As part of the PolliConnect project, the Pas-de-Calais Department is developing a living lab across three types of sites: high schools (in Guînes, Licques and Ardres), a municipal plot (in Nielles-les-Ardres) and the verges of a departmental road. This diversity of sites makes it possible to raise awareness among a wide range of audiences, particularly the younger generations.
On 12 May 2026, nearly a hundred high school pupils took part in an event at Ardres high school, organised by the PdC Department, in partnership with EFREI, to mark the installation of its pollinator monitoring cameras at one of the three high schools they work with.
In the morning, the Department and EFREI visited each of the high schools to meet with three groups of pupils taking part in a career exploration programme and interested in the science and technology sectors. This was an opportunity to introduce them to the PolliConnect project and its application within their school, but above all to learn about EFREI, its role in the project, how the cameras work, and the careers of engineers and researchers.
Figure 1 Phuong, Jean-Charles and Lamine, in front of pupils from the high school of Guînes
Following the installation of cameras from partners EFREI and Naturalis at Ardres high school, 35 eco-ambassadors from the three schools involved gathered in the afternoon around the test plot to take part in two introductory workshops by Raphaël (Naturalis) and Jean-Charles (EFREI).
First workshop organised by EFREI: a discussion about cameras, how they work, AI recognition, the benefits for the project…
Second workshop led by the Pas-de-Calais Department, supported by EDEN 62 (the organisation responsible for managing sensitive natural areas in the Pas-de-Calais region): in the flower-filled plot, the pupils use an identification guide to identify the various pollinators they have caught in their nets.
Combining technological exploration with scientific observation, the pupils, accompanied by their teachers, were able to discover the diversity of species found within their schools.
Everyone was given a booklet explaining how pollination works, the different types of pollinators and their roles, and ideas for supporting them. A packet of local seeds was also handed out to each participant, enabling them to take home everything they needed to make a difference on their own scale as soon as they got back.