About us

What is INQUIRE?

INQUIRE is a three year project focusing on inquiry based science education and involving 17 partners in 11 European countries.  The project is funded by the European Union under the 7th Framework Programme. Fourteen botanic gardens are involved in the project and are individually developing a one-year IBSE teacher training course, with support from Botanic Gardens Conservation International and two highly respected universities – King’s College London, UK and the University of Bremen, Germany.  The INQUIRE courses will be inspirational and will train hundreds of teachers and educators and reach thousands of children. The content of the courses will focus on biodiversity loss and climate change which are recognised, in the scientific world, to be the major global issues of the 21st Century.

The INQUIRE website supports the project through disseminating information and resources and promoting dialogue between Partners and teachers. Our aim is for INQUIRE to act as catalyst, training and supporting increasing numbers of teachers and educators to develop their proficiency in IBSE and become reflective practitioners.  

Why botanic gardens?

Botanic gardens are some of Europe’s most inspirational cultural, scientific and learning institutions.  They contain amazingly diverse collections of plants and plant artefacts and hold extensive botanical, ethno-botanical and horticultural knowledge and skills.  Most European gardens are situated in urban areas and this makes them accessible to large numbers of people. With more people living in cities, botanic gardens offer some of the only outdoor learning sites for children to gain first-hand experiences in IBSE.  

Get contact with INQUIRE.