Météo-France aims to promote public interaction and improve its communication channels, particularly in the digital field, concerning the distribution of knowledge, forecasts and information amongst citizens during hazardous weather phenomena.
Websites, mobile applications and social networks: as many methods for checking forecasts as are used.
With more than 100,000 followers on Facebook and a constantly growing community of supporters, Météo-France launched a chatbot in a bid to strengthen its bond with the general public. Known as MTO, this innovative conversational robot available on Messenger is able to provide users with daily weather forecasts.
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Making knowledge accessible to all
Engaging in public outreach
Météo-France's ambition is to make all knowledge gained as a result of its research on climate change and extreme weather events available to all. As an actor in risk prevention, the organization is also involved in initiatives to raise awareness of extreme events.
This approach is notably founded on meetings with various audiences. As a result, 2017 was marked by a number of speeches, conferences and events across France: International Weather and Climate Forum, Climathon-Paris-Heatwave Challenge, European Heritage Days, Researchers’ night, Climate Boot Camp, Plouf75 (Awareness day for Seine flood risk), exhibitions, etc., to cite just a few examples.
There are many partnerships within the educational sector, beginning with the ‘Météo à l’école’ (Weather in schools) project, backed jointly by the Paris Observatory and Météo-France as part of the ‘Sciences à l’école’ (Science in schools) framework. The latter is aimed at teachers and students in high schools, colleges and preparatory classes. It aims to train young people 'in' and 'using' meteorology, particularly through making meteorology equipment available (currently 63 stations). In 2016-2017, 25 new secondary schools became involved in the project.
Meanwhile, the ‘École météo’ (Weather school) initiative, aimed at primary school students, was followed by more than 110 classes from 8 academies in 2016-2017. In May 2017, mainland France’s site in Toulouse also welcomed 300 young people from Year 6 to Year 13, as part of the ‘Journées météo et espace’ (Weather and space days) project, designed to enhance school projects focused on weather or space. Other training and twinning initiatives (Tremplin des sciences [Springboard to science], Professeurs en entreprise [Teachers in Business], Youth Climate Dialogues, etc.) have also marked the school year.
Finally, Météo-France continued to participate in Capital Filles, a foundation that encourages and supervises girls from disadvantaged neighbourhoods and rural areas, to head towards scientific and technical fields.
