"Mission Evolution": Understanding Biodiversity to Better Protect It

🧬 Mission Evolution: Understanding Biodiversity

Dates: April 20-24, 2026
Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Ages: 11-14
Fee: €620 (please bring a lunchbox)
Location: Collège EIB Monceau - 52 rue de Londres - 75008 Paris
Contact: Mrs Cécile Clavé – cclave@eibparis.fr

Camp led by AFPER and Club Athéon (2 afternoons dedicated to sports)

Students will adopt real research methods (observing, formulating hypotheses, testing, analysing, and drawing conclusions) while developing their scientific creativity and ability to work as part of a team.

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Overall Objective

Explore the relationships between species, understand the mechanisms of evolution, and discover how science can guide the preservation of biodiversity.

Teaching Methods

• Hands-on scientific activities (microscopy, experiments, simulation games)
• Use of the scientific method: observing, forming hypotheses, experimenting, drawing conclusions
• Collaborative work to summarise findings and understand key conservation issues

Scientific Content

• DNA: extraction, observation, and the link between genotype and phenotype
• Natural selection, mutations, and speciation
• Building phylogenetic trees (morphology, genetics, ecology)
• The history of life and the role of phylogeny in biodiversity conservation

Skills Developed

• Scientific: analysing biological samples, comparing proteins and transformations, understanding the challenges linked to different types of diets
• Methodological: following a scientific approach, forming hypotheses, experimenting, observing, concluding
• Cross‑disciplinary: developing critical thinking, reasoning, creativity, and the ability to project ideas
• Social: strengthening teamwork, communication, and collaborative problem‑solving

Activities

• Monday: Introduction to evolution. Why are living organisms different? Research and discovery of key foundational concepts.
• Tuesday: From DNA to traits. Microscopic observation, DNA extraction, links between genes and phenotypes, and exploration of mutations.
• Wednesday: Evolutionary mechanisms. Simulations of natural selection and genetic drift, and investigations into relationships between fossils and modern species.
• Thursday: Phylogeny and biodiversity. Inventory of local species and construction of phylogenetic trees.
• Friday: Collective presentation. Group synthesis work and presentation of results.