Download word file

WORKING DOCUMENT (NON-DEFINITIVE)
Call for CarboEurope / CarboOcean School Projects
« Global Change and Research »
Discover the greatest uncontrolled scientific experiment in History !
Meet the scientists who try to understand it !
Imagine solutions you can take part to !
Inform people around you !
What will be the effect in the long term of the enormous quantities of carbon dioxide that man releases into the
atmosphere? Nobody can really say: climate change has become, in spite of us, the largest-scale uncontrolled
scientific experiment in History, in which the whole of Earth plays the laboratory and modern civilisation the
role of the wizard's apprentice... We observe the first signs of heating in the laboratory and a beginning of
concern from the wizard, but not yet to the point of stopping the experiment. In fact, from a certain point of view
we can’t stop it anymore!
But what really happens? What will happen in the years to come? What could be the solutions? What do we
know about this phenomenon, what do we still not know, and how can we better understand this strange
experiment we initiated involuntarily, and of which we are ourselves both the guinea pigs and the actors?
The Earth is warming, the climate is changing. We know partly why, we do not know very well how. All over
the world, we are mobilised, researchers of all disciplines, to put our knowledge in common and to address an
unprecedented scientific challenge: understanding the Earth system as a whole and the consequences of the
disturbances our industrialised societies cause on a large scale.
Join us in that great scientific adventure! Share our fascination for the planet and imagine solutions for the
society!
Who are we?
CARBOEUROPE: the European continent in the global carbon cycle
What is Europe’s carbon balance: how much CO2 does it emit, and how much does it take up? How can we
reduce the uncertainties in our estimates of this balance on a local, regional and continental level? What
mechanisms control the CO2 exchanges in the biosphere, and how are they affected by changes in land use,
management and climate? Are the European efforts to reduce CO2 emissions detectable in the atmosphere?
To progress on these big questions, crucial both from the point of view of science and politics, we are several
hundreds of European researchers mobilised in the frame of CarboEurope since January 2004. Flux towers,
flying laboratories, intensive observation campaigns, a new generation of computer models: with a budget of
more than 30 million euros, of which 16 are provided by the EU, and ninety institutions from 17 participating
countries for a duration of five years, CarboEurope is presently the world´s largest scientific initiative to address
the carbon cycle.
www.carboeurope.org
CARBOOCEAN: oceans in the global carbon cycle
Oceans currently absorb from 20 to 40% of the annual manmade CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. So far this
oceanic “carbon sink” limits global warming, but quantifying it with more precision is crucial if we want to
forecast with less uncertainty the future evolution of the global climate. What are more precisely the quantities of
CO2 taken up, what are the processes of exchange, transport and storage of CO2 in the oceans, what are the
consequences of the enrichment of sea water in CO2, and how all that will evolve in a more and more disturbed
global environment? These great questions gather since January 2005 forty institutions of 15 countries within a
second research "integrated project"of the EU: CarboOcean. During 5 years, with a EU contribution of
14,5 millions euros, a whole armada of oceanographical ships, cargo liners equipped with measuring
instruments, underwater buoys, submarine experiments etc. will furrow all the seas of the globe for an
unprecedented effort of observation and analysis.
http://www.pangaea.de/Projects/CARBOOCEAN/
What do we propose?
We invite European secondary schools to engage interdisciplinary projects to raise young people awareness of
local and global stakes of climate change, discover scientific research on the topic and act locally to reduce
emissions of greenhouse gases.
Such projects can be initiated at any moment for a duration between a few weeks and a whole school year with
classes or groups of voluntary students (ages 12-20) under the supervision of a team of teachers.
With what support?
A webpage (www.carboeurope.org/education) with access to
- An educational booklet proposing an introduction to research challenges, questions and methods
- depending on opportunities, follow-up of scientific expeditions (in particular oceanographic cruises) with
introductory material and exchanges with scientists in mission.
- an interactive base where you can publish the results of your project to acknowledge the work of your students,
to make it available to other schools, and to make it known within the broader scientific community.
