Let's face it: science wasn't our favorite subject at school. And yet, today, we can't wait to discover the activities planned for the Fête de la Science in Yvelines! Between the exhibitions, the shows, the games, the demonstrations, the meetings with great scientists, the films... Science just got a whole lot more exciting!
The Fête de la Science celebrates its 33rd edition from October 4 to 14, 2024 , on the theme "Ocean of Knowledge". This popular national event highlights France's leading researchers and scientists, showcasing their work and - perhaps - inspiring young people to take up science.
All over France, universities, museums, libraries and other institutes are opening their doors to us, offering a variety of fun and educational events. In Yvelines, several events are being organized in the department's major towns. To make sure you don't miss out, find out what's in store.
As part of the Fête de la science, the Odette Dubarry multimedia library is installing an aquarium on its shelves!
But we need your help: we need names for these newcomers!
During the opening hours of the Odette Dubarry multimedia library, enjoy screenings of scientific documentaries on the theme of the ocean and marine biology.
Make a jellyfish out of crepe paper to decorate the media library and your room.
Even the little ones can take part in the Fête de la Science, so why not join them for some specially adapted activities?
On the program: readings and songs on the theme of the sea, plus a creative suncatcher workshop.
Ages 0 to 3, free admission.
Science experiment workshop on the theme of water and its forms.
Laminar flow, pressure, weight and mass... Children can learn while having fun.
7 mares multimedia library
An exhibition to discover an unsuspected biodiversity. Largely unknown because difficult to access, the ocean is home to fascinating life. The exhibition takes visitors on a journey to the heart of this unusual biodiversity, far from the coastline and familiar faces, and raises awareness of the threats to the environment.
Using small, familiar materials (corks, rubber bands, skewer picks, polystyrene, etc.) and specific equipment (motors, batteries, alligator clips, etc.), participants are invited to create machines that meet an unusual challenge. With the ocean-themed "Automat'Omatic", participants are tasked with representing a scene (on the theme of the sea) that starts moving when a crank on the side of the box is turned. From the simplest gears to the most complex, there's plenty to get your brain working!
from 5 years
Jean Rousselot Media Library
What does science know about the oceans? Come and discover what's at stake, through activities, games, experiments and constructions. Different themes will be addressed: ocean and climate, ocean and global warming, ocean and life, and ocean and resources.
Oxygen 1 Hydrogen 2, all multiplied by hundreds of billions of billions, we get: an ocean.
But what do we know about our oceans? Apparently, we know more about the Moon than we do about the abyssal ocean floor!
You're invited to join us as we take stock of what we know, and define our priorities for tomorrow.
Versailles Observatory
Space and astronomy are present in many films. However, not everything in these films is scientifically accurate, and the scriptwriters take a lot of liberties. In this animation, we'll take a look at a number of science-fiction films to see what's real and what's not.
We'll also take a look at a number of myths that are regularly propagated in everyday life: can Mars be seen as big as the Moon in the sky? Are extraterrestrials among us? Is global warming real? Did we really walk on the Moon? Does hair grow faster after being cut during a full Moon?
The observatory's technical platform is dedicated to integration and testing activities. It provides a range of tools for the integration and testing of components, satellites and probes for the study and observation of space and the planets of the solar system.
Light is a formidable messenger for those who know how to make it speak. All you have to do is make it interact with matter, and it will manifest itself and tell us its story. Otherwise, it remains invisible.
Spectroscopy has historically been the basis for studying the composition of planetary atmospheres. With a retrospective on the SPICAM and SPICAV instruments, designed and operated at LATMOS, and a short practical demonstration, students will be introduced to the wonders of this essential Swiss knife for space exploration missions.
An instrument from the Atmospheres and Space Observations Laboratory that simulates the atmosphere of Titan, a satellite of Saturn. The device was created in anticipation of the arrival of the Cassini Huygens probe in Titan's environment, which is said to have an atmosphere quite similar to that of the Earth. Visitors will be able to see a low-pressure radio-frequency electric discharge plasma through the instrument's porthole, which produces a pink light. The general public will be able to find out more about the history of this instrument and how it works, thanks to the scientists on hand.
The scientific objectives are to characterize the environments of Jupiter and its icy satellites hosting subsurface oceans. The activity will focus on discovering these ocean worlds through a fun activity based on a board game developed in the laboratory.
The aim here is to explain how the earth has been divided into degrees, minutes and seconds, which give the geographical coordinates.
