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Sharing knowledge, sharing passion

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BIRA-IASB offers numerous educational activities (student internships, study visits, etc.) and also participates in various events to promote science on the initiative of communities, local authorities or the academic world.
Recently, researchers have been collaborating in the Prometeruse project aimed at raising awareness of climate change among students. Presentations, workshops and exchanges with a foreign class are the ingredients of this project in which BIRA-IASB collaborates with several schools in Brussels and Flanders.
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In addition to research activities, BIRA-IASB offers a wide range of educational activities to the general public. Researchers open their laboratories, share their daily life and explain their work to numerous students at secondary and higher education level, whether university or not, during observation internships, internships in companies, etc.

Educational events for Belgian and foreign audiences

The Institute is also a popular destination for study trips for both Belgian and foreign students. For example, it has hosted a secondary school class from Zwijnaarde, promoting scientific study choices through its research activities, and students from the University of Twente (Netherlands) by showing them the techniques used in space research. BIRA-IASB also participates in the ASGARD project, attracting students from Europe and the United States to launch their own experiment on a balloon chartered by the Meteorological Institute.

Eager to share their passion and knowledge with as many people as possible, they roll up their sleeves to dismantle the image of a science hidden in an ivory tower or in obscure laboratories and go out to meet the public, families, school classes, or other audiences of all ages.

BIRA-IASB is also involved in raising awareness of climate change, through conferences for a wide audience (*), but also through the Prometeruse project. This charitable citizen project helps young people understand the problem of climate change, and to form a network of students, teachers, and scientists to work together across borders to better understand the causes and implement solutions to the challenges of climate change. BIRA-IASB has established contacts with several schools in this framework, in Brussels and in Flanders.

Atmosphere science fun for all ages

Another particular example of activity is the "Night of Wolvendael", an organisation of the Commune of Uccle where BIRA-IASB presents educational activities in various fields in the heart of the Wolvendael Park. Researchers take the time to share with young and old in an atmosphere made particularly convivial by the mild and long summer nights.

Finally, BIRA-IASB is involved in science promotion operations such as the "Printemps des Sciences" or the "Dag van de Wetenschap" ("Science Day"). For the 2020 edition of the latter activity, online because of the pandemic, BIRA-IASB has produced several films and fun activities for different target audiences of all ages.

 

(*)
L'académie.tv: Système « Terre » : atmosphère, océan et cycle du vivant

L'académie.tv: Perturbations climatiques du système « Terre »

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Researchers open their laboratories, share their daily life and explain their work to numerous students at secondary and higher education level, whether university or not, during observation internships, internships in companies, etc.
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Eager to share their passion and knowledge with as many people as possible, BIRA-IASB scientists roll up their sleeves to dismantle the image of a science hidden in an ivory tower or in obscure laboratories.
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The Institute is a popular destination for study trips for both Belgian and foreign students.
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