Part of the "Big Loan", the CERCo project's ambition is to develop the provision of scientific, technological and industrial culture (French abbreviation, CSTI) across the entire region. Led by Lorraine University, it will mobilise the CSTI bodies, communities, associations, schools, and more.

It intends placing scientific, technological and industrial culture within the grasp of everyone in Lorraine. Led by Lorraine University, the CERCo (from Construire Ensemble une Région de la Connaissance, or "Building Together a Region of Knowledge") has been selected within the Future Investments programme and will benefit from over €2m in State support. Its ambition is "to offer equal access to CSTI no matter where you are in Lorraine. To ensure that all become conscious of their ability to understand science and to construct an informed opinion on scientific and technological progress and its industrial and social uses," sums up Stéphane Laurent, coordinator of the Hubert Curien Network. "Nearly 40% of people in Lorraine are more than 30 km from a CSTI action or resource. CERCo is making it a priority to target this community that is disadvantaged in terms of CSTI, essentially in rural areas." Involving partners from CCOSL* and from Lorraine's CSTI Hubert Curien Network, CERCo will be based on the mobilisation of schools, associations and communities.

Mobile Science Centre of some 200 m², the "Science Dome" is one of CERCo's flagship projects. Inflatable and flexible, this space will host conferences, exhibitions, workshops and scientific shows. "The Dome will be hosted by local players in public education, like associations, who we will offer scientific training," adds Stéphane Laurent. CERCo is also encouraging the modernisation of Lorraine science centres. The project plans to set up a room with "fulldome" projection at Epinal Planetarium and to refurbish the amphitheatre in Nancy Museum-Aquarium. Anything else planned? The creation of a CSTI incubator, developing and making permanent the Expérimentarium (see below), setting up "exporoutes", fast-set-up exhibitions for community centres, schools and so on.

Hubert Curien Network : "Make the scientific culture in Lorraine accessible" Making the public aware about science is the mission of the Hubert Curien network. For that, this structure coordinates the Lorraine actors and supports their projects. The network is working today on the creation of a regional platform for scientific culture.

Read also
Nancy’s Museum-Aquarium : a Space dedicated to Scientific and Technical Culture
Experimentarium : young researchers unveil themselves

 

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