Ideas to ignite your science classroom this autumn

What if your pupils could engage directly with researchers and their work? The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), the EU’s flagship programme for researchers’ training, mobility and career development, help bring research closer to society.

For schools, the programme offers two main initiatives: the European Researchers’ Night, held every year in September, and Researchers at Schools, which enables researchers to engage directly with pupils and teachers throughout the year.

European Researchers’ Night: bringing research to life

Every September, the European Researchers’ Night gives children, young people, families and teachers across Europe the chance to meet researchers and discover how research shapes the world around us.

On this occasion, teachers can take learning beyond the classroom and connect pupils with real-world science, innovation and research. Activities include hands-on experiments, science shows, exhibitions, games, quizzes, demonstrations and discussions. 

Teachers can follow up European Researchers’ Night activities in the classroom. They can use an experiment, research topic or question from the event as the basis for a science project, debate, investigation or cross-curricular activity.

Elizabeth Mendes, a biology and geology teacher in Braga, Portugal, has taken part in the European Researchers’ Night with her pupils for several years. This experience helps her bond with her pupils and motivate them to study natural sciences.

— Elizabeth Mendes, Escola EB 2&3 de Celeirós, Braga, Portugal

The European Researchers’ Night can also support teachers’ professional growth. For Elisabeth, the event is an opportunity to update her scientific knowledge by engaging with the best research at local universities and research institutes. It also enables local schools to share and find inspiration for science lessons.

Elizabeth’s pupils also enjoy taking part:

— Luísa, pupil at Escola EB 2&3 de Celeirós

Researchers at Schools: engaging with science all year round

Schools can continue engaging pupils in science activities with the Researchers at Schools initiative. Activities can take place throughout the year, including classroom visits from researchers, presentations, hands-on activities and career talks. Pupils may also visit research centres and laboratories.

For teachers, the initiative offers a way to bring current research and real-world expertise into lessons, inspiring projects and investigations. For pupils, it makes research more accessible and helps them discover how science contributes to society and possible future careers.

For several years, the Q. O. Flacco Classical High School in Potenza, Italy, has carried out projects in collaboration with researchers from the University of Basilicata as part of the Researchers at Schools initiative. Science teacher Giuseppe Navazio explains that their latest project focused on studying L-DOPA in fava bean seeds and pods. Pupils in a specialised biomedical class worked in both the classroom and the university’s chemistry lab, where they engaged in qualitative and quantitative analysis of research data.

Giuseppe emphasises how these project experiences have supported laboratory-based learning and fostered pupils’ awareness of the importance, challenges and rewards of research.

— Giuseppe Navazio, science teacher, Q. O. Flacco Classical High School, Potenza

Discovering science through the minds of young researchers

Another initiative funded by MSCA is a collection of articles by Frontiers for Young Minds, showing how young researchers and their work can help address real-world challenges. Covering topics such as climate change, biodiversity, health, artificial intelligence and space, the articles describe real research projects and are reviewed by children aged 8-15 guided by science mentors. This results in accessible articles that are clear, engaging and inspiring for young audiences.

— Karen de la Vega-Hernández, researcher

For teachers, the collection offers ready-to-use resources for bringing current research into the classroom. Teachers can use the articles to introduce scientific topics, stimulate discussion and encourage pupils to explore how research contributes to society. The articles also help pupils discover the diversity of research fields and the people behind scientific discoveries, making science and research careers more tangible and accessible.