In-Depth Details of Adopt a Float

adopt a float : a bit of history

With the emergence of the Argo scientific program, an educational activity started in the Pacific Islands under the umbrella of SEREAD (Scientific Educational Resources and Experience Associated with the Deployment of Argo profiling floats in the South Pacific Ocean). This was the first (still on-going) initiative that took advantage on data acquired by floats as a way to develop ocean literacy in a context of climate change.
Around the same period, a primary teacher from New Zealand, started to include Argo floats in her teaching experience. She developed a first educational website dedicated to the understanding of many Argo aspects, and she continues to include hand-on experiments and provide multiple video support.

In 2011, the adopt a float program was founded in France at the marine station of Villefranche-sur-Mer. The scientific staff of this marine station is deeply involved in the international efforts of the global Argo network and the development of Argo profiling floats with biogeochemical sensors (BGC-Argo). And, by working together with the science outreach and education staff, the common commitment to foster Ocean Literacy resulted.

The adopt a float program aims to share ocean sciences and puts a strong focus on connecting ocean scientists with the school environments. Using the scientific journey of a BGC-Argo float allows pluri-disciplinary approaches within each classroom and opens multifaceted ways to speak about the ocean.

Since its beginning, classes from all over the world (Metropolitan France, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Europe, USA, South Africa, United Arab Emirates…) already joined the program! Today, the adopt a float team guides the more and more classes from kindergarten to high school through their scientific adventure each school year, and continues its efforts under the missions of “United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030)“.

adopt a float team

adopt a float has its #headquarters at the marine station of Villefranche-sur-mer / France. Here, together with associated scientists, a dedicated staff of science outreach and education officers coordinates all activities and events, develops educational material and ensures their implementation in classrooms and beyond.

Besides, a global network of colleagues (#international correspondents, #scientific contributors) helps to deploy and enrich the adopt a float activities, and assures the well-functioning of the program in many complementary ways.

Bringing in different expertise and motivation, all join to work for and with the children and their teachers.

Find here the people involved in the program!

Staff #Headquarters

Carolyn Scheurle - adopt a float team #HEADQUARTERS

Carolyn Scheurle

Scientific Outreach Officer

Manon Audax - adopt a float team #HEADQUARTERS

Manon Audax

Scientific Outreach Officer

Hervé Claustre - adopt a float team #HEADQUARTERS

Hervé Claustre

Senior Scientist

Thomas Jessin - adopt a float team #HEADQUARTERS

Thomas Jessin

Webdesigner

Thomas Boniface - adopt a float team #HEADQUARTERS

Thomas Boniface

Scientific Outreach Officer

Staff #National & International correspondents

Jade Burdallet - adopt a float team #INTERNATIONAL-CORRESPONDENTS

Jade Burdallet

Outreach officer (Ifremer)
FRANCE

Léa Lemée - adopt a float team #NATIONAL-CORRESPONDENTS

Léa Lemée

Communication student (Ifremer)
FRANCE

#Scientific Contributors

adopt a float involvements

The adopt a float program is actively involved in local, national and international scientific and educational networks and events.

Networks

Events

Around the World

In several countries, similar adopt a float initiatives developed.
All have in common that there is no financial cost to participate.
Find out more about the initiatives and complementary resources here:

GO-BGC is part of the US contribution to the global BioGeoChemical Argo (BGC Argo) program. Their ‘Adopt-a-float’ initiative partners with teachers and classrooms across the country to inspire and educate students about global ocean biogeochemistry and climate change.
The Southern Ocean Carbon and Climate Observations and Modeling (SOCCOM) project is partnering with teachers and classrooms across the country to inspire and educate students about the Southern Ocean and climate change through its “Adopt-A-Float” initiative.
Take a deep dive into Canada's oceans with the Adopt-a-Float program. Come explore the ocean by tracking the progress of a Biogeochemical-Argo (BGC-Argo) float from the laboratory to ocean. Along the way, you'll connect with scientists, learn about key ocean concepts, and realize what it means to be an oceanographer.