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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

NameStatusYears of participationAffiliationSpoken languages
Eric AbadieIn-class speaker--FR  
Samir AlliouaneIn-class speaker2024IMEV (LOV, CNRS)FR  
Martin AmiceIn-class speaker--FR  
Xavier André In-class speaker2022, 2023, 2024IFREMER (RDT/SIIM)FR  
Lou AndresIn-class speaker2023, 2024IMEV (LOV)FR  
Benoît AugierIn-class speaker2022, 2023IFREMER (RDT/LHYMAR)FR  EN  
Kevin BalemIn-class speaker2022, 2023, 2024IFREMER (LOPS)FR  
Carine BarreauIn-class speaker2023IMEV (LBDV, SU)FR  
Miriam BeckIn-class speaker2023IMEV (LOV)FR  
Emma BentIn-class speaker2022, 2023IFREMER (LOPS)FR  
Marine BollardIn-class speaker2023, 2024Euro-Argo ERICFR  EN  
Catherine Borremans In-class speaker2022, 2023, 2024IFREMER (UMR BEEP/LEP)FR  EN  
Anthéa BourhisIn-class speaker2024IMEV (LOV, SU)FR  
Olivier BunIn-class speaker2024IMEV (LOV, SU)FR  
Romain CancouëtIn-class speaker2022, 2023, 2024Euro-Argo ERICFR  
Joao CarvalhoIn-class speaker2022, 2023IMEV (LBDV, SU)FR  
Angelina CassianidesIn-class speaker2022IFREMER (LOPS)FR  
Guillaume CharriaIn-class speaker2023IFREMER (LOPS)FR  
Sandra ChevalierIn-class speaker2021, 2022, 2023, 2024IMEV (LBDV)FR  
Julie CheynelIn-class speaker2024IFREMER (LOPS)FR  EN  
Steeve ComeauIn-class speaker2023, 2024IMEV (LOV, CNRS)FR  EN  
Priscilla CoopenMentor2022, 2023Prime Minister's Office - Government of Mauritius (CSMZAE)FR  EN  MU  
Eva DelcampIn-class speaker2023, 2024IMEV (IMEV, SU)FR  
Damien DesbruyèresIn-class speaker2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024IFREMER (LOPS)FR  EN  
Tiphaine DeshayesIn-class speaker2022, 2023, 2024IMEV (LBDV, CNRS)FR  
Carole Di PoiTeachers meeting speaker2024LEMARFR  
Emilie Diamond RiquierIn-class speaker2023, 2024IMEV (IMEV, SU)FR  
Lucile DurandIn-class speaker--FR  
Martina FerrarisInternational correspondent2020, 2021, 2022IFREMERFR  
Christine Ferrier-PagèsTeachers meeting speaker2023CSMFR  
Charlène FeucherIn-class speaker--FR  
Elodie FleuryIn-class speaker2022, 2023IFREMER (LEMAR)FR  EN  
Marine FourrierIn-class speaker2023IMEV (LOV, SU)FR  EN  
Sandra FuchsIn-class speaker--FR  
Frédéric GazeauIn-class speaker2022, 2023, 2024IMEV (LOV, CNRS)FR  EN  
Cyril GermineaudTeachers meeting speaker2024CNESFR  
Claire GourcuffIn-class speaker2023Euro-Argo ERICFR  EN  
Cécile GuieuIn-class speaker / Teachers meeting speaker2021, 2022, 2023, 2022IMEV (LOV, CNRS)FR  EN  
Sébastien HervéIn-class speaker2023, 2024LEMAR (LEMAR)FR  
Clare HudsonIn-class speaker2022IMEV (LBDV, CNRS)FR  EN  
Arnaud HuvetIn-class speaker / Teachers meeting speaker2022, 2023IFREMER (LEMAR)FR  
Laetitia JalabertIn-class speaker2022, 2023IMEVFR  
Fanny KaratchodjoukovaIn-class speaker / Teachers meeting speaker2023, 2024MIO - LPS (CNRS/Aix-Marseille Université)FR  
Ana-Luiza LacerdaIn-class speaker2022, 2023, 2024IMEV (LOV, SU)FR  EN  BR  
Pierre Le BrasIn-class speaker--FR  
Guillaume Le ProvostIn-class speaker2023IFREMER (REM/RDT/SIIM)FR  
Loïc Le SterIn-class speaker / Teachers meeting speaker2021, 2022, 2023, 2024IMEV (LOV)FR  
Marie LebelIn-class speaker2023IMEV (LBDV, SU)FR  
Nathanaële LebretonIn-class speaker--FR  
Alain LefebvreIn-class speaker2023IFREMER (ODE/UL/LER-BL)FR  
Pierrick LemassonIn-class speaker2023, 2024IMEV (LOV, SU)FR  
Sophie Léonardi In-class speaker2023, 2024IFREMER (UMR AMURE)FR  
Edouard LeymarieIn-class speaker2023IMEV (LOV, CNRS)FR  
Fabien LombardIn-class speaker / Teachers meeting speaker2022, 2023, 2024IMEV (LOV, SU)FR  EN  
Sonia LotitoIn-class speaker2021, 2022, 2023, 2024IMEV (LBDV, CNRS)FR  
Olivier ManevalIn-class speaker / Teachers meeting speaker2022, 2023Théâtre à moletteFR  
Luisa MangialajoTeachers meeting speaker2022UCAFR  IT  
Samuel MartinIn-class speaker2024IMEV (LOV, CNRS)FR  
Elodie MartinezIn-class speaker2022IRD (LOPS)FR  
Marjolaine MatabosIn-class speaker / Teachers meeting speaker2023, 2024IFREMER (BEEP, LEP)FR  EN  
Nicolas MayotIn-class speaker2024IMEV (LOV)FR  EN  
Guillaume Maze In-class speaker / Teachers meeting speaker2023, 2024IFREMER (LOPS)FR  EN  
Florence MenetIn-class speaker2022, 2024IFREMER (LERN)FR  EN  
Camille MerlandIn-class speaker2024IMEV (LOV, SU)FR  
Solène MotreuilIn-class speaker2022, 2024IMEV (LOV, SU)FR  
Yuneeda OozeeraullyMentor2022, 2023Prime Minister's Office - Government of Mauritius (CSMZAE)FR  EN  MU  
Laura PageaultIn-class speaker2023, 2024IFREMER (Genalg)FR  
Jérome PailletIn-class speaker--FR  
Ivane PairaudIn-class speaker--FR  
Lou PatronIn-class speaker2024IFREMER (Genalg)FR  
Laure PecquerieIn-class speaker2023, 2024IRD (LEMAR)FR  EN  
Christophe Penkerc’hIn-class speaker2021, 2022, 2023 (CNRS)FR  
Marie PerezIn-class speaker2024Euro-Argo ERICFR  EN  
Noé PoffaIn-class speaker2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024IFREMER (Cellule Opérationelle Argo)FR  
Ertienne PoirierIn-class speaker2024IRD (IUEM/UAR3113)FR  
Coline PoppeschiIn-class speaker--FR  
Antoine PoteauIn-class speaker2022, 2023, 2024IMEV (LOV, CNRS)FR  
Estelle RaynalTeachers meeting speaker2021, 2023CNESFR  
Corentin RenautIn-class speaker--FR  
Rocio RodriguezIn-class speaker2024IMEV (LOV, SU)FR  EN  BR  
Maëlann RogerIn-class speaker2024IFREMER (CCEM)FR  
Pierre RousselotIn-class speaker2024IRD (UAR IMAGO)FR  
Emanuela RuscianoIn-class speaker2022, 2024OceanOPS (UNESCO-WMO)FR  EN  IT  
Pierre-Marie SarradinIn-class speaker / Teachers meeting speaker2022, 2023, 2024IFREMER (UMR BEEP)FR  EN  
Théo SciandraIn-class speaker2022, 2023IMEV (SU)FR  
Elsa SimonIn-class speaker2022, 2023, 2024IMEV (LOV, CNRS)FR  
Cathy SirourIn-class speaker2021, 2022, 2023, 2024IMEV (LBDV, SU)FR  
Thomas Sol DourdinIn-class speaker--FR  
Rossana SussarelluIn-class speaker2022, 2023, 2024IFREMER (Phytox)FR  IT  
Vincent TaillandierIn-class speaker2023, 2024IMEV (LOV, CNRS)FR  EN  
Christian TamburiniIn-class speaker / Teachers meeting speaker2023, 2024MIO (CNRS)FR  
Eva TernonIn-class speaker / Teachers meeting speaker2022-FR  EN  
Marie VagnerIn-class speaker2022, 2023, 2024CNRS (LEMAR)FR  
Enzo VellucciMentor2023, 2024IMEV (IMEV, SU)FR  IT  
Nathalie VigierIn-class speaker / Teachers meeting speaker2022, 2023, 2024IMEV (LOV, CNRS)FR  EN  

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.