A framework and platform to identify activities for the promotion of science and scientific reasoning will be elaborated. Here, science inquiry activities can be collected and made available to train 1,100 science teachers and have 23,000 European students participate in these inquiry activities during a 4-year period running from March 2014 to February 2018.

Within a pedagogical approach, the EU project ‘Ark of Inquiry’ is focused on contributing to designing science for society, that is elaborating a culture of “doing” science through the use of a student-centered method of education anchored on asking questions. Students are encouraged to ask questions which do not necessarily have easy answers; teachers are encouraged to avoid giving direct answers so students will ask more questions.

The UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe, Venice (Italy), is one of the 13 working partners in this project. The remaining partners represent European research centers, universities and ministries from Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands and Turkey. Its main role will be to facilitate and share information about the project through its channels and networks, such as the Associated Schools Project Network (ASPnet) and the National Commissions for UNESCO. The UNESCO Venice Office will also collaborate with partners on the implementation of the overall project.

The kick off meeting of the EU-Project “Ark of Inquiry: Inquiry Awards for Youth over Europe” took place from 3-6 March 2014 in Tartu, Estonia.

An official website is currently under construction at: www.arkofinquiry.eu

Link: Educational researchers of UT are going to train thousands of students and teachers all over the Europe