CREA Celebrate 10 Years of Their 'Sciences Participative' Programme in Chamonix
Scientific research into the local ecosystem and environment
This week, local organisation CREA Mont-Blanc (The centre for research on ecosystems at altitude), are celebrating 10 years of their program for ‘sciences participative’, Phénoclim, a program aimed at inviting the general public to measure the impacts of climate change of the local ecosystem.
CREA, a Chamonix-based organisation since 1996, are dedicated to exploring the developments of the mountain environment, inspiring people here to look at the mountains from a scientific point of view and to communicating their findings in order to allow the understanding of the impacts of climate change in this region. They aim to reach as many people as they can with projects such as Phénoclim to raise awareness of the research that they do and that the public can get involved in.
The 10 year anniversary of this project is marked with a conference taking place at the Majestic, bringing together local organisations, scientists and researchers to discuss the participation of the general public in scientific observations in the mountains.
The Mayor of Chamonix is also taking part in this conference and offered congratulations to CREA on their work and achievements.
It is also an opportunity to celebrate and discuss the recent partnership of Orange and CREA which will see technological advancements in the research that CREA do, brought about by Orange’s participation in the collecting of data as well as the usage of their network and the benefits of their technological expertise. They aim to make Mont Blanc an international site in the analysis of the evolution of the climate and will assure to maintain the network cabling here. They also bring with them to the partnership an enormous network of employees and volunteers who will be involved in the collection of data as well as the development of the Phénoclim mobile app.
The event has already included a day spent in local schools to teach about participating in research about mountain ecosystems and climate change. Today then saw a very full conference room as speakers such as Gilles Bouef, the president of the Natural History Museum and Bruno Strasser, a professor of science at the University of Geneva spoke of participating in science and research and the sociological impacts of this.
This weekend, there are also many opportunities for everybody to get involved in the work of CREA with:
- Talks from 17.00 on Friday evening about the Phenoclim App, about taking part in scientific research as well as some words from Eric Fournier, Chamonix Mayor and a question and answer session
- An opportunity to discover the Phénoclim program on Saturday 11th October at the Majestic
- A trip up to the Plan de l’Aiguille on Sunday 12th October to learn how to observe the mountains through the eyes of a scientific researcher
For more information on CREA’s work and on how to get involved in participating in scientific research into the local ecosystem and environment, check out CREA’s website at the top right of this page.