Participants will then create a compass rose or take part in a treasure hunt.
Before we travel into space, let's discover what's behind our terrestrial oceans: oceanic ridges and zones of hydrothermal activity. The latter prove that life is possible in liquid water, even under high pressure and without light.
Then it's off to Mars, where a phantom ocean is suspected to have existed. Observe the networks of liquid flows that are still visible, and the low-lying plains that must have been ocean floors 3 billion years ago.
The journey will continue to Jupiter and its major moons, to which ESA sent the Juice mission last April, specifically to characterize the presence of an ocean beneath the surface of the moons Europa, Ganymede and Callisto.
The discovery will conclude with Saturn and its moons Mimas, Enceladus, Tethys and Titan.
Oxygen 1 Hydrogen 2, all multiplied by hundreds of billions of billions, we get: an ocean.
But what do we know about our oceans? Apparently, we know more about the Moon than we do about the abyssal ocean floor!
You're invited to join us as we take stock of what we know, and define our priorities for tomorrow.
Médiathèque Jacques Prévert
Using small, familiar materials (corks, rubber bands, skewer picks, polystyrene, etc.) and specific equipment (motors, batteries, alligator clips, etc.), participants are invited to create machines that meet an unusual challenge. With the ocean-themed "Automat'Omatic", participants are tasked with representing a scene (on the theme of the sea) that starts moving when a crank on the side of the box is turned. From the simplest gears to the most complex, there's plenty to keep you guessing!
from 5 years upwards
Some stories have no end! Such is the case with Scrappy, a little monkey who wants to leave his island. To do this, Scrappy needs the children's help to figure out how to build a boat, so he can finish the story! After telling the story to the children, our mediator invites them to test the buoyancy of various items scattered around the room. This helps them understand why some objects float and others sink, and enables them to tackle their mission together: to build a boat that can float and carry a little monkey.
This hands-on workshop puts children in the position of experimenters, awakening in them an initial understanding of the phenomenon of buoyancy, while at the same time getting them to work on their fine motor skills.
Planktos, an immersive, educational experience in the heart of the ocean
Nicole KING, eco-artist, Alpico painter and environmental engineer in water and pollution, presents her book "Pour une eau vivante" (for living water).
Planktos, an immersive, educational experience in the heart of the ocean
Discover programming and coding with Matatalab robots - Treasure Island
discover programming and coding with the Dash robot - waste collector
Two children, one living on the edge of the desert, the other on an island where resources are abundant. The first is threatened by drought, the second by the salt water that will submerge his island. They meet and set off in search of a land where water and land are in harmony. A journey towards life begins... What will this great adventure have in store for them? A show full of songs and beautiful music, with two characters sometimes played by the actors, sometimes in the form of puppets, for a moving, poetic and captivating story.
After outlining the processes governing water flow, particularly on the continents, the presentation will review the state of water resources in France and around the world. The link between surface water and groundwater will be discussed, as will the influence of human activity on the latter.
Water is "a renewable but not inexhaustible resource", a resource whose potential and fragility are not always fully appreciated by human beings. Pollution and unbridled consumption pose a lasting threat. The 2024 edition of the Fête de la Science offers you the chance to find out more about the properties of this exceptional raw material, and to learn more about its proper management and preservation, through an original exhibition for the general public and workshops for schoolchildren.
Pierre Benoit, Director of Research at INRAE, specializes in the functional ecology and ecotoxicology of agrosystems. He is interested in the eco-dynamics of soil organic contaminants (bioavailability and transfer in soils) and in assessing the environmental impact of different agricultural practices and landscaping schemes.
Water is "a renewable but not inexhaustible resource", a resource whose potential and fragility are not always fully appreciated by human beings. Pollution and unbridled consumption pose a lasting threat. The 2024 edition of the Fête de la Science offers you the chance to find out more about the properties of this exceptional raw material, and to learn more about its proper management and preservation, through an original exhibition for the general public and workshops for schoolchildren.
Oxygen 1 Hydrogen 2, all multiplied by hundreds of billions of billions, we get: an ocean.
But what do we know about our oceans? Apparently, we know more about the Moon than we do about the abyssal ocean floor!
You're invited to join us as we take stock of what we know, and define our priorities for tomorrow.
Experience a planetarium session in an immersive sound environment. Accompanied by students from the Quincy Jones Conservatory and Star Park mediators, let us guide you through the starry skies of the northern hemisphere and plunge into the mythology of constellations linked to water. Learn how to spot them and discover how navigators used the stars to find their way around the seas and oceans.
