On 22 March, Varna became a stage for knowledge, creativity, and innovation as 20 student teams from across Bulgaria took part in a national STEM competition dedicated to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The event was organized by the Bulgarian Association for Transfer of Technology and Innovation (BATTI) within the framework of the international project AIRQUEST, with the expert support of STEM Education. The competition brought together students from grades 1 to 5, while mixed-age teams further encouraged teamwork, idea exchange, and creative problem-solving.
A special highlight of the competition was the category “Eco Guardians of the Black Sea”, which challenged students to develop STEM-based solutions related to environmental protection, pollution reduction, and care for nature.
Participants had two hours to prepare and present their STEM projects before a jury and audience. The children impressed everyone with their creativity, logical thinking, practical skills, and ability to propose solutions to real environmental challenges. The competition concluded with exciting STEM activities such as robo football and a STEM triathlon, adding even more energy and enthusiasm to the event.
The national STEM competition is part of the activities of the AIRQUEST project, which aims to raise awareness and support the search for solutions to air pollution and its impact on health and the environment. The project is funded under the Interreg Black Sea Basin Programme and brings together partners from Bulgaria, Romania, Türkiye, and Ukraine. As part of the project, an open online air quality monitoring platform was developed, using satellite and ground-based measurements to provide accessible information for citizens, schools, and institutions.
The event in Varna once again showed that when knowledge is combined with imagination and environmental responsibility, children can become a true driving force for positive change.
The three winners from Varna took the top places in the category “Eco Guardians of the Black Sea“:
1st place – Team “Pyana i Shtit”, Primary School “Tsar Simeon I” – Varna
2nd place – Team “Aklas”, Primary School “P. R. Slaveykov” – Varna
3rd place – Team “Vaptsarovtsi”, Second Primary School “Nikola Yonkov Vaptsarov” – Varna
