Be a Scientist

The project introduces children to the scientific research process as they study a mysterious box that they are not allowed to open.

Every year, since 2011, pupils and their teachers follow in researchers' footsteps.

What are hypotheses, data and proof? How do we conduct an experiment? Or disseminate its results? These are the types of questions that the children and their teachers are invited to ask.

The project Be a Scientist is the result of a collaboration between educational institutions from both sides of the French-Swiss border: the University of Geneva (Physiscope and Laboratory of Didactics and Science Epistemology), the department of Public Education (Geneva) and the Ministry of Education (France). It introduces children, aged from 9 to 12, to the scientific research process as they study a mysterious box that they are not allowed to open.

The programme includes:

• Two half-days of teachers' training about how to conduct the project in the classroom
• One visit to CERN or to the Physiscope at the University of Geneva for the pupils
• A final conference at the Globe (CERN) for pupils to share their results

Duration

Teachers should schedule sessions lasting around 90 minutes each week for four months.

Location

At the participating schools in France (Ain, Haute-Savoie) and Switzerland (Geneva), at CERN, and at the Physiscope of the University of Geneva.

Age maximum

12

Age minimum

9

More information

Download the educational booklet

Partners

In collaboration with:

Registration procedure

You are a teacher and you are interested in participating in the 2025 edition? Registration are open!

Teachers interested in taking part in this activity should apply at the start of the school year:

• Geneva: DIP’s primary school training catalogue
• Haute-Savoie: contact the educational adviser Caroline Gentil (Académie de Grenoble)
• Ain: contact the educational adviser Nathalie Collet (Académie de Lyon)

Time of the year

January – May

Language(s)

Français

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