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.

(Image: CERN)
Description

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.

Logo DPSThe 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.
Âge minimum
9
Âge maximum
12
Langue(s)
Français
Time of the year
January - May
Lieu

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

Procédure d'inscription

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:

Plus d'informations
Partenaires

In collaboration with:

Logo Académie Grenoble

Logo Académie de Lyon

Logo canton de Genève

Logo UNIGE

Logo Physiscope