The All-Russian Children’s Center “Smena” began new educational program “Orbit of Opportunities”. Its main task is to introduce children to geology and earth sciences. The first thematic expedition was called “Geochemical”. She gathered 34 schoolchildren from different parts of Russia.
Over the course of two weeks, participants will not just listen to lectures, but try themselves in real professions. They are helped in this by specialists from the Institute of Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Crystal Chemistry of Rare Elements (IMGRE). The guys will try on the roles of a geochemist, ecologist, archaeologist and even a tourism instructor.
The grand opening of the shift began with a dive into history. IMGRE Deputy Director Viktor Tatarinov told the young guests about how the children’s geological movement was born in the country and what challenges await them in the coming days. The head of the thematic works department, Roman Bobkov, conducted the first orientation for schoolchildren lecture on general geology, laying the foundation for further discoveries.
Representatives of the Young Geologist Foundation also shared their experience with the participants. They talked about how past shifts went and gave practical advice to newcomers.
The program of the “Geochemical Expedition” does not only include theory. The children have already taken part in interactive classes and professional tests. They will have to learn how to work with rock samples, understand environmental issues and navigate the terrain.
But this is just the beginning. The organizers have planned a whole series of thematic expeditions for this year as part of the “Orbit of Opportunities”. Ahead are shifts devoted to hydrogeology, geophysics and geological surveying. Each of them will give schoolchildren a chance to try themselves in a new direction and understand which science is closer to them.
The GeoChange project is becoming a the first step into the profession. Here they not only learn about the existence of geologists and ecologists, but live a short but real working day. For some, these two weeks will help them decide on their future and choose a path into science or the mining industry.
Source: @rosnedragovru
Image: ROSNEDRA