Beyond these resources available on the internet, wherever possible we hope to be able to provide scientific
mentoring. This might take many possible forms depending on persons and projects involved, material
constraints, etc.; but in all cases, the idea is to create a relationship between a scientist and a group of young
people (with for example three or four joint work sessions), the main aim being to bring about practical
experience of research (whether in a laboratory, through field work where possible, or simply in discussion
sessions).
This mentoring is an exchange based on two principles:
- you give yourself the means to truly profit from this, in particular through appropriate preparation
- you consider yourselves as beneficiaries of this exchange as well as intermediaries for a wider public to which
you will pass on what you have learnt.
If you wish to get in touch with a scientist and if you do not have any contact for the moment: send a short
presentation of your project (goals, workplan considered, teachers involved, expectations regarding scientific
mentorship) to Philippe Saugier, education coordinator CarboEurope/CarboOcean: [email protected]
Why?
Because science fascinates us and because we believe it is through encounter –in all its possible forms– that we
can share this fascination.
Because global change concerns the future of our common habitat and affects our daily lives. We have to give
back to the society a clear and objective information, helping everyone to forge one’s own opinion and to
understand and participate to the scientific and political debate on the topic.
Because it is now that we must build the solutions and turn around the curves. These solutions, which involve
important changes in our lifestyles, should be discussed, imagined and promoted with young people who are the
decision-makers of tomorrow.
A support network: Young Reporters for the Environment
In this network, more than 400 secondary schools from 17 countries make investigations and reports on
environmental issues. You will find there:
- a wide range of examples of projects and students productions which you can take inspiration from
- a database of school projects to get in touch with other schools engaged in similar activities in other countries
- a contact with a national operator who may help you prepare your project, invite you to information meetings,
training sessions, provide methodological advice etc.
- national and international prices rewarding the best journalistic productions from young people (articles or
photographs).
www.youngreporters.org (in English + national websites existing in some countries)
Following this CarboEurope/CarboOcean call for school projects, YRE chose global change as its seventh main
topic after water, agriculture, coastline, waste, cities and energy. For more information: www.youngreporters.org
Some suggestions for your projects
Every project is unique and has its own characteristics; however we suggest:
- One fundamental principle: the students are the main project leaders. The adults around them play an
essential role, but more in providing them with tools, hints and methods than in giving answers.
- Four key objectives:
 Learning the basics about global change
 Becoming more aware of local implications of global change: how do you, your family, your school
and your town contribute to the problem and to solutions? How global change may affect your life and
your future?
 Discovering and better understanding scientific research on the topic
 Acting in the society and sharing the results of your project with a wider public
To do this, you may propose various types of activity to your students:
- asking yourself questions, and developing your own project focus – i.e., your own way of tackling the
question of global change, taking as a starting point what affects and concerns you directly;
- fact-finding, checking of sources and analysis of information obtained beside document-based sources (e.g.
Internet) and resource persons (journalists, researchers, associations, elected representatives, technicians etc.)
- organising information and developing a product: website, booklet, CD-ROM, newspaper article, game,
play, presentation, debate evening, etc.
- disseminating your results around your school, and at the European level through the CarboEurope and
Young reporters for the environment websites
- taking action, i.e., thinking up and putting into practice solutions to contribute in reducing greenhouse gas
emissions within your family, at your school or college, in your town, etc.
Such projects may be referred to science education, environmental education, sustainable education as well as
citizenship education.
- in scientific subjects, they provide occasions for discovering and practising scientific method, for promoting
the human dimension of science through meetings with researchers, and for strengthening disciplinary learning
by putting in evidence the links with one of the major stakes of the 21st century.
- in other school subjects, they provide opportunities for articulating field investigations, analysis and
production of documents, oral and written expression in mother and foreign tongue with scientific, economic,
social and political issues.
- in a general way, they strengthen critical thinking and horizontal skills (autonomy, team work, initiative, oral
& written communication etc.)
For further information: www.carboeurope.org/education (link to be set up)