Sessions are open to children aged 6 and over. Space is limited to 30 people per session, so bookings must be made directly with the Quincy Jones Conservatory.
Le Phare multimedia library
What does science know about the oceans? Come and discover what's at stake, through activities, games, experiments and constructions. Different themes will be addressed: ocean and climate, ocean and global warming, ocean and life, and ocean and resources.
With Liam de Sousa, UVSQ master's student specializing in ancient history, and Laure Bonnaud-Ponticelli, professor at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle. The meeting is moderated by Jean Marc Galan, science journalist.
The octopus is an animal that has always fascinated humans, whether for its appearance, its abilities or its intelligence.
In this meeting, we'll take a look at two aspects of the octopus: on the one hand, the use of this animal on amphorae in Antiquity, and on the other, we'll delve into the brain of this animal (and other cephalopods).
La Grande Accélération is a visual and sound installation project focusing on the evolution of melting ice. It is based on data simulating the retreat of the Ross Barrier in the Antarctic region. The aim of the project is to offer a sensitive experience of climate disruption through the evolution of an audiovisual landscape constructed from the analysis of scientific data showing glacial flow and erosion over the next 100 years.
The installation is made up of several elements that stage these data and replay the trajectories they inexorably draw. Firstly, these trajectories appear on Plexiglas plates, representing the evolution of the ice barrier. They are also drawn using clouds of video-projected particles in the exhibition space, which respond to music created in real time.
This project was funded by La Diagonale Paris-Saclay as part of the "Expérimentation 2020" Arts-Sciences-Technologies call for projects
Oxygen 1 Hydrogen 2, all multiplied by hundreds of billions of billions, we get: an ocean.
But what do we know about our oceans? Apparently, we know more about the Moon than we do about the abyssal ocean floor!
You're invited to join us as we take stock of what we know, and define our priorities for tomorrow.
Some stories have no end! Such is the case with Scrappy, a little monkey who wants to leave his island. To do this, Scrappy needs the children's help to figure out how to build a boat, so he can finish the story! After telling the story to the children, our mediator invites them to test the buoyancy of various items scattered around the room. This helps them understand why some objects float and others sink, and enables them to tackle their mission together: to build a boat that can float and carry a little monkey.
This hands-on workshop puts children in the position of experimenters, awakening in them an initial understanding of the phenomenon of buoyancy, while at the same time getting them to work on their fine motor skills.
Join us on Saturday, October 05, 2024, from 7pm, at the Médiathèque du Canal for a Cult' Evening that will take you back into the world of Avatar 2, two years after its release. With our experts, decipher a few excerpts from one of the most emblematic and popular works of science fiction! Caroline Freissinet, CNRS researcher in planetary sciences and astrochemistry, will talk to us about extraterrestrial life and the conditions required for its existence. And of course, the Soirée Cult' includes a quiz and a gourmet break. Great atmosphere guaranteed!
In partnership with Instant Science, initiators of the Soirées Cult' projects
Conte-gouttes is a show on the theme of water, evoking its scientific properties (liquid, solid, gaseous), its natural cycle and ecological issues in a playful and poetic way.
Through short stories and anecdotes, the aim is to make children aware of the presence of water around them in all its forms, and to raise their awareness of the issues that water raises as an essential element of life.
Who lives in all that salt water? Beneath the surface, thanks to the sunlight, sea urchins, shellfish, sponges and fish spread out around the algae or hide in the seagrass beds.
The deep sea is home to fish with big eyes that help them find their way in the dark. In the deep blue, each fish has its own strategy for feeding, defending itself and reproducing!
Bring your toddler (aged 4 and over) to Marie's workshop to find out!
Want to be a scientist's apprentice? Join us for a fascinating workshop on the theme of the ocean: raising awareness, exploring and discovering marine life!
Conte-gouttes is a show on the theme of water, evoking its scientific properties (liquid, solid, gaseous), its natural cycle and ecological issues in a playful and poetic way.
Through short stories and anecdotes, the aim is to make children aware of the presence of water around them in all its forms, and to raise their awareness of the issues that water raises as an essential element of life.
What does science know about the oceans? Come and discover what's at stake, through activities, games, experiments and constructions. Different themes will be addressed: ocean and climate, ocean and global warming, ocean and life, and ocean and resources.
Why does ice float? Can you walk on water? How can you have burning arms without burning yourself? Why can an ant drown in a drop of water? How do you "saber" Badoit without a sword, and without spilling any?
