A class at La Salvetat-Saint-Gilles College connects Toulouse to the Ocean. Twenty-five students conducted scientific measurements in La Palme and Leucate this Friday, supported by researchers and the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco.
The Haute-Garonne region isn’t just looking up to the sky, as one might think. The presence of a “maritime issues class” at La Salvetat-Saint-Gilles College in the Toulouse area proves otherwise. And the participation of 25 students in a scientific mission this Friday in La Palme and Leucate demonstrates it.
The educational team has been promoting awareness of the ocean’s importance to students and families for 4 years. The Ocean project class, the only one in the Toulouse academy, has integrated maritime issues into the curriculum and allows students to take action on the major environmental issue of ocean protection through various activities throughout the year. The project-based teaching approach engages students in reflection, creation, and production to educate them on environmental responsibility and become ocean protectors.
Supervised by top scientists
Earth, sky, and sea are closely intertwined elements. “Toulouse is home to Meteo France, responsible for marine forecasts. Satellites play a significant role in observing oceans and coastlines and monitoring their changes. Not to mention the important scientific community in Toulouse conducting research on major issues,” says Delphine Desmartin, a teacher at the college.
The multidisciplinary educational team, including science, French, Latin, and physical education teachers, were not alone this Friday in guiding students in discovering the mysterious exchanges between land and sea. Pieter Van Beek from the University of Toulouse Rangueil and Marc Souhaut, a researcher at CNRS, both members of Legos (Laboratory for Geophysical and Oceanography Studies) were also part of the mission.
The day’s scientific mission focused on land-sea exchanges. The emergence of (almost) fresh water feeding the “lavoir” in La Palme and then flowing to the salt marshes pond was a perfect setting for the highly engaged young operators. Salinity measurement, acidity, and flow rates were carefully recorded in a booklet. The same applied to observations of fauna and flora in the pond and later in the afternoon around the mouth of La Franqui in Leucate. Their enthusiasm delights Pieter Van Beek, who sees them as potential future student researchers.
A new generation dedicated to environmental preservation
Delphine Desmartin is pleased to see that today’s teenagers are “aware of regulations and sensitive to climate and environmental issues.” The work produced by the students demonstrates their commitment.
And the need to continue and deepen this effort. To achieve this, the maritime issues class benefits from valuable support, including from the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco through Oeano For All, a competition sponsored by Estelle Lefebure with the aim of facilitating access to the ocean for young people who, for various reasons, have limited knowledge of and access to the ocean. Without the participation of families and the use of the Pass Culture, which allowed visits to Narbo Via and the Aquarium of Canet, such an educational experience could not take place. In the future, more partners will be welcome.
