Pourquoi l’astronomie? (Why astronomy?)

Country City/Region: France, Trappes (Yvelines)

Start-End Date: 29/04/2024 and 30/04/2024

Organizing Institute: PCCP (CNRS/UPC)

Number of participants: 30+30 (high-school students)

The researchers proposed a 2-hour exchange with the students of the first year of high-school at the Lycée de la Plaine de Neauphle, in Trappes, a suburb of Paris. For the first hour, the researchers presented some concepts about astronomy and gravitational wave detection. They explained the scientific method and highlighted the fundamental questions that can be answered thanks to astrophysics. During the 2 hour, an open discussion was conducted with the students abour the daily life of a researcher, the relevance of fundamental science in modern society, and the different professions composing a research institute.