CGénial: major competition to promote science in college/high school

Created in 2008, on the initiative of the ministerial mechanism “Science in School”, and C- Genetic competition It honors scientific and technological projects implemented by middle and high school students. The competition is jointly organized by science in school and the Genial Foundation who work to promote these disciplines. It is aimed at young people enrolled in technological or vocational training courses in general, who come from mainland France but also from abroad and from French institutions located abroad. The aim of the contest? “To unite enthusiasm and talents about science while enrolling these young people in an interdisciplinary project: science, earth life, physics, chemistry, mathematics, technology… There are sometimes French or arts-plastic teachers attached to student projects,” says Regis Drexler, teacher of the “Science à l” resource unit. ‘École’, who worked with his colleague Maxime Mendez and Marian Gutierrez, Project Director of the CGénial Foundation, in the organization of this sixteenth edition of the competition. The CGénial competition also encourages students to work in teams, discuss with scientific partners, improve their skills, find solutions to implement their project, defend their ideas… The participating students are accompanied by their teachers, the educational team and sometimes also by external partners from the scientific world (researchers, engineers , etc.). Every year, the theme is free and each team starts with a project idea they want most often with a societal dimension, in relation to the environment, disability, etc.

unified event

Since the creation of the competition, more than 90,000 young people have participated in the event. If the 2021 and 2022 editions were released remotely due to the Covid pandemic, the 2023 outbreak marked a return to face-to-face confrontation. Colleges and high schools responded. “There has been a slight decrease over the last two years and there we have recorded a 30% increase in enrollments, over 7,500 students and 365 projects submitted. This is in line with pre-Covid numbers. It is even the best participation in terms of number of projects for eight years! Also to have 45 to 50% of girls in this competition. It is very important that young girls participate in it, and not underestimate their abilities, because science and technology cannot deny themselves half of humanity for the sake of evolution, “Regis Drexler rejoices.

CGénial: Scientific competition throughout the academic year

Registration for the competition takes place every year, in the first round, from September to November. The professor in charge of the project presents the idea and the team can apply for a grant to implement it. It is awarded by “Sciences à l’École” and the CGénial Foundation. “It’s 100 euros for undergraduate projects and goes up to 300 euros for secondary schools. It may seem low but for institutions it’s a lot,” Regis Drexler slips. Some academies can continue to register until February, without being able to benefit from the subsidy. During these months, the young people and their teacher develop their project. College students are brought before a jury that chooses a representative of the entire academy. About thirty projects from various academies were selected for the National Grand Final. The procedure is different for secondary schools. Projects are studied in a file and include a report and a video presentation. Then the National Scientific Committee (consisting of teachers, researchers, engineers, members of partner structures or companies, members of national education inspection bodies) selects about twenty particularly strong and wise projects. Then the 50 teams, each represented by three students and their teacher, meet at the end of May in the Grand Final.

Prestigious final

This year it took place on May 31 at the Air and Space Museum in Le Bourget. Middle and high school students had the privilege of strolling under Concorde’s wings and receiving a visit from the Minister of Higher Education and Research, Sylvie Retayo, who spent two hours chatting with them. “It shows the interest of this competition in the educational community, especially at the highest level. The young people felt amazed and very honored to be able to speak with the minister. Among the young people who will participate are the researchers of the future and the inventors of tomorrow, those who will create new TGV engines or nuclear power plants,” As Regis Drexler says:
Then each team presented their project to the jury. “High school students are really masters at what they do. They master their project from start to finish and know how to argue. They are not articulated puppets. It’s nice to see,” he added.

Enrich rewards

Twenty teams were honored Through visits to industrial and scientific sites and meetings with professionals. “Science in School” in partnership with the Scientific Gendarmerie. “A team, for example, has been invited to visit his laboratory. It is a real privilege because it is a place inaccessible to the general public and under high security. Another team from Guadeloupe will be able to return in July and visit the Paris Observatory, the largest national center for astronomy research, and discuss the physicist Astronomer and Vice-President of the Academy of Sciences, Françoise Combes “, says Regis Drexler. Other teams received materials, equipment, books … Finally, two teams, one from Rodez and one from Jaunay-Marigny near Poitiers, won first prize and qualified for the EUCYS International Competition Which includes one hundred teams from about forty countries. They will spend a week in Brussels in September presenting their project in English. For everyone, adventure must excite or confirm some invitations.