On