C4 - Glaciology, environment and culture affected by climate change - France
Short-term joint staff training event
16th to 20th May 2022
Albertville | France
Albertville | France
Day 1 - 16th May
Welcoming ceremony, visit to the Town Hall and meeting with the Mayor of Albertville.
Afternoon: visit of the Olympic museum and some of the remaing facilities (like the ice- rink).
Day 2 - 17th May
Hike in les Bauges Mountains to observe the effects of climate change on our territory. In the 50's and the 60's th people changed the course of the Chéran river and how they have tried to repair the damage done.
Two guides took the group to the only peatland left in Les Bauges. Observing its flora and fauna, together with studying the different layers of pollens during thousand of years (by extracting sample cores) helps understand it and how we can or may adapt to climate change.
Day 3 - 18th May
Field trip to Glacialis, in Champany-le-haut. Lecture on the formation of glaciers and the way people used to live according to them.
Lecture on the way the mountains chains were formed... it took a long time and a very surprising route: some of the rocks in the background were former mountains, then as the earth tectonic moved throughout the years, they were crushed down under the sea level as the european and the african plates moved away from each other and sprung back up (1,500 m high) as the plates got closer again.
The water is used to produce electricity. The local plant produces enough electricity for around 25,000 each year.
Lunch together in Moutier.
The water is used to produce electricity. The local plant produces enough electricity for around 25,000 each year.
Lunch together in Moutier.
Visit of a biodynamic vineyard in Cognin, near Chambéry.
Day 4 - 19th May
Day trip to Chamonix.
Day 5 - 20th May
Lecture on local economics and the way professionals have no choice but to adpat to climate change because it is happening now and it already affects they every day life.
FAREWELL PARTY and CERTIFICATE ceremony
Outcomes
Climate change activities
The teachers received various training courses showing the impact of climate change in the Alps.
Changes in the mid-range mountains were discussed in theory and practice.
The teachers attended a lecture on the theme "the economic impacts of climate change" in Savoie. Three speakers came to present the economic challenges we have to face. Mr. Rémi Magdinier, member of the Alpine Economy Society, explained the changes in the alpine pastures linked to global warming (effects on the alpine fauna and flora), and the consequences of these changes on livestock and milk production. Mr Bovier-Lapierre, an executive at EDF, showed how the company had to adapt in order to capture the water needed for the operation of hydroelectric dams, with melting glaciers and sources of capture that were increasingly high in altitude. Finally, Mr Debroux, director of the Méribel ski resort, presented the actions taken by the resort to deal with the increasingly random and insufficient snow cover at medium altitude.
This theoretical input was complemented by a field trip to the Bauges massif. The first workshop took us to the "Tourbière des Creusates". The facilitator, a geologist from the Bauges Regional Nature Park, highlighted the changes in the flora over time and showed how a peat bog is a source of information on climate change. The teachers were able to help the pupils in their work on a reconstituted peat core, to identify the different pollens stored in this core.The second workshop was in the bed of the Chéran, which is a mountain river. The facilitators, who are mountain guides, showed how a river moves and transforms the landscape, bringing sediments and silt to the surrounding landscape. They also highlighted the river's ecosystem by having the pupils look for different animal and plant species. Finally, they showed the current transformations of the river which is facing more intense meteorological phenomena (drought, storms and torrential rains).
The teachers also received an introduction to glaciology.
For this, we went to Champagny-en-Vanoise, a village at an altitude of 1500 m, built in an ancient glacial valley. A space dedicated to glaciers is present there and a heritage guide presented, with the help of the exhibition, the formation, evolution and role of glaciers in the modification of the Alpine landscape. The teachers benefited from a complete theoretical and scientific input and were able to familiarise themselves with the vocabulary specific to glaciology. They were also introduced to the identification of the different forms of erosion by glaciers. This was complemented by the presentation of another heritage guide, on the geological evolution of the Alps and the reading of these evolutions in the landscape (study of rocks).
The outing to Chamonix, at the foot of the Bossons glacier, completed this presentation as the teachers were able to observe a glacier and see its changes and impact on the landscape. The trip to the foot of the glacier was organised and presented by Lucas Davaze, a glaciologist who was a member of the Institute of Environmental Geosciences in Grenoble. He explained how a glacier is formed, how it moves and how it is affected by climate change. He then showed, in the landscape, the evolution of the glacier and the clear retreat observed since the second half of the 20th century.
This outing was completed by a visit to the Merlet Park, where the teachers were able to discover the mountain fauna (chamois, ibex, marmots, mouflons, fallow deer) in their natural environment. This fauna is particularly affected by global warming because, as Mr Magdinier pointed out, the animals climb 10m in altitude per year to have equivalent living conditions. The site also offers an exceptional view of the glaciers of the Mont Blanc chain.
These training courses in the medium and high mountains therefore enabled the teachers to become familiar with glaciology, the alpine environment, its fauna and flora, and to better understand how this fragile ecosystem is affected by and tries to adapt to climate change.
Changes in the mid-range mountains were discussed in theory and practice.
