Outreach and science-society activities

Back to the Université Paris-Saclay Scientific Framework

Université Paris-Saclay thus views scientific outreach and participatory science as one of its core missions. We have a responsibility to be far more present as a place of  constant debate around the great societal challenges, where we can contribute methods and knowledge and where our scientists, students, the general public and policy makers exchange on an equal footing.

This commitment to promoting open, rational discussion is particularly relevant today and requires specific settings, as public discussion is often led in ways that prevent the expression of doubt and nuance. We therefore actively engage in initiatives which promote rational debate, and protect and support the academics who decide to engage in public outreach and media.

The first strategy is focused on outreach and engagement to bring science closer to citizens. Université Paris-Saclay has long been supporting its staff and students who engage in science outreach activities. Our science outreach activities target the general public, thanks notably to La Diagonale, a service centre designed to assist staff and students in their Science with and for Society activities. Actions range from scientific outreach, social and cultural engagement, arts-science interfaces, or the  promotion of scientific heritage. Université Paris-Saclay benefits in this respect from unique infrastructures, such as the Scène de Recherche, a fully equipped professional theatre dedicated to the dialogue of arts, sciences and technologies with an emphasis on outreach and public participation.

An important dimension of scientific outreach deals with academic staff either being asked by the media to speak as experts, or actively writing blogs, newspaper articles or opinion pieces. To guide our academic staff in this important but complex area where professional expertise is sometimes closely intertwined with personal convictions, we provide support as well as media training and development of scientific communication and mediation skills.

The second strategy is to encourage participatory science. Participatory science practices are continuously growing, from involving the public in data collection and  observation, to requesting public collaboration in analysis and data treatment, and up to the more ambitious co-design and co-implementation of research projects by mixed teams involving scientists and members of the general public. Université Paris-Saclay supports academic staff in the development of this range of practices. Notable examples include involvement in the Vigi-ciel project, which relies on public participation to identify and analyse meteorites, or the development of the Living Lab in  Corbeville - a place for experimentation in the field of urban agriculture and food transition, which involves researchers, citizens, local authorities and local socio-economic actors.