The maritime issues class at the La Salvetat-Saint-Gilles college connects Toulouse to the ocean. Twenty-five students conducted scientific measurements in La Palme and Leucate on Friday, supported by researchers and the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco.
The Haute-Garonne region is not just looking up to the sky, as one might think. The existence of a “maritime issues class” at the La Salvetat-Saint-Gilles college in the Toulouse area is proof of that. The presence of 25 students on a scientific mission on Friday in La Palme and Leucate demonstrates this.
The teaching team has been promoting awareness among students and families for 4 years about the important cause of the ocean. The Ocean project class, the only one in the Toulouse academic region, has integrated maritime themes into the curriculum and gives students the opportunity to act on the major environmental issue of ocean protection through various actions throughout the year. The project-based teaching method puts students in a position to reflect, create, and produce in order to educate them about environmental responsibility so they can become ocean protectors.
Guided by high-caliber scientists
Earth, sky, and sea are three intimately linked elements. “Toulouse is home to the headquarters of Météo France, responsible for marine forecasts. Satellites play a major role in observing oceans and coastlines and tracking their changes. Not to mention the significant scientific community in Toulouse conducting research on major issues,” emphasizes Delphine Desmartin, a teacher at the college.
The highly interdisciplinary teaching team, including science, French, Latin, and physical education teachers, was not alone on Friday in guiding students to discover the mysterious interactions between land and sea. Pieter Van Beek, a teacher at the University of Toulouse Rangueil, and Marc Souhaut, a researcher at CNRS, both members of the Legos (Laboratory for Geophysics and Oceanography), were also part of the mission.
The day’s scientific mission focused on land-sea interactions. The emergence of (almost) fresh water feeding the “washhouse” in La Palme and then flowing into the salinized pond was an excellent setting for the young operators, who were very engaged. Measurements of salinity, acidity, and flow rate were carefully recorded in a booklet. The observation of fauna and flora in the pond and later in the afternoon around the mouth of the La Franqui at Leucate were also noted. Pieter Van Beek is thrilled to see an enthusiasm among the students that could lead to future student researchers.
A new generation actively involved in 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 is a demonstration of their commitment.
It highlights the need to continue and deepen the progress. To achieve this, the maritime issues class receives valuable support, including from the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco, through Oeano For All, a competition sponsored by Estelle Lefèbure to facilitate young people’s access to the ocean. This educational trip would not be possible without the participation of families, the use of the Culture Pass for visits to Narbo Via and the Canet aquarium. In the future, additional partners will be welcomed to further enrich the experience.
