The schools' challenge "Be a Scientist"

Launched in 2011, the Be a Scientist educational programme is the result of a collaboration between institutions on both sides of the Franco-Swiss border: the University of Geneva, the Department of Public Education in Geneva and the Ministry of Education of France. Every year, about 800 pupils aged 8 to 12 from Geneva, Ain and Haute-Savoie follow in scientists’ footsteps by studying the scientific research process. Like researchers who are looking for invisible particles, the pupils make hypotheses, collect data and use evidence as they set out to identify the contents of boxes provided by CERN. One small catch – they are not allowed to open the boxes or damage them in any way.