Sustainable Solutions with Snails in Technology and Art (SSS-TA)

Snails as Agents of Sustainable Innovation? Students become snail farmers, explore recycling potential, and develop creative solutions—from cosmetics to packaging materials. An interdisciplinary approach that combines sustainability and STEAM education in a fascinating way!

Sustainable Learning Through Materials Research: The Snail as an Example | According to archaeological findings, snails were already being roasted and eaten in prehistoric times. Today, they are primarily considered a delicacy. However, in the context of environmental awareness and a growing global population, snails could once again play a more significant role in our diets in the future—not least because producing one kilogram of snail meat requires only about a quarter of the feed needed to produce beef.

Furthermore, snails hold potential for innovations beyond the culinary realm: For example, their excrement can be used to produce cosmetics, packaging materials (Jouvin, 2020), or even floor tiles (Schreuder, 2013). The world of the vineyard snail thus opens up a wide range of points of connection for a discourse on materials research with a particular focus on sustainability and recycling.

In the project, the students first take on the role of snail farmers—from building a small enclosure to selecting suitable feed and providing responsible care. Responsibilities rotate across classes, supplemented by various classroom projects and educational concepts centered on snails within the MINDT/STEAM curriculum. This process is always carried out in close collaboration with experts from the respective fields.

The Toolbook «SNAIL Silhouettes—Natural History Illustrations Translated into Posters for Tomorrow» and «Slimy & Clean—The Snail in Cosmetics» are available for download. It offers fascinating insights into the project and invites you to try out the ideas for yourself.

Using the GECKO platform, the competency model outlines the skills that students can acquire as part of the project.