News | 06 May 2026
From Liljeholmen to the European stage: IES science teacher selected for prestigious STEM festival
At the end of May, the spotlight of the educational world will turn to Klaipėda, Lithuania, for Science on Stage 2026 – one of Europe’s largest festivals for STEM educators. Ivan Lio from IES Liljeholmen has earned the prestigious honour of being one of seven teachers selected to represent Sweden and showcase their innovative teaching methods on an international stage.
From the left: Ivan Lio, and lab partner.
Ivan Lio, originally from Singapore, joined IES Liljeholmen in 2021 and has a background in science education and biomedicine. He has always been driven by a passion for making science meaningful and connected to real life. The journey to the festival began with a project idea he developed for his year 8 students, where the classroom was transformed into a medical laboratory.
"The project focused on inquiry-based biology lessons where students investigated ‘mystery patients’ using real lab techniques," Ivan explains.
Science on Stage brings together around 450 science, technology and mathematics teachers from more than 30 countries to share creative teaching ideas, run workshops, and learn from each other. It’s like a big international “teachers’ fair” where educators showcase practical classroom activities that make STEM more engaging and relevant for students. For Ivan, being chosen to represent Sweden is a significant milestone that reflects the high academic standards at IES.
"It feels both exciting and humbling. The project started as something designed for my own students, so being able to share it with teachers from across Europe is a really meaningful experience. It also feels like a great opportunity to represent not just Sweden, but also the work we are doing at IES Liljeholmen."
Turning students into medical detectives
At the heart of Ivan’s success is the "5E model" – a structured approach where students explore, test, and explain their thinking rather than simply listening to a lecture. By using professional tools like microscopes and diagnostic tests to solve realistic medical cases, students gain a deeper understanding of the subject.
"When I see students learn how to measure blood pressure and listen to heart sounds, the sparkle that I see in their eyes tells me that this is inspiring them," says Ivan. “This hands-on method bridges the gap between school and the professional world, helping students see that what they learn in the classroom is directly relevant to future careers in healthcare, research, and beyond.”
Bringing global innovation back to Liljeholmen
Science on Stage is often described as a "teachers' fair" where the best practical ideas are shared and scaled up across borders. Each country nominates one or two workshops based on the size of its delegation.
“I was invited by the Swedish national coordinator to lead one at the festival,” Ivan explains. “In my workshop, I’ll show how teachers can use the 5E instructional model to design biology lessons where students investigate health-related problems, like doctors or scientists would.”
While he is eager to share his expertise, he is equally focused on what he can bring back to his colleagues at IES.
"The strength of Science on Stage is that everything is designed by teachers, for teachers," Ivan notes. "I’m hoping to bring back ready-to-use ideas that are simple to implement but have a big impact on student learning."
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Learn more about Science on Stage 2026:
https://sons2026.eu/
https://www.science-on-stage.eu/science-stage-festival-2026