“When I grow up, I want to be an engineer…”! Eighteen students from the Lille campus are participating in the “Science Partners for the Classroom” project to introduce preschool and elementary school students to the fields of science and engineering.
“When I grow up, I want to be an engineer…”: Students at the Lille campus join “Science Partners for the Classroom”
The goal of the " Science Partners for the Classroom" project—in which the Lille campus is participating for the 26th year—is to spark curiosity among preschool and elementary school children by introducing them to science and technology.
Launched by Henri Fresko, then a mechanical engineering instructor, the project has been coordinated since the start of the 2023 academic year by Olivier Roussette, the campus’s Science and Technology Outreach Coordinator.
Developed in collaboration with district educational advisors, these partnerships primarily involve schools in priority education networks (REP and REP+). Their goal is to broaden the horizons of children who may be facing academic and/or social challenges.
A catalyst for inclusion from an early age
To promote science and technology education starting in elementary school, the “Scientific Partners for the Classroom” program, offered by the La Main à la pâte Foundation, brings together scientists (students, researchers, engineers, etc.) and teachers in preschool and elementary school classrooms to assist them in preparing and conducting hands-on classroom activities.
For the 2025–2026 academic year, 18 first-year engineering students from the Lille campus participated in these partnerships by forming pairs, thereby introducing students in 19 preschool and elementary school classes in the Lille metropolitan area to the fields of science and engineering through projects that were both educational and creative.
A first step toward scientific studies and careers
Through the "Scientific Partners for the Classroom" program, studentsArts et Métiers encouraged to design and conduct their own hands-on experiments to explain the scientific or technological topics studied in class. They present these experiments to teachers at partner schools and refine them during preparation sessions held with the school teachers.
Louane Devos and Victoire Denise, first-year students in the Grande École Program, have chosen to focus this year on motorized and wheeled vehicles. They are working with four classes at André Preschool (a REP+ school). “I am very proud to have the opportunity to spark an interest in science among children through this project, because it was experiences like these that led me to choose the field of study I am pursuing today. As the teachers explained to us, it is very important for students to have examples or role models who motivate them to take an interest in science and, perhaps, to specialize in it later on, ” says Victoire.
Louane continues: “This experience is very rewarding; it helps us improve our speaking skills. It’s impressive to see how committed the children are, despite their young age. They’re learning so much—and so are we! I would have loved to take part in activities like this when I was little.”
A meaningful and educational project for Arts et Métiers students
“This project gives student volunteers the opportunity each year to gain experience in teaching and knowledge transfer,” explains Olivier Roussette, a research engineer and coordinator of the program for the Lille campus. “By working closely with the teams they support throughout the sessions, they can develop skills in project management, collaborative work, as well as time management and communication with a very young, non-expert audience.” Above all , he highlights “the constant, voluntary, and unpaid commitment of our engineering students to this initiative, which promotes the values of sharing and equal opportunity for the benefit of the children they mentor.”
Congratulations to all the students who took part in this project, and thank you to Olivier Roussette for his dedication!
