Lab in a Box is a pioneering pedagogical project, initially developed in 2016 by Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, that arises from the belief that science can be learned on a daily basis and that, more than a school subject, is a way of thinking and existing in the world.
Designed to develop students’ fascination with their surroundings, critical thinking and scientific curiosity, it uses experimental teaching and the scientific method as a basis, and has the ambition of aiding the creation of a community of future “citizen scientists” in different Portuguese-speaking countries.
With this objective, the project develops, produces and implements in schools an educational kit of scientific experiments – the “Lab in a Box” kit – that is portable and modular, containing simple and low-cost materials, as well as appealing experimental protocols with instructions for experiments that cover areas contemplated in present school curricula. Alongside the kit, the project provides teacher training, classroom follow-up, online resources and a constant sharing of experiences through a dedicated online forum moderated by teachers and “Lab in a Box” scientists.