The Spring Science Festival is the must-see science and technology event in Wallonia and Brussels. It takes place every year at the beginning of spring and offers free activities that are accessible to everyone.
Initiated by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, Printemps des Sciences is coordinated by the Sciences.be network and organized by French-speaking universities and colleges. For the occasion, the University of Namur is coordinating numerous activities at the provincial level.
Throughout this week, Printemps des Sciences inspires or confirms scientific vocations, helps teachers improve and enrich their teaching methods, gives students a more realistic perception of today's research, improves the general perception of science, contributes to reintegrating this knowledge into the heart of general culture, and improves the level of scientific culture among citizens.
The 25th edition of Printemps des Sciences (Science Spring) is being prepared for 2026, with scientific culture as its theme.
This opens up a new perspective on the world. It encourages curiosity, invites us to question what seems obvious to us, and pushes us to explore what remains invisible. Thanks to it, the ordinary becomes a field of discovery, and the mundane reveals unexpected dimensions. It thus allows us to better understand our environment, to question it, but also to marvel at its richness, beauty, and complexity.
Once again this year, teachers, researchers, students, and the academic community at UNamur are coming together to offer a variety of activities for schools and the general public. With conferences, exhibitions, shows, observations, and various experiments, there will be something for everyone! Here is an overview of the public programming offered at UNamur:
Video games, artificial intelligence, technical constraints, and creativity: how do these dimensions interact in today's professions? During this original playconference, three researchers from the University of Namur will play the multi-award-winning game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 live, while explaining their research on digital media, computer science, and creative professions. A fun immersion to better understand the contemporary challenges of the video game industry.
Raphaël Liégeois shares his extraordinary journey to becoming an astronaut at the European Space Agency (ESA), including his educational background, choices, doubts, and motivations. He talks about his daily life at the astronaut training center and the impact of space missions on our everyday lives, all illustrated with photos, videos, and anecdotes. The meeting continues with an open discussion with the students.
Three minutes flat. That's all the time doctoral students have to present their thesis topic to the general public in a clear, accessible, and compelling way. This task of popularizing their work pushes young researchers to be creative. Whether through humor, simplicity, or emotion, each participant chooses their most effective tools to transform complexity into curiosity.
The afternoon and evening of Saturday, March 28 will be devoted to exploring the wonders of the sky in a friendly atmosphere that is accessible to the whole family. The program includes interactive workshops, fun stands, a captivating show, and stargazing sessions. This is a unique opportunity to learn, experiment, and marvel together at the infinity of the cosmos.