Tuned in to the Earth from the classroom with `O3E' european project

In lines with diverse initiatives regarding scientific culture and education, the ‘O3E’ experience (http://O3E.geoazur.eu) has set up a permanent educational network of schools in the Alpine and Mediterranean areas, building an exchange of knowledge on natural risks prevention. The “O3E” innovative project (European Educational Observatory for Environment) is established after 12 years (1996-2008) of regional and national original programs for education (“Seismometers at School” in France and Swiss, “Edurisk” in Italy and “ClimAtscope” in Switzerland). The project is born to promote a responsible behavior of citizens in front of the evolution of a society where scientific information is promptly available. Since 2008, a school network in the Alpine and Mediterranean areas has been equipped with environmental sensors of an educational vocation. The data on the ground motion (seismometers), the temperatures and precipitations (weather stations), the flows of rivers (hydrogeology) recorded in the schools and processed by the students are collected on dedicated servers and then made available through internet to the entire community. This network “O3E”, once installed, is the starting point of activities for students. Indeed, various general objectives are pursued: - To promote the applied sciences and new technologies. - To put in network the actors of Education and formative teaching. - To develop the sense of the autonomy and the responsibility in the young people. - To reinforce and develop relationships with regional partners of the educational and university fields. - To support a rational awakening for the prevention of the natural risks Teachers from this network can share experiences and produce new didactic tools for the classroom. This collaborative work could illustrate the conjugated efforts of researchers and teachers for a better education and awareness of the risk culture especially in young populations. Some student’s and teacher’s productions will be shown to appreciate this essential effort.