On Friday, May 16, nearly 400 students came to present their Schoolab projects on the Aix-Marseille-Provence Campus. This event marked the final day of the Schoolab initiative, which aims to make science accessible, vibrant, and inspiring for young people.
Led by La Rotonde for nearly 10 years, the project engages middle and high school students in science and digital technology throughout the year. Through meetings, workshops, and visits to laboratories and companies, the goal is to encourage learning through research and investigation, develop students’ curiosity and scientific culture, and promote a civic appropriation of science around themes with a strong societal impact.
Schoolab is also a lever for equal opportunity, free and open to all schools under contract with the French National Education system. Young people discover the careers of the future (robotics, cybersecurity, connected health, logistics, sustainable development) thanks to the active and inclusive pedagogy of the students, doctoral candidates, researchers from Mines Saint-Etienne, and professionals who support them.
This year, the presentation day was an opportunity for students to produce a “News Report of the Future,” discover the careers of little-known female scientists, and reflect on renewable energy, water, and technology. Between quizzes, competitions, and laughter, ideas flowed, and the day concluded with a performance of Novabot by Youssra Mansar. This stage performance, which creates a dialogue between theater and innovation, captivated the entire audience. This conclusion would not have been possible without the help of François Bernier (IDFAB) and Julien Serres (AMU), who were invested in this project all year long.
