementing STEM education in Croatian schools. In November 2023 the staff of GeoCamp Iceland - along with a group of teachers from primary schools and research centers in the Reykjanes region - attended a couple of open days in our partner schools in Croatia, including a very successful event at OŠ Josipa Kozarca in the town of Lipovljani. Great recpetion and hospitality of inspiring teachers and active students. #STEM #Lipovljani

The past year GeoCamp Iceland has partnered four primary schools in Croatia as part of an EEA funded project on implementing STEM education. As part of this project - the staff and experts on behalf of GeoCamp Iceland - took part in meetings, workshops and open days at Vladimir Nazor Primary School on 2 - 4 November 2023 in the town of Ðakovo located in the region of Slovania in Croatia. 

The goal of the meeting and events was to introduce with the activities achieved through the project. Teachers and students, involved in the project, organised workshops as part of twelve extracurricular activities where they displayed the application and use of innovative STEM teaching methods in their school.

Great event with engaged students and inspired teachers. #STEM #Ðakovo

GeoCamp Iceland participated in the EEA-funded project “Geothermal Activity in the Municipality of Lipik” in Croatia, from April 2022 to September 2023. This initiative, under the EEA and Norway Grants scheme, focuses on harnessing low-temperature geothermal fields in Lipik for sustainable development.

Project Overview

Lipik, renowned for its natural hot springs, presents significant opportunities for sustainable heating, agricultural innovation, and community energy solutions. The project’s goal is to tap into these geothermal resources to establish eco-friendly energy sources that benefit both the local community and the environment.
Leveraging its extensive experience in geothermal energy and environmental science, GeoCamp Iceland provided essential technical support and research capabilities, including consulting and insights on environmentally responsible practices, and advising on community-driven solutions to ensure the long-term sustainability of geothermal energy use, as well as educational and training support.

Knowledge Sharing and Cultural Exchange

The collaboration fostered a valuable exchange of knowledge and culture between Iceland and Croatia. GeoCamp’s team worked closely with local officials, researchers, and community members to understand Lipik’s unique geothermal characteristics. This partnership facilitated the development of adaptable and resilient geothermal solutions tailored to the region’s specific needs.

One of the main challenges was ensuring that geothermal resources could be harnessed in an eco-friendly manner. GeoCamp played a crucial role in designing solutions that minimize environmental impact while maximizing energy output. The project’s success has sparked interest in further exploration of geothermal fields in Croatia, indicating potential for new sustainable energy sources across the region

Impact on the Local Community

The project has positively impacted the Lipik community by increasing awareness of renewable energy sources and their benefits. GeoCamp’s demonstrations of geothermal applications for heating, tourism, and agriculture have inspired local stakeholders to envision a greener, self-sustaining future. Additionally, the initiative has laid the groundwork for new job opportunities in areas related to geothermal energy management and sustainable agriculture.

The completion of the Lipik geothermal project marks a significant milestone in GeoCamp Iceland’s international collaborations. The success of this initiative underscores the value of partnerships funded by EEA and Norway Grants in promoting renewable energy and sustainable practices. GeoCamp remains committed to future projects that share Iceland’s geothermal expertise, supporting environmentally responsible energy solutions across Europe.

For more information, explore articles on Moj Portal and Compas or view the project video on YouTube.

The final conference and teacher training activity in the EEA supported project "GEOCAMP - supporting geology teaching towards active citizenship" took place in the beautiful Ralsko Geopark in Czech Republic in July 2023. The project introduced new and innovative teaching programmes and methods in the field of the sciences and geology to prepare teachers for the challenges of the future and act in the interests of environmental protection.

The project was partnered by Ralsko Geopark and the Technical University of Liberec in the Czech Republic.

As part of the EEA funded project on implementing STEM education in Croatian schools, a seven person delegation on behalf of GeoCamp Iceland took part in a three day meeting in the SMART - BICC Project in Budinščina, Croatia on 19 - 21 April 2023.

During the meeting we had the opportunity to attend open day and workshops presented by students. Attending the visit from GeoCamp Iceland were Arnbjörn Ólafsson, Ólafur Jón Arnbjörnsson, Sigrún Svafa Ólafsdóttir, Álfhildur Leifsdóttir (Árskóli Primary School), Nada Borosak (Álftanesskóli Primary School), Gauti Eiríksson (Álftanesskóli Primary School) and Huld Hafliðadóttir (Husavik STEM Center).

The focus of GeoCamp Iceland in the STEM projects is to participate in capacity-building activities for teachers and other educational workers in the STEM field; working on pupil’s skills strengthening in the field of STEM; and participating in information and visibility activitie with experienced experts from Iceland, including lectures and workshops of defined activities.