The institution selected for the project is a Polish school — Gimnazjum nr 4, located in Warsaw in Ursynow district (Fig.1). At present there are 664 pupils, aged 13 -16 years old. Gimnazjum nr 4 is a state school. Together with basic education the school gives the opportunity to develop individual capabilities and interests. Pupils can advance their skills in different sports, take part in additional math, physics and computing lessons and attend to the school art & theatre group meetings. Since last year the school has undertaken a new task, the so called "School with class", which aims to upgrade the level of teaching and learning. The "School European Club" has been also founded aiming to promote the idea of Poland’s accession to European Union and the benefits for our country thanks to this process.

The concept of the "Mini solar laboratory" project was that the lab is owned by and based at the school and it

involves the pupils as much as possible in the project. The school has relevant classes in maths-physics and computing. It was decided that the pupils should learn about solar energy, not only by seeing the display material and the equipment but also by doing science project work.

The main aims of the project are as follows:

• to disseminate information about solar and other renewable energies and sustainability using an operating solar system;

• to provide an educational resource on solar thermal and photo-voltaic energy for secondary school pupils in Warsaw;

• to assure an increase in the awareness of renewables in young people through the process of theoretical study and experimental work on solar energy;

• to implement the idea of environmental protection through renewable energy applications;

• to involve school pupils in the process of construction of the solar system, its use and promotion.

In Poland there is a lack of literature on renewables and energy conservation for teenagers. Therefore it has been decided that educational materials should be prepared for the project and disseminated both during and after the project’s close. It is expected that a good deal of publicity and educational value will spin off from this project. What is more, it is intended to raise awareness of Renewable Energy and its potential, not only amongst young people in schools, but also in the general public. It is important that thanks to the project the role of the school as a major driving force in improving the awareness of young people of energy conservation and environmental protection has increased.

The one-year project started in February 2003. Scientific and technological management of the project was provided by the Polish side with co-operation of the British partners. The project is now at its end. Most of the tasks have been already fulfilled and some of the achievements can already be summarised.