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In 2012, the NGO team celebrated its 20^th anniversary! Check out the 20^th Anniversary Special Report which provides a comprehensive overview of the NGO’s development and activities:

 1992 to 2002, the Birth of Objectif Sciences

It all began in 1992. The initial team of today’s NGO was formed. A weather balloon was sent into the sky to study the variations in the ozone layer of the atmosphere. From this project, Thomas EGLI created the association LSA, “Les Scientifiques Amateurs” in Haute Savoie, near Geneva. This Science Club aimed to allow young people (aged 15 to 19) to lead scientific projects. Science activities from this club were conducted in various schools and recreational centers. Then, in collaboration with INRA, a remote sensing project of Lake Geneva coupled with a robotic water monitoring system was developed. During this project, the Club participated with Lycée Saint-Joseph in Thonon-les-Bains in the Physics Olympiads and reached the national finals.

Moving to Nice in 1995, the association “Les Scientifiques Amateurs” was renamed “Les Sciences Actives”, a name better suited to the new activities developed by the organization:

• Organizing Holiday Camps, but also...
• Training for trainers (IUFM, communication and museology students)
• Organizing events (e.g., Art & Science exhibition 1997 in Nice)
• Providing services to local communities (project development on waste management, water, energy…)
• The association’s activities in Recreational Centers, Schools, Middle Schools, and High Schools.
  

In 1998, a collective of consultants was formed under the name “HORIZON Consulting” specializing in fields such as scientific and technical culture and economic development engineering. This collective, coordinated by T.EGLI, participated in various projects like creating business subsidiaries abroad and setting up educational exhibitions (protection of migratory birds, cloning…). It also worked with companies in the areas of human resources and management.

The two entities “Les Sciences Actives” and “HORIZON Consulting” were called in 1999 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Indeed, the French Embassy in Tokyo decided to organize a Franco-Japanese operation to export French know-how in scientific education to Japan.

Thus, in August 2000, a science camp was organized for young people on the shores of Lake Towada, in Kosaka, Japan. About thirty teenagers and seven French and Japanese educators explored topics such as seismology, renewable energies, and biodiversity in both languages. Following the camp, the two entities (LSA and HC) were tasked by the embassy’s scientific and technical service to conduct a comprehensive study aimed at professional and commercial sustainability of scientific tourism in France and abroad.
This study led in 2002 to the merger of “Les Sciences Actives” and “HORIZON Consulting”. This new entity was named “Objectif Sciences”. It became a non-profit association with the primary objective of spreading scientific and technical culture.

 The Growth of Objectif Sciences

Until 2004, there were many discussions and attempts, including the conception and preparation of a travel design agency focused on scientific, ecological, and ethnic tourism. It was not launched due to a market that was still underdeveloped at the time.

In 2004, Objectif Sciences proposed organizing science camps aligned with the expectations of Research Centers such as CNRS, INRA… The organization was based on a model that remains today, namely “Learning through Research,” involving real unknowns to promote scientific and technical culture to the general public.

In 2005, the association acquired an old center of the Pupilles de l’Education Publique (PEP) in Auvergne. This building is located in Saint-Anthème, in Auvergne (France), and dates back to the 1970s. After renovation, the Saint-Anthème Center opened its doors in July.

That summer, it hosted over 200 young people and around thirty scientific educators. The initial research themes focused on:

• Life sciences with UNIVERS Camps (water, ecosystems, archaeology, volcanology, astronomy),
• Aeronautics with PARADISAEA Camps (the first thermophotovoltaic solar-powered glider),
• Open-source software with SPIP Camps (free software programming on the Internet).
  

The end of 2005 and the year 2006 saw the expansion of the Center’s activities to school holidays (All Saints, Easter), and Scientific Discovery Classes (primary schools, middle schools, high schools, recreational centers, company committees…).

In 2006, a proposal was made to establish Science Clubs in major cities in France (Lyon, Rennes, Nantes, Grenoble, Lille, and Aix-Marseille) with the aim of carrying out scientific projects with schools and during extracurricular activities. After a year of discussions, these clubs were put on hold. The priority of the association was the sustainability of the Scientific Stay Centers and international development.

Summer 2006, the center welcomed over 400 young people and saw the emergence of two new science camp programs:

• ECOLOGIS, the architecture of the future,
• PERCEPTION, the study of nature and archaeology.
  

In 2007, during the summer, Objectif Sciences opened its first center abroad, in Quebec.

The topics covered included astronomy, aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems (studies of whales and belugas in particular), and electrohydrodynamic (EHD) propulsion.
Additionally, the first Scientific Expedition of the association to Kyrgyzstan was organized for young people in their twenties during this summer. Its goal was to study the snow leopard (a protected species) in this country.

 The Birth of a Network: Objectif Sciences International

To avoid confusion with another association named “Objectif Science” without the “s,” “Objectif Sciences” was renamed in August 2008 to “Centre de Séjours Scientifiques Europe” for the Saint-Anthème center and “Centre de Séjours Scientifique Canada-USA” for the Quebec center. These two associations were united under the “Objectif Sciences International” (OSI) network, becoming an international NGO based in Geneva.
That same year, camps were organized in Tahiti (research on aquatic ecosystems) and Japan (geothermal research).

In 2009, “Objectif Sciences International” (OSI) shifted its focus significantly toward Scientific Research and Science Education for solving Sustainable Development issues. The INGO is present:

• In France for the Centre de Séjours Scientifiques Europe,
• In Quebec for the Centre de Séjours Scientifiques Canada-USA,
• In Tahiti (Huahine Island) for the Centre de Séjours Scientifiques South Pacific,
• In Congo DRC for the Centre de Séjours Scientifiques Central Africa,
• Scientific stays in Tahiti (where a permanent land acquisition by the association is nearing completion)
• In Kyrgyzstan via the PANTHERA Expedition coordinated by the Centre de Séjours Scientifiques Europe
• Soon in Japan following the realization of several years of pilot experiences.

In 2010, the NGO was also present:

• For the first time in the USA, in Yellowstone Park, as part of a new initiative that began this same year: Scientific Journalism Language Stays.
• In Japan, through a major Scientific Discovery Class organized for a French high school.

In 2011, new destinations were planned, and new languages also emerged, including regional ones such as Occitan in France or Tahitian Reo Maohi in Pacific Polynesia. On a broader international level, the highlight of the year was the announcement of obtaining Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC (UN). From that point on, the NGO began playing its role with international bodies.

In 2012, the NGO team celebrated its 20^th anniversary! Check out the 20^th Anniversary Special Report which provides a comprehensive overview of the NGO’s development and activities:

In 2017, it was the 25^th anniversary, and we are already gearing up for a new 5-year cycle, with the 10^th edition of the GENEVA FORUM organized by OSI at the UN in December 2018.