Communication is central to the construction of scientific knowledge. Equally important is sharing this knowledge with the non-scientific public, especially outside the classroom.
Above all, knowledge is an instrument of emancipation that is conducive to informed political participation of citizens in public debates such as climate change, vaccines or even the curriculum content!
In the case of basic science, outreach activities are the only return on investment that the public can hope for in the short term.
I believe that sharing their knowledge with the public is a civic duty of researchers.
Media
- Publication of a press release of the University of Toronto (2017)
on the molecular basis for ant ‘bodyguard’ behaviour, taken up and relayed by North American online journals
- Publication of a press release of the French National Centre for Scientific Research (2013)
about retaliations against too virulent ants in an ant-plant mutualism, taken up and relayed by numerous French and Canadian journals
- Scientific advisor for part of the documentary “Through the jungle and up into space: a walk in French Guiana” (2012)
broadcasted on the German TV-channel ‘NDR’
- Scientific advisor for a report in the evening news bulletin (2007)
broadcasted on the first French TV-channel ‘TF1’ – link
- Scientific advisor for the documentary “Marriage of convenience” (2006)
which focused on the mutualistic relationship between a plant and an ant species (maker: Jean-Philippe Isel; prod: Tic-Tac Production)
Social Impact
- Manager of the social networks of the “SupayChakra project” (2016-17)
which disseminates results from my postdoc project through photos and videos Facebook, Instagram
- Inventor, presenter and organizer of the “ImprovSciences” comedy shows (20112-13)
which gathers two scientists and two improv actors on a stage
- Booth animator at various national and local science festivals (2008-13)
for children or general public
- Invited speaker for the public lecture “The history of ants and plants” (2013)
on the evolution of ant-plant relationships over time,
presented at the Philosophical Popular University, Toulouse, France
- Co-Designer of the exhibition “Animal societies: live and survive” (2012)
on the evolution of sociality in animals,
shown at the ‘knowledge festival’ La Novela, Toulouse (France)
- Invited speaker for the public lecture “The marital life of ants and plants” (2011)
on the evolution of ant-plant relationships over time,
shown at the ‘knowledge festival’ La Novela, Toulouse (France)
- Co-Designer of the exhibition “Living world, cunning world” (2011)
on the evolutionary strategies in animals to survive and reproduce,
shown at the ‘knowledge festival’ La Novela, Toulouse (France)