With "The Adventures of Professor Caillou” (Professor Stone), a new series of podcasts aimed at 7 to11-year-olds, children set off to discover minerals, following in the footsteps of Professor Pierrette Caillou, an enthusiastic geologist, and her colleague Abel, both researchers at BRGM.
A podcast to introduce 7 to 11-year-olds to geology
Driven by a desire to share her passion for stones and minerals, Pierrette decided to launch her own podcast. But her recordings were soon disrupted by calls for help from metals in distress! Thanks to an ingenious cailloutolettre (stone letter) system, these chemical elements can contact her at any time. With Abel, she embarks on a series of unusual missions to help them.
Through their adventures, children will discover the essential role played by metals in our daily lives, their geological origins, their usefulness, and the issues involved in extracting and recycling them. A podcast that could well inspire budding geologists!
6 episodes to discover
Produced by the Radio France studio with BRGM, this series, starring France Inter comedian, Marine Baousson (in the role of Pierrette Caillou), is part of France Inter and BRGM's commitment to stimulating young people to take an interest in science to understand the world around them.
The 6 episodes can be heard on the Radio France app and franceinter.fr, as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Deezer.
Episode 1 - Gold
Gold, trapped in an old telephone, cries out for help to prevent it being thrown away. Professor Caillou tries to find a way to recycle it and give it a second life.
Episode 2 - Lithium
Melancholy in an electric car battery, Lithium tries to understand what's going wrong. Pierrette then travels to the other side of the world in search of its origins to help it feel better.
Episode 3 - Silicon
Silicon is in danger of being captured by the sand mafia in Morocco. Pierrette and Abel embark on a mission to save this metal that is essential to our daily lives – it is one of the world's most consumed resources.
Episode 4 - Neodymium
Tired of being used in a destructive laser, Neodymium from the rare earth family dreams of living more creatively. Professor Caillou helps it find a new career, away from the technology of war.
Episode 5 - Copper
Despite its essential role, Copper is little-known and is celebrated at a major festival organised by Abel. This momentous occasion also reveals a growing complicity between the two geologists.
Episode 6 - Indium
Indium, a key component in touch screens, wants to help a little girl who is too addicted to her tablet. This local mission encourages Pierrette and Abel to reflect on our relationship with technology.
