“Je me sens chez moi ici.”
Formulated by a regular attendee of the conferences offered at the Heart of Science, this comment is worth its weight in gold for Stéphan Chaix, who shares the anecdote. “Our team works very hard to welcome people and create beautiful encounters between them and the invited scientists,” observes the director of this prominent venue for popularization, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary these days.
The Heart of Science at UQAM attracts over 70,000 people each year to conferences, talks, roundtable discussions, scientific walks, laboratory workshops, virtual tours, and science and cinema evenings. Its mission is to contribute to the development of scientific culture among the general public and to promote it as an integral part of culture.
Context: The Heart of Science is a popular venue at UQAM that hosts various scientific events and activities to engage the public.
“Une liberté éditoriale appréciée”
The Heart of Science at UQAM is unique in the Quebec university landscape, according to Stéphan Chaix. “We enjoy fantastic editorial freedom, which is all to the credit of UQAM. We are primarily a center for the dissemination of science to the general public, and our credibility is linked to this mission, which is not about institutional promotion. Of course, we often rely on experts from UQAM, our activities take place there, and many activities are led by UQAM students – in this way, we showcase the institution – but we also don’t hesitate to contact specialists from other institutions.”
Fact Check: The Heart of Science at UQAM values its editorial independence and aims to engage with the public through various scientific activities while collaborating with experts from different institutions.
“Le volet scolaire, très populaire”
In parallel with the public offerings, the school component has developed to now play a decisive role in the activities of the Heart of Science. The programming includes interactive conferences, called “science sprints,” which allow middle school students to experience the stages of a real scientific research project in 60 or 75 minutes. Guided activities, in the form of walks, rallies, or lab visits, are also led by students.
Context: The educational aspect of the Heart of Science includes interactive sessions for students to participate in scientific experiments and learn about various subjects directly.
These are just a few excerpts from the extensive coverage of UQAM’s Heart of Science and its impact on the community.
