CarboSchools+new educational challenges for 2008-2010

Philippe Saugier, CarboSchools coordinator

Good news !

• « CarboSchools+ » approved in FP7 call Science in society - European network of regional projects for school partnerships on climate change research

• 981 k€ with 100% EU contribution (CSA)• 3-year duration starting January 2008• Kick-off meeting Norwich 10-14 March 2008

Project partners

• MPI-BGC (Jena) – Coordinators C. Hillinger / Ph. Saugier• TSN (Norwich) – Ph. Smith• RuG (Groningen) – H. Meijer / M. Goedhart• IFM-GEOMAR (Kiel) J. Dengg• LSCE (Paris) L. Rivier / M. Jamous• BCCR/UiB (Bergen) A. Volbers / I. Skjelvan• INRA EPHYSE/EPOC (Bordeaux) D. Lousteau• CNR-IBIMET (Firenze) A. Raschi• LRC-PCB (Barcelona) J-A. Morgui(based on a call for expression of interest circulated in January

to CarboSchools participants)

Core activities

Nine regional CarboSchools projects :• 2-10 schools per partner• Support to scientists & teachers (« regional operators »)• Local partnerships• Similar concept but different approaches, age groups, contexts,

scientific focus• One common activity: European CO2 school-net • Two school years 2008-2009 & 2009-2010

= an « educational laboratory » to progress science education in Europe. In total ca. 3300 pupils, 140 teachers, 90 scientists directly involved

CarboSchools concept

• Partnerships between labs & schools• Project-based: scientists and teachers co-operate

over several months (real-time experiments, site visits, debates etc.)

• Citizenship dimension - actions to reduce GHG emissions

• Final output (article, exhibition…) to share results with parents, friends, community etc.

Support activities

Evaluation component: post-doc science communication. Does the project affect students’ images of science & school science ?

Co-production & exchange of support materials & methodology for hands-on experiments & project work

Networking & dissemination:

- CarboSchools sessions in science meetings (CarboEurope/Ocean, ICOS, EPOCA…)

- Final conference & summer school in 2010

- Final regional / national events

Expected impact

Our EU project officer: “we are funding you because the ultimate impact we expect is that science is taught differently in schools”

• questioning and experimenting• addressing a complex issue beyond disciplines• discovering how researchers work, challenging

stereotypes• taking action on real challenges for society

An open project

• Individual initiatives outside regional projects are welcome at any moment, just let me know!

• Call for associated partners, in particular in new EU member states

• All project deliverables are public

EPOCA

• Education component with EUR-OCEANS network of public aquaria

• Goal : help public aquaria to raise awareness about acidification, research & solutions / including through school projects

• 27 k€ budget for writing of educational resources & exhibit contents guidelines + workshop with aquaria

GIFT workshop

• « Geophysical Information for Teachers », 70-80 teachers at EGU 14-16 April 2008

• Topic carbon cycle

• Lectures + didactical discussions

• Presentation & discussion of carboschools experiences

“We want to share our fascination for the planet. We will show that science can be thrilling and even

fun, and is really worth studying.”

(at least sometimes… !!!)

Warm thanks to everyone who believed in the idea !

2006-2007 report at www.carboschools.org