Thursday 12 October 2023 marked the official inauguration of the Maison pour la Science en Guyane, located on the Troubiran campus. The ceremony was attended by various local and national personalities, underlining the importance of this event for the region's educational and scientific community.
L he ceremony was attended by Laurent LINGUET, President of the University of French Guiana; Marie José GAUTHIER, CNES/CSG Space Delegate for French Guiana; Yvon LE MAHO, Ecophysiologist, Director of Research at the CNRS, Academician; Thierry DE LACAZE, Deputy Cabinet Director, Rectorat de Guyane and Isabelle PIERREJEAN, Director of the Maison Pour la Science in French Guiana. The Maisons pour la Science network is an innovative scheme that brings together scientists and educationalists to set up professional development initiatives for primary and secondary science and technology teachers. Based in universities, the Maisons pour la science offer an original range of training and support services across an education authority, in close partnership with the education authority, aimed at helping teachers to use science and technology in their classes in an active, attractive and contemporary way.
The first Maison pour la science to be set up in French Guiana, the Maison pour la science en Guyane came into being at the start of the 2018 academic year. Coordinated by the Fondation La Main à la Pâte, this project would not have been possible without the joint commitment of the Rectorat and the Université de Guyane, as well as the financial support of CNES.
One of the main missions of the Maisons pour la science is to develop and offer local training courses for teachers on topical scientific subjects and social issues, in partnership with research laboratories and the socio-economic world.
The inauguration was an opportunity to highlight the activities of the Maison pour la science in French Guiana and to thank the partners involved in the scheme over the 5 years of its existence. The event was also an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of science education and training for primary and secondary school teachers. It is part of the University of Guyana's approach to opening up to society, passing on knowledge and disseminating scientific culture to as many people as possible, especially the very young.
