120 middle school students at the heart of marine engineering
On April 9, the engineering school of the Université de Toulon welcomed 120 students for workshops aimed at inspiring scientific careers.
On the La Garde campus, the SeaTech engineering school opened its doors to 120 Varois middle school students for an immersion day in the world of marine engineering. Coming from the Marcel Pagnol and Pierre Puget middle schools in Toulon, as well as the Jacques-Yves Cousteau middle school in La Garde, these students, from 5ème to 3ème, discovered a universe of technology and innovation, often perceived as complex and distant. The objective of this initiative was to demystify engineering sciences and open up the field of possibilities at an age when career orientation choices become decisive.
PRACTICAL WORKSHOPS Far from a simple passive visit, the day was structured around a series of interactive workshops where the students, split into small groups, became active participants in their discovery. The program, designed to be fun and educational, allowed them to handle, test, and experiment.
One of the highlights was the workshop organized in the school's wave tank. Under the supervision of experts from the company Exall, a partner of the event, the middle school students were able to remotely pilot an underwater robot (ROV) via a control screen, simulating complex operations such as mine detection.
Other workshops allowed for a virtual dive into the deep sea using virtual reality headsets. The students were able to learn about oceanography and interactively explore marine careers with the game Immerso.
This exploration of maritime careers was supported by the Campus des Métiers et des Qualifications d'Excellence – Économie de la Mer – PACA and the IUT de Toulon, who came to strengthen this orientation initiative.
CRUCIAL CHALLENGE This immersion day was part of a broader approach aimed at addressing a societal issue with the need for young people to make career choices earlier and earlier. By offering them a concrete outlook into a field of the future, SeaTech could inspire scientific callings and outline the contours of these teenagers' future careers.
Throughout the day, there were numerous discussions with teacher-researchers, PhD students, and technical staff. They shared their passion, explained their career paths, and answered the students' questions with simplicity and clarity, making engineering more accessible and inspiring.
As the only public engineering school in the Région Sud recruiting via the Concours Commun INP (CCINP), SeaTech is a major player in higher education and research. A member of the Polyméca network, it trains versatile engineers in cutting-edge fields related to the maritime sector: marine engineering, materials, mechanics, digital systems, and robotics.
In connection with a rich ecosystem of research laboratories and businesses, the institution is committed to spreading scientific culture to a young audience, as evidenced by the success of this immersion day.
Photos DR.