The Fête de la Science 2025 celebrates all types of intelligences

After sports in 2023 and oceans in 2024, the public is invited, for the 34th Fête de la science (Celebrating Science), to “explore all forms of intelligence and rethink what it means to be intelligent, beyond human boundaries”. As requested by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, main organiser of this event: “Are you ready to put your brains to work”?

Awakening curiosity

The Fête de la science 2025 highlights all types of intelligence this year. But what are “intelligences”? What are they about? The French Ministry of Research clarifies the nature and scope of these intelligences: “Those that beat within humans, those that hum in the animal world, those that hide in numbers and equations, or even those that are built together, collectively”, not forgetting, of course, “artificial intelligence, which has been booming in recent years”.

As every year, thousands of original, free and participatory events are being organised throughout France: laboratory visits, Science Villages, exhibitions, debates, performances, workshops, and more. All events are “fun and accessible to everyone,” and all are designed to “awaken curiosity.” To date, nearly 7,000 events are scheduled!

Universities at the forefront

Universities, which in France are at the heart of research, will be the prime venues for the Fête de la science. As the etudiant.gouv website points out, students are also “actors of the Fête de la science, through doctorate students or student associations”. Many institutions are indeed organising events, most often within Science Villages specially set up on campuses for the occasion. 

Here’s a sample of events set up throughout France, and accessible using an interactive map on the dedicated Fête de la Science website:

• the Éclats de sciences, an annual festival organised by the Grenoble Alpes University, which “makes science fun and accessible,” with a friendly exploration and a “bustling programme that lightens every moment of the day across the campus, put together by more than 110 scientists who share their daily lives and professions”;
• the Festival des sciences at the Lille University, which offers the chance to “meet those who do research, through scientific workshops, exhibitions, shows, open days, and more”;
• the Fête de la science at University of Toulouse, which features “a rich and diverse programme” addressing many issues related to intelligences, particularly the intelligence of living beings and artificial intelligence;
• the Pôle Animation at Gustave Eiffel University in Champs-sur-Marne, with interactive areas, as well as demonstrations and exhibitions where one can “test, exchange, experiment and question scientists.” 

Science festival

Research organisations haven’t been forgotten. Most are also coordinating events, often in connection with universities. This is the case for:

• INSERM, which organises the “72h de sciences” (72 hours of science) at the Musée des Arts et Métiers (Paris), a weekend of science and celebration: the museum opens its doors free of charge from Friday 3 to Sunday 5 October for three days of experiments, unexpected events and surprises;
• CNRS, which organises “Visites insolites” (Unusual visits), a “special opportunity” to access labs and experimental platforms which are usually closed to the public, in over 90 unusual visits accessible all over France;
• the INRIA Centre at Paris-Saclay continues its participation to the Villages des Sciences (Science Villages) organised by the Polytechnic Institute of Paris and the University of Paris-Saclay for a “weekend rich in discoveries and fun experiences in relation with digital sciences”;
• lFREMER offers activities in several places in France: stands with scientists, participation to conferences, art-sciences shows and more.

About the World Science Day all over the world

Abroad and overseas, about 500 events are set up for the general audience from November 10th to 27th. This timeframe starts with the World Science Day for Peace and Development (set every year on November 10th) to organise highlights dedicated to the Fête de la Science overseas and internationally.

As the website dedicated to the Fête de la science explains, this world day celebrated by the United Nations and UNESCO aims at “providing information to citizens about science progress while shedding the light on the role of scientists in the understanding of our world”. From November 10th to 27th, it will be an opportunity “for all lovers of the French language to come together everywhere in the world to celebrate science”.

Autour du World Science Day à l’international

A l’étranger (et en outre-mer), ce sont près de 500 événements qui attendent le grand public, du 10 au 27 novembre. C'est en effet autour de cette date centrale de la Journée mondiale pour la science au service de la paix et du développement (World Science Day, fixée au 10 novembre chaque année) que se déroule ce temps fort dédié à la Fête de la science en outremer et à l'international.

Comme l’indique le site dédié à la Fête de la science, cette journée mondiale proclamée par les Nations Unies et l’UNESCO a pour objectifs « d’informer les citoyens sur les avancées des sciences, tout en soulignant le rôle des scientifiques dans la compréhension de notre monde ». Du 10 au 27 novembre, c'est donc l'occasion « pour tous les amoureux de la langue française de se rassembler partout dans le monde pour célébrer les sciences ».