Students explore cooling innovations at ACES festival

The Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-Chain (ACES) and the Clean Cooling Network, on Wednesday, October 8th, hosted a successful Schools and Education Day during the ongoing Festival of Cooling, bringing together students and teachers from eight secondary schools across Rwanda.

At least 135 students attended, including representatives from Rwamagana Leaders’ School, Samuduha Integrated College, Collège Saint André, Ntare Louisenlund International School, Nyamata TSS, and Cornerstone Leadership Academy. The event aimed to help students understand cold-chains, their impact on vaccines and food, and how sustainable cooling can improve learning and future livelihoods.

The day offered an interactive platform to explore sustainable refrigeration, cold-chain systems, and climate-smart technologies. It sought to raise awareness about the critical role of cooling in everyday life and inspire young people to pursue careers in engineering, food systems, and sustainable technologies.

What did the students do at the Festival?

Students participated in hands-on activities, including Lego-based demonstrations of refrigeration components, copper cutting and bending exercises, and interactive quizzes. These activities highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of cooling, combining engineering, environmental science, and digital innovation.

Gideon Murungi, a Food Cold-Chain Researcher at London South Bank University, explained that the festival’s Games Room made learning engaging:

“Students worked in teams to assemble Lego models representing refrigeration systems and participated in quizzes. Winners received prizes, but even those who got answers wrong still learned, and that’s the goal.”

Murungi added that students from the eight schools were put into groups to encourage networking and collaboration while visiting different stations and engaging in practical demonstrations. Many students described the experience as transformative. 

Niece Uwase, a 12-year-old from Ntare Louisenlund International School, said: 

“I learned that using coolers or cooling machines helps preserve food. I also learned about a Community Cooling Hub, where products from different farmers are collectively cooled and preserved. It’s really helpful for the community and the world.”

Aimé Arcade Mpano, a Level 5 student at Nyamata Technical Secondary School, added:

“In class, we study Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning systems theoretically, but here I’ve seen how they actually work. I can now relate theory to real equipment.”

Innovation was further showcased through a refrigerant-free cooling prototype by Aimé Pacifique Muhawenimana, a former IPRC Kigali student, which uses Peltier technology and low-voltage DC power, offering a safe and eco-friendly alternative for rural communities.

A great day had by all

ACES emphasises that early exposure to sustainable cooling is vital for building Africa’s skilled workforce for resilient food systems and climate adaptation. 

“Our goal was to help students understand refrigeration as a practical skill with diverse career pathways, from operating refrigerated trucks and maintaining cooling systems to ensuring food safety,” explained Dr Jean-Baptiste Ndahetuye, Head of Research at ACES.

We aim to take this discussion further at our next event, A Cool World Conference, in Birmingham, UK, where we will meet and talk with many of the pioneers, researchers, and academics working and developing technologies on show at the festival today.