There is a growing interest in engaging students and the general public about the meaning and
objectives of doing science. When it is possible students can learn by actively engaging in the
practices of science, conducting investigations, sharing ideas with their peers, teachers and
scientists, learning to work with measuring apparatuses, to acquire and process data and use models
so as to interpret phenomena. This is a process that requires a gradual collective growth. Schools
and universities can both benefit from this cooperation. This paper presents activities of a project
focusing on the radon survey in high schools. The ENVIRAD (environmental radioactivity) educational
project involved about 2500 students and some tens of teachers in measurements while using solid
state nuclear track detectors. This experience began about 15 years ago and is still carried out by
various national projects managed by the same research group. The measurements and data analysis
have been done …