Co-Creating greener futures: developing and transferring innovative bio-design modules for education to accelerate the green transition

ongoing

"Recognising climate change as one of the greatest threats to life on Earth, the EU pledged to be the first climate-neutral continent. Aligned with this challenge, COCOON aims to promote positive changes in industry and education. A large-scale project to accelerate transfer and co-creation of knowledge in the field of biodesign and biofabrication, CoCoon brings together a team of experts belonging to 5 institutions, 4 from EU, committed to share experiences and develop new knowledge to contribute for a greener future. The project will identify suitable living bio-based solutions used to produce materials that replace fossil based materials. CoCoon will develop methodologies, pilots and test processes for teaching bio-design to educators and students at universities, vocational schools and life-long learners; systematise procedures for implementation in the curricula of different learning systems. The objective is to increase awareness of the most promising existing technologies globally and empower people to find alternative ways of making more environmentally sustainable products. It also advocates sustainable open access policy to workshops (green-labs) that enable the innovative use of bio-based products and materials. By applying a ""learning by doing"" methodology, the project will: a) map the state of the art of bio and green labs; b) identify levels of safety and define terms of use; c) propose a best practice guide defining goals and strategies for infrastructure, human and material resources, maintenance, and knowledge update; and d) transfer knowledge to a broader audience of trainers, learners, makers, and the market. In addition, Cocoon’s policy observatory will: a) map related policies and stakeholders; b) develop and validate through participatory processes; and c) transfer resulting policies propositions through workshops and recommendations."