Cerdanyola del Vallès, 12th September 2023 This is the sixth year that primary school teachers and students from all the country can participate in ALBA Mission, the educational project of the ALBA Synchrotron to bring science closer to schools.
ALBA Mission offers kids the opportunity to participate in scientific challenges and to get to know a state-of-the art research center in Europe such as ALBA.
The program raises two scientific challenges: The power of light and Make the invisible visible. The first proposes experiments related to matter, force, energy and light, and the second one focuses on the properties of light. Both challenges are led by scientific and technical staff of ALBA and pose an unknown to be solved by the class teams. In order to solve this mystery, kids turn the classroom into a laboratory and carry out a series of experiments. It is proposed that they investigate and follow the scientific method to respond to the challenges along four stages. And, at the end of each stage, a draw for different prizes is held.
In December and June, as complements to the mission, a virtual visit to ALBA and a live YouTube streaming are held where students can meet and ask questions to some of the ALBA members who have guided them throughout the challenges.
Participation in ALBA Mission is completely free and, to remove geographical barriers among schools, its contents, materials and audiovisuals can be accessed through the misionalba.es web. The contents included have been specifically designed to work in a practical, meaningful and experiential way in the area of environmental knowledge and fit perfectly with the new curriculum and work through learning situations.
Students and teachers who have participated in ALBA Mission in previous editions value the impact of the project in the classroom very positively for its capacity to motivate and promote learning. According to what students express in the evaluation surveys, their participation in the challenges has led them to learn many things about light, but also to enjoy science and to discover their scientific skills. As for the teachers, they particularly value the experiential approach of the program, as well as the possibility it offers to children to get to know a research center like ALBA.
Teachers who want to register their group class can do it through the registration page of the project until October 13. The new mission will start next November 6 and teams from all over Spain will be trying to solve it at the same time, which according to the teachers participating in other editions, "this means for the students an experience that makes them feel part of something bigger".
