Several Nobel Prize winners, 80 researchers… The first international scientific summit takes place in Paris-Saclay

Will we be able to treat all types of cancer in the future? What does the fabulous life of bacteria look like? Will the hydrogen revolution go crazy? These are some of the topics that will be addressed during the first Paris-Saclay Summit – Choose Science. From February 29 to March 1, the Saclay plateau, or more precisely the EDF laboratory located in Palaiseau (Essonne), will host 80 world-renowned researchers.

The event, organized by the city community, the regional council and the weekly Le Point, will be open to the general public free of charge and aims to “make people fall in love with science” and “attract public attention to various topics that are of great importance to humanity.” future. A press conference was held at the regional headquarters in Saint-Ouen (Seine-Saint-Denis) on Tuesday at which its contents were revealed.

Grégoire de Lasteyry, President (Horizons) of Paris-Saclay, has been thinking about this first edition since 2020. “But Covid forced us to postpone,” he admits. In the face of growing public doubts about science, there is an urgent need to create the conditions for genuine debate about its role. We must lay the foundations for a new era of enlightenment that meets the challenges of the 21st century. If I dare say so, we need to think about scientific re-equipment. »

15% of French scientific research is established in Paris-Saclay.

For the elected official, as well as the mayor of Palaiseau, the Saclay plateau is the ideal location because it is a “weapon of large-scale innovation.” “The territory is among the top 8 in the world for innovation centers. More than 15% of French research is based here, with plans to reach 25% by 2030. This concentration over an area of ​​several square kilometers is unique in the world. »

This international summit is to be the first in a series. “We must return science to the place it deserves in society, in the professional environment,” insists Grégoire de Lasteyri. According to a January 2023 Ifop study, only 33% of 18-24 year olds believe science does more good than harm, down from 55% in 1972. Every sixth young person believes that the Earth is flat, and in the United States, 42% of Americans believe in the creationist theory. We are organizing this event because we are sensible and responsible science activists. Not blind followers, but those who realize that without the contribution of science nothing will be done. »

Valerie Pecresse, president of the (LR, Libres!) Regional Council, is even more direct. “We are Scientophiles, not Scientosceptics. Conspiracy theorists hide and boycott scientific truth. This first international summit should reconcile society with researchers who should guide society and public policy. It is an act of faith in science. »

“Make science exciting and fun”

Over the course of two days, 80 world-renowned researchers and representatives of the industry’s academic centers (Paris-Saclay University and Paris Polytechnic Institute) will discuss a wide range of topics with the public. Guests include several Nobel Prize winners, such as physicist Alain Aspect, who will discuss his work on quantum theory and entanglement, as well as astrobiologist Nathalie Cabrol, who is discovering traces of life in space, physicist and philosopher of science Etienne Klein, paleoclimatologist Jean Juzelle, social and social activist climate justice Camille Etienne, Julia Jung, an American researcher from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) named innovator of the year, or even Thierry Marx, who will offer a master’s degree in Raphael Aumont’s culinary innovation class.

“We have about ten nationalities,” says Romain Gonzalez, events editor at Le Point. The scientists present came from South Africa, the USA, Ethiopia, Iran… Science can be difficult and traumatic. The goal of this summit is to make it friendly, interesting, and understandable. This is not a given, since France is not a country with a huge scientific culture. But the event will not be academic, it is free and open to everyone, with the exception of students and researchers from the Saclay Plateau, Ile-de-France and France. »

Organizers hope to welcome 1,000 visitors a day and the debate will be “accessible” and bilingual, with translations in English and French. “Science is a political and journalistic battle,” concludes Etienne Gernel, director of the weekly Le Point. Science is fun and exciting. It will be fun too, we will learn, we will laugh. »

Paris-Saclay Summit – Choose science from February 29 to March 1 at the EDF Palaiseau laboratory. Free, but registration is at https://evenements.lepoint.fr/paris-saclay-summit/programme.