Conférence
"Sciences in school"
au Lycée Mansart
Les élèves de section européenne ont eu l'opportunité d'écouter des chercheurs venus d'Ecosse leur expliquer en anglais l'intérêt de leur engagement.

Diaporamas : Science and society, drugs

Activities : How and why the dinosaurs died out,
it's not rocket science!!

Dr Allen Thurston from Dundee University Faculty of Education and Social Work and Estelle Brisard, Lecturer in Education from the University of Paisley were the two researchers who took part in the Science in Schools visit to Lycée Mansart in St Cyr l'Ecole. Allen Thurston was a marine biologist who now specialises in Science in Education, a subject which fitted particularly well with the purpose of the Science in Schools programme. Estelle is an education specialist who carries out research programmes on comparison of national education systems. Her experience in this field was a good complement to Allen Thurston's area of research for the purpose of this visit.

Allen and Estelle had initially agreed to do one presentation for a group of 30 pupils from 1ères européennes whose science teacher, Joëlle Mirabaud, was very keen to have her class benefit from what she viewed as a very profitable initiative.
However, the head teacher of Lycée Mansart who also saw an interest in this programme asked if another class of Secondes Européennes could benefit from the visit. Allen and Estelle then very kindly agreed to do another presentation in the morning for this class and therefore did two sessions of three hours each.

Allen conducted the sessions in the form of a workshop including a power point presentation and a range of indoor and outdoor group activities while Estelle, being francophone, facilitated the comprehension and the group exercises. The theme of the workshop - Science in Society - was particularly suited to this young audience and the format of the workshop allowed some very varied activities ranging from quizzes and discussions, website searching on dinosaur extinction and launching water powered rockets on the school lawn.

This resulted in a very lively and interactive session which was very well received by both groups of pupils and teachers. Allen and Estelle's generous contribution to this Science and School visit was certainly rewarded by the obvious interest the pupils showed in the presentations and the very positive comments they made on their feedback questionnaires. (said Nicole Garcia of British Council(

Scorecard - RISE :

Location : Lycée Mansart, Saint-Cyr l'Ecole
Speakers : Doctor Estelle Brisard (Lecturer in Education, School of Education, University of Paisley) and Doctor Allen Thurston (University of Dundee)
Themes : Science in Schools
Date : 10 November 2005

Audience European class 2°1 (36pupils - 1teacher) in the morning European class 1°S3 + 1°L + 1°ES (30pupils - 1teacher) in the afternoon.
Age 15-17 years old = high school pupil 16-18 years old = high school pupil
Gender 52,8% female and 47,2% male 64,5% female and 35,5% male
Did you enjoy this event? Index of satisfaction (1-5, 5 is most) = 4,2 Index of satisfaction (1-5 with 5 is most) = 4,4
Did it improve your understanding of the topic? Index of improvement (1-5) = 3,6 Index of improvement (1-5) = 3,3
Was it explained well by the speaker? Index of satisfaction (1-5) = 4,0 Index of satisfaction (1-5) = 4,8
Did it positively alter your opinions about researchers and the work they do? Index of change (1-5) = 3,0 Index of change (1-5) = 3,3
Do you find science more appealing as a result of this event? Index of change (1-5) = 3,3 Index of change (1-5) = 3,6
Would you consider a career in science? Yes =20 => 51,4%
No = 10 => 40,0%
Maybe = 1 => 8,6% 		Yes = 20 => 64,5%
No = 10 => 32,3%
Maybe = 1 => 3,2%
Is a career in science more attractive as a result of this event? Yes = 20 => 60,6%
No = 11 => 33,3%
Maybe = 2 => 6.1% 		Yes = 24 => 77,4%
No = 6 => 19,4%
Maybe = 1 => 3,2%
Did you find the presenter(s) inspiring? Index (1-5) = 3,3 Index (1-5) = 4,0
If so, (who in particular) and why? "Allen is funny and passionate"
"Allen because he was cool and very interesting."
"Allen and his British humour"
"Allen because he spoke a lot"
"Allen and Estelle." 		"Allen is funny and passionate".
"Allen because he seems really interested in what he explained and was able to catch my attention even if I hate science."
"Both Allen and Estelle. The first one was funny and easy to understand and the second one was very clear."
Any other comments or suggestions for improvement? "The rocket activity was very interesting."
"We should have done some experiments in the lab."
"I think it was great and now we understand the scientists a lot more."
"It was a very good presentation very striking but you should have cancelled the internet presentation."
"It was interesting even if I don't like science." 		"The speakers were nice; the program was interesting and amazing. It was a real fun to do that"
"it was a great idea. I've liked it a lot though I'm not interested in science at all. It shows a different aspect of science."
"Good balance between theory and practice."
"give the links between the different parts. For example, the link between dinosaurs and drugs."