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Playponics
Researching and designing integrated sustainability and STEM education, through play.
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This pioneering project, originated by Design Researchers Heath Reed and Andy Stanton from the Lab4Living, and later collaboratively developed in the UK by Lightmain Company Ltd with Associate and co-originator Avika Sood, had a fundamental question at its core; If people are becoming increasingly detached from the natural world and its systems, how can Design contribute to the building of empathy for our planet, and potentially influence positive change in future generations?
The Playponics concept emerged through collaborations with communities and partners in India in 2019 including Vahani Scholarship Trust and the Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) Council, an organisation mandated to promote development of sustainable habitats in the subcontinent. The project was subsequently taken up by UK industry in Partnership with Lightmain Company Ltd, supported by UKRI Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP).
The design led team undertook wide ranging research that promoted healthy human relationships with nature. The outcome, Playponics, is an innovative educational initiative that encourages environmental stewardship through hands-on interaction with living ecosystems, merging play, sustainability and STEAM learning. It utilises energy-harnessing playground equipment to sustain crops with the premise that such interactions may help connect people with nature and its systems. Working with communities in India the project evolved to include the development and provision of playground equipment with integrated water pumping technologies, in turn used to facilitate hydroponic or soil based crops to form environments now termed playground gardens. As children, and adults alike, play their kinetic energy is captured, stored, and used to sustain the horticultural crops, turning play into a productive and educational experiences.
Funded by Research England and the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), Playponics has been designed to promote environmental education, sustainable practices, and integrate STEAM learning in fun, interactive and tangible ways. The project has been implemented in schools and communities in both India and the UK, with a pilot set up installed at a state school in Khanpur Gabri, Uttar Pradesh and following a design for manufacture phase the first UK installation at Abbey School, Rotherham was completed in 2025.
Pilot study Children attending Khanpur Garbi State School, Uttar Pradesh enjoy playtime with the newly installed Playponics. At the initiatives centre is the concept of playground gardens, where players physical activity powers systems that support hydroponic and conventional crop growth. Its interdisciplinary research approach integrates educational theory, environmental science, and play-based learning helping to foster a deeper connection between users and the natural world.
Wide reaching in scope the projects challenges were multifaceted, blending practicability with intent. While the team has striven to capitalise on all aspects of its potential for positive environmental and social impact aspects of the economic research highlighted the importance of playground equipment design that was low-cost and accessible. This makes it suitable for frugal duplication in underprivileged communities but challenges requirements for Intellectual Property protection and associated commercial gain.
By transforming playgrounds into living classrooms, Playponics aims to offers compelling model for experiential learning that could reshape how sustainability education is delivered to existing and future generations. It encourages kinaesthetic learning, where users engage physically with the setting to understand concepts of environmental sustainability in hand with diverse topics including technology application in support of the natural word, notions of cooperation, community, cause and effect and energy transfer. With the latest installation at Abbey School now complete the research continues with the help of Sheffield Institute of Education Research who plan to evaluate real world value and impact in relation to the project’s original premise.
Building understanding of local tools, materials, construction techniques and capabilities to ensure holistic fitness for purpose of proposed rural India designs.
Creating investment in users in challenging contexts (pilot study, India).
Converting research to UK contexts Working with local communities and building understanding to re-specify product and engagement aims.
Installation of the first UK set up at Abbey School by Lightmain KTP Associate Avika Sood.
Design and fabrication of the UK version of a Playponics seesaw. Following contextual and viability research and concept development a UK version was iterated to Design for manufacture meeting enhanced compliance and use criteria.
Demonstrating real-world applications, the proposal supports curriculum subjects, including teaching students about energy capture, storage, transfer, mechanical systems, basic circuitry, solar and kinetic-power, water conservation, renewable energy, closed-loop systems and sustainable agriculture. Playponics aims to transform the playground into a living laboratory where play, purpose, and pedagogy converge and be an example of how education can be both joyful and deeply meaningful. It aims to offer practical exposure, supporting diverse learning styles, especially for students who thrive in hands-on environments, to engineering design and problem-solving, support data collection and analysis (e.g. monitoring plant growth), and promote interdisciplinary thinking by blending science and nature.
Playponics has been showcased at international forums such as the Festival of Futures at Lancaster University and the IDC School of Design in Mumbai and has been exhibited as far afield as Hong Kong, highlighting its global relevance and appeal. The project was further nominated by the Earthshot team for the 2023 Earthshot Prize.
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