How do we give school children the science bug and the opportunity to discuss important global themes? How do we help teachers make learning English fun? How do we give young researchers the opportunity to rave about their research to a captive audience?  Through “Science in Schools”!

Launched in 2005, with the help of funding from the European Commission, the British Council’s Science in Schools programme brings dynamic UK-based scientists into French secondary schools to talk about their research, its impact on society and what it’s like to work as a researcher.  And all of that in English, giving pupils the opportunity to speak English in a real-life situation without leaving their classrooms!

The scientists provide positive role models for the pupils, demonstrating that science can be both exciting and challenging. They help to dispel the negative perceptions which are often associated with science as a subject and research as a career. Many of the UK researchers are involved in collaborative projects with French researchers, some of whom also attend the science in schools sessions. Over the years, the “science in schools” visits have covered subjects as diverse as the use of X-rays in museums, biodiversity in the world of microbes and modelling the impact of earthquakes on buildings.

Following the success of the science in schools short visits programme, the British Council, in collaboration with the French Ministry of Education, decided to extend the programme to include week-long workshops dedicated to scientific themes of current interest, such as sustainable development, biodiversity, eco-friendly architecture, or diversity in science. Each day-long workshop is run by a team of researchers from the UK and is repeated at different schools within the Académie over a week, ensuring that a maximum number of pupils can benefit. Throughout the day pupils have the opportunity to discuss with the research team and to get involved through a series of hands-on activities, such as experiments with biodiesel to understand the concept of sustainable development or drama exercises to understand the concept of architectural space.

The selection of schools taking part in the programme is made by the Ministry of Education through their network of DAREICs.  For further information on the programme or if you are a UK-based researcher wishing to take part in France, please contact us at science.schools@britishcouncil.fr