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CaL 2025-26 Registrations Open Now

10% Discount for 20+ students

Last date to register: 1st July 2025

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City as Lab

City as Lab (CaL) is founded with the belief that every student’s voice is important!

CaL provides a platform for school children to conduct original and authentic inquiry projects about the cities they live in.

CaL in Numbers

Students

Projects

Teachers

Schools

Cities

Types of Projects

Students may choose to work on one of the following types of projects for this year.

Story Project

The theme for 2025-26 is
Unseen Threads: The Many Faces of Gender Inequity.

Through this theme, we invite you to examine the multifaceted nature of gender inequity—through the voices of those who have experienced it, those who have confronted it (for themselves or others), those who have unknowingly upheld it, or those who have observed it from the sidelines.

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Research Project

Click here to check theme for Year 2025-26

Students ask an original question, collect data and offer insights through a written paper. Selected groups present their papers at the next CaL conference in 2025-26. This is a great project for science or social studies teachers to mentor.

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Coding Project

Students create a unique app that is useful during these unprecedented times. Students select a specific end-user for the app, define the problem, design and pilot the app, and create a “pitch” video as their final product. This is a great project for technology / coding teachers to mentor.

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Maker Project

Click here to check theme for Year 2025-26

In this project, students design a working prototype solution for a relevant problem being faced by their city/community. The problem being addressed has to be related to United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities” The prototype must be tested before submitting the final product.

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Service Project

Students set up and run a service project to support a disenfranchised group of people in their community.

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Photography Project

The Theme for 2025-26 is Rhythm, Colour, and Movement: The Art of Our City.

Through this theme, we invite you to explore the artistic heartbeat of your surroundings and capture how music, dance, and visual art weave into the fabric of your community.

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Timeline

May 31st

Early Bird Registration Closes

July 1st

Registration Deadline

August 15th

Phase 1 Submission Deadline

September 15th

Phase 2 Submission Deadline for Research Projects

September 30th

Phase 2 Submission Deadline for Maker and Coding Projects

October 10th

Phase 2 Submission Deadline for Story and Service Projects

October 18th

Phase 2 Submission Deadline for Photography Project

November 15th

Draft 1 of all Projects for feedback (optional)

December 10th

Final Product Submission

March

CaL Conference

CaL Journey

"Wonderful initiative! This program has great potential to sensitize each and everyone about various social and environmental issues faced by society. The young students are fantastic, very confident and I am hopeful most of them will grow up and become excellent researchers, leaders, and much more than that - responsible citizens.This program has brough out the best among them."

CaL Panelist

"This was a wonderful experience for me because every year we do the project day in our school but it was totally a different experience where we need to actually go out of the class and collect data. We used different methods of collecting data like interview method, survey method and observation method"

Shubham
CaL Student

"I learned how to manage, push and guide a team of students to come up with great projects."

Chandramouli
CaL Teacher

"Amazing work. So deep, rich & life changing! Love the way you are bringing different stakeholders together & really working with them in a thoughtful process- appreciate your effort! Such a great platform that you are providing (to students) & it changes their learning so deeply. Please continue & become more visible & expand your work as far as possible. "

CaL Panelist

"CAL was one of the most exciting and enjoyable projects I have been a part of. Researching real-life problems, then conducting thorough surveys and finally implementing certain solutions along with the group was quite evoking. The difficult part of it, however, for me would probably be the one where we had to find a relative and impacting problem, which was a bit tough as we all had distinct ideas. After we did find a suitable and concerning topic, that became the most interesting part of this project. Collecting data and analyzing it led us to the next level, and it was truly significant through our final report!"

CaL Participant

"I have long believed in the importance of equipping young students with research skills, and my experience mentoring students working on the CAL research project has only cemented this belief. Through this process, I have also come to realize the significance of their research to the world around them. I am excited to mentor students who have chosen diverse topics that matter to them, from challenging menstrual myths to understanding parental pressure in career choices. This research has the potential to create real and lasting impact in their communities, and I am incredibly grateful to CAL for providing the resources and platform to showcase their work."

Kanika M
Facilitator, Project RISE @ The Akanksha Foundation

"As a teacher, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative impact this program has had on my students. My student, Niharika, was particularly inspired by the opportunity to delve into real-world urban challenges and develop innovative solutions. The initiative's emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and critical thinking has fostered a new level of engagement and curiosity in my students. Their research project, The Kaleidoscope Effect, showcased a remarkable depth of understanding and a passion for making a positive difference. I am incredibly proud of their accomplishments and the valuable skills they have gained through this experience. The City as Lab initiative provides a unique platform for students to connect with experts, network with peers, and develop essential skills for future success. I wholeheartedly recommend this program to any teacher or student seeking to make a meaningful impact on their community."

Akshay Bandekar
Teacher, Lodha World School, Palava

"City as Lab is an inspiring initiative that effectively connects classroom learning with real-world challenges. As a school principal and panelist, I’ve seen firsthand how their programs encourage students to think critically and work collaboratively on issues that truly impact our communities. The team’s commitment to practical, engaging, and supportive learning experiences makes a real difference. Their thoughtful approach not only empowers students but also builds a valuable bridge between education and community needs. I’m excited to see City as Lab continue to grow and touch more schools with its meaningful work."

Shilpa Sharma
Panelist, Cal Con 2025

"Such a superb initiative! Future citizens of India engaging in social issues at research, service and maker level - is a heartening approach to work towards raising awareness and initiating change. Such projects should be made an essential part of school curriculum also, it would radically impact the social fabric!"

Meera Sampat
Panelist, CaL Con 2025

"Really enjoyed all the presentations. Kudos to CaL for providing an opportunities to students to do extensive research. They think about the problems earnestly and key to come with a solution a feasible one."

Guest testimonial

"I would like to express my sincere appreciation for this conference which not only empowers students to engage in innovative research but also a platform which provides for the students to explore different challenges in a meaningful ways. It’s impact extends for beyond in continued research. That can shape their future."

Guest testimonial
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