The teachers attended a lecture on the theme "the economic impacts of climate change" in Savoie. Three speakers came to present the economic challenges we have to face. Mr. Rémi Magdinier, member of the Alpine Economy Society, explained the changes in the alpine pastures linked to global warming (effects on the alpine fauna and flora), and the consequences of these changes on livestock and milk production. Mr Bovier-Lapierre, an executive at EDF, showed how the company had to adapt in order to capture the water needed for the operation of hydroelectric dams, with melting glaciers and sources of capture that were increasingly high in altitude. Finally, Mr Debroux, director of the Méribel ski resort, presented the actions taken by the resort to deal with the increasingly random and insufficient snow cover at medium altitude.
This theoretical input was complemented by a field trip to the Bauges massif. The first workshop took us to the "Tourbière des Creusates". The facilitator, a geologist from the Bauges Regional Nature Park, highlighted the changes in the flora over time and showed how a peat bog is a source of information on climate change. The teachers were able to help the pupils in their work on a reconstituted peat core, to identify the different pollens stored in this core.The second workshop was in the bed of the Chéran, which is a mountain river. The facilitators, who are mountain guides, showed how a river moves and transforms the landscape, bringing sediments and silt to the surrounding landscape. They also highlighted the river's ecosystem by having the pupils look for different animal and plant species. Finally, they showed the current transformations of the river which is facing more intense meteorological phenomena (drought, storms and torrential rains).
The teachers also received an introduction to glaciology.
For this, we went to Champagny-en-Vanoise, a village at an altitude of 1500 m, built in an ancient glacial valley. A space dedicated to glaciers is present there and a heritage guide presented, with the help of the exhibition, the formation, evolution and role of glaciers in the modification of the Alpine landscape. The teachers benefited from a complete theoretical and scientific input and were able to familiarise themselves with the vocabulary specific to glaciology. They were also introduced to the identification of the different forms of erosion by glaciers. This was complemented by the presentation of another heritage guide, on the geological evolution of the Alps and the reading of these evolutions in the landscape (study of rocks).
The outing to Chamonix, at the foot of the Bossons glacier, completed this presentation as the teachers were able to observe a glacier and see its changes and impact on the landscape. The trip to the foot of the glacier was organised and presented by Lucas Davaze, a glaciologist who was a member of the Institute of Environmental Geosciences in Grenoble. He explained how a glacier is formed, how it moves and how it is affected by climate change. He then showed, in the landscape, the evolution of the glacier and the clear retreat observed since the second half of the 20th century.
This outing was completed by a visit to the Merlet Park, where the teachers were able to discover the mountain fauna (chamois, ibex, marmots, mouflons, fallow deer) in their natural environment. This fauna is particularly affected by global warming because, as Mr Magdinier pointed out, the animals climb 10m in altitude per year to have equivalent living conditions. The site also offers an exceptional view of the glaciers of the Mont Blanc chain.
These training courses in the medium and high mountains therefore enabled the teachers to become familiar with glaciology, the alpine environment, its fauna and flora, and to better understand how this fragile ecosystem is affected by and tries to adapt to climate change.
Awareness campaign
The teachers were invited to the students' presentation on climate change and greenhouse gases. We were able to discuss the role of everyone in reducing CO2 emissions.
The teachers also received a fabric bag sewn by the pre-professionalization students of our school, allowing them to buy products in bulk and thus limit the production and consumption of cardboard and plastic packaging.
We also wanted to buy locally produced and manufactured food for our snacks and picnics. This allowed us to discover some local specialities, but also to discuss the interest of local production in limiting greenhouse gases.
The teachers also received a fabric bag sewn by the pre-professionalization students of our school, allowing them to buy products in bulk and thus limit the production and consumption of cardboard and plastic packaging.
We also wanted to buy locally produced and manufactured food for our snacks and picnics. This allowed us to discover some local specialities, but also to discuss the interest of local production in limiting greenhouse gases.
Cultural diversity
The teachers were invited to visit a wine estate. The winegrower took us to his vineyards and presented the different grape varieties and the difficulties encountered in growing vines. He also explained why the use of fertilisers and pesticides was damaging the land and reducing biodiversity. He presented his solutions for growing vines naturally, without inputs, and for dealing with possible diseases. Finally, he showed how the climate can affect the wine, its taste, quality and alcohol content. The teachers were able to taste different wines produced by this winegrower.
Multilingualism
The visiting teachers visited our school and had the opportunity to discuss with the teaching staff during a lunch organised especially for this purpose. They were also able to ask our headmaster about the way our courses are organised and how we recruit students into the CLIL scheme.
Results for teachers activities, C4:
- improved knowledge of glaciology and alpine biodiversity, as well as awareness of the impacts of climate change in the mid and high mountains
- A discovery of local culture, with the tasting of local products and a visit to the vineyards and cellars of a wine producer
- Introduction to new forms of consumption, with the purchase of bulk products and a reflection on our carbon footprint
- Exchanges of teaching practices around the teaching of foreign languages, pedagogical practices and the organisation of school time