Multidisciplinary Junior Congress: Bridging the Gap Between High School and Research

A day for sharing at the ENS Paris-Saclay

Every year, the ENS Paris-Saclay strives to make its ambitions come true by welcoming a hundred high school students for a whole day of discoveries. A presentation on the School, thematic workshops, chats with young researchers: everything is made to spark curiosity and broaden the students’ horizons.

“This is the second time we have taken part in this event. Last year was thrilling; A year later, we can still see how research has been a source of motivation for our students” comments the director of Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire high school in Étampes.

Another way to explore research

This year’s installment allowed the students to take part in three different workshops led by three PhD students, all with different academic careers. This was a great opportunity to discover another aspect of the ENS Paris-Saclay, an open, multidisciplinary school concerned with important social and scientific issues—whose efforts are spearheaded by expert women.

• “I loved it, it was interesting and varied. I didn’t know about the ENS Paris-Saclay beforehand, and now I know that it is a research center that brings together many different disciplines,” shares a junior-year student at Fustel de Coulanges high school in Massy.
• “What struck me was the place itself: the stairs are unlike anything I’d ever seen! I hope I can join the School one day,” says another senior student at Corot high school in Savigny-sur-Orge.
• “I often pass by the School when running on the weekend, but I’d never stepped inside before today. I was a little worried I’d find today boring, but in the end, we were able to ask all the questions we wanted. I learned so much! In our first year of high school, we often feel lost when it comes to our orientation after graduating… Today, I have a clearer and more concrete idea. It helped me think about what I wanted to do later,” explains a first-year student at Essouriau high school in Les Ulis.

Sharing a passion and raising awareness of lesser-known academic careers

For students of the ENS, this event is also an alternate way to raise awareness of academic careers in research, and to share information about them.
“This morning, I saw that many high schoolers lacked crucial information about higher education. I wanted to share my experience at the ENS, and show them that there are a multitude of fascinating and varied ways to join it,” shares a senior-year ENS student. 

Bridging the gap between scientific curiosity and a scientific career

According to Claire Lambard, equality advisor and policy officer for diversity and inclusion, “this event illustrates what the ENS Paris-Saclay aims to do for its partners in the education sector: allowing these young students to meet with people who have already started a career in science, real experts who are also young enough to be relatable. It is easier to identify with our students, and thus picture oneself following their footsteps.”

These eyes full of wonders, these burgeoning vocations and these rich, enthusiastic discussions, make the Multidisciplinary Junior Congress a major bridge between high school, higher education and graduate schools.