Pariscience offers screenings of scientific films followed by discussions with the film teams and scientists, as well as activities aimed at schools and professionals.
“ The scientific documentary allows for popularization and thus to talk about science, especially to audiences who may not necessarily feel comfortable with these issues. ” The video format allows for leveraging “ the emotions and sensory experience that a film brings ” to reach the general public, explains Clotilde Pilot.
The topics covered go far beyond strict sciences. From climate to environment, artificial intelligence, health, and energy, these are also societal issues.
“ Today, we need more than ever to understand what is happening around us to also grasp these major challenges and be informed citizens who can act and make the most judicious decisions ,” explains Clotilde Pilot.
Documentaries also offer a different relationship to time. “ It's information over the long term, with investigations lasting months, filming, and editing. It's not hot information in real-time ,” emphasizes Romane Olry. According to her, this temporal aspect allows for a greater perspective on the subjects discussed.
The festival places significant importance on young people. Nearly half of its audience is school-aged, from primary to high school. “ It's very important to start early in giving them a certain scientific culture, to develop their critical thinking, and also their curiosity. ” This interest already exists: 71 % of students say they enjoy working with science, and 91 % of 15-17 year-olds see science as a lever for understanding the world.
This year, three themes were particularly highlighted: health and care, the history of science, and the relationships between humans and animals. But beyond the screenings, Pariscience also seeks to extend reflection and promote action. “ We also try to get involved in supporting impact campaigns ,” explains Clotilde Pilot. The festival notably conducts actions aimed at “ encouraging citizens to mobilize on issues, particularly climate and environmental ones .”
The next Pariscience festival will take place from October 22 to 26, 2026, at the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle and the Institut de physique du globe de Paris.