Everyday objects, observations on the surface of a lake or at the bottom of the sea - everything is a pretext for taking an interest in water, which is everywhere.
This science show will provide an opportunity, through experiments and challenges (both manipulative and intellectual), to discover what water is, its properties and how it interacts with its surroundings...
From small manipulations with kitchen utensils to big experiments, there's something for everyone!
Open to all, ages 7 and up
Parc aux étoiles
Come and discover it through a thematic tour highlighting the celestial bodies on which water is present. Find out what form water takes in our Universe, what experiments have been carried out to prove its presence on certain stars, and much more.
In this talk, we'll retrace its journey from its birth in interstellar clouds to its arrival on Earth.
The lecture is open to children aged 8 and over. Places are limited, so reservations are strongly recommended.
This lecture is given by François Dulieu, University Professor at CY Cergy Paris Université, LERMA Laboratory.
Come and discover it through a thematic tour highlighting the celestial bodies on which water is present. Accompanied by students from the Quincy Jones Conservatory, you'll discover in an immersive sound environment, as you move through the dioramas of the Parc aux étoiles, what form water takes in our Universe, what experiments have been carried out to attest to its presence on certain stars and much more.
Ages 6 and up. Places are limited, so booking is essential.
On Saturdays from October 5 to 12, Vélizy-Villacoublay's media library offers events for the whole family.
Saturday, October 5:
- With animations, games, challenges, experiments and constructions, discover the scientific and social issues surrounding the oceans with Sciencis. 4pm. [Places limited]
- Discover a selection of board games for 3-6 year-olds on the theme of oceans. 16h.
- Discover the seabed in the video game Abzû on PS5, free access all afternoon. 16h.
Wednesday, October 9:
- Discover a selection of ocean-themed board games for ages 6 and up. 15h.
- Come and try out the game TheBlu on our virtual reality headsets. [Places limited] 2pm.
Saturday, October 12:
- Translate a story into sounds and noises around the imaginary oceans. Ages 6 to 10, 4pm.
- Creation of a luminous coral reef: playful workshop to sensitize children to our planet's tropical reefs. Ages 4 to 6, 4:30pm.
Come and take part in fun, educational workshops on protecting, defending and conserving the seabed. On the program: experiments, games and debates to raise awareness of the preservation of endangered marine species, the dangers of noise and plastic pollution, and ways to help preserve the oceans.
Come and take part in fun-filled scientific workshops on the theme of water, led by the association Les Petits Débrouillards. On the program: experiments designed to raise awareness of biodiversity preservation and actions to combat pollution and global warming.
Come and take part in fun-filled scientific workshops on the theme of water, led by the association Les Petits Débrouillards. On the program: experiments designed to raise awareness of biodiversity preservation and actions to combat pollution and global warming.
Why does ice float? Can you walk on water? How can you have burning arms without burning yourself? Why can an ant drown in a drop of water? How do you "saber" Badoit without a sword, and without spilling any?
Everyday objects, observations on the surface of a lake or at the bottom of the sea - everything is a pretext for taking an interest in water, which is everywhere.
This science show will provide an opportunity, through experiments and challenges (both manipulative and intellectual), to discover what water is, its properties and how it interacts with its surroundings...
From small manipulations with kitchen utensils to big experiments, there's something for everyone!
Open to all, ages 7 and up
Why does ice float? Can you walk on water? How can you have burning arms without burning yourself? Why can an ant drown in a drop of water? How do you "saber" Badoit without a sword, and without spilling any?
Everyday objects, observations on the surface of a lake or at the bottom of the sea - everything is a pretext for taking an interest in water, which is everywhere.
This science show will provide an opportunity, through experiments and challenges (both manipulative and intellectual), to discover what water is, its properties and how it interacts with its surroundings...
From small manipulations with kitchen utensils to big experiments, there's something for everyone!
Open to all, ages 7 and up
An exciting program to discover without delay! And for more outings and events, check out the full Fête de la Science program.
Fête de la Science 2024 in Paris and Ile-de-France, free events to discover
The Fête des Sciences returns from October 4 to 14, 2024 for its 33rd edition! What's it all about? A week dedicated to scientific culture, with numerous free events all over France. Experiments, shows, open houses, visits and a host of workshops, open to all and adapted to children, await you in the four corners of Paris and the Île-de-France region! [Read more]
Dates and Opening Time
From October 4, 2024 to October 14, 2024
Official website
www.fetedelascience.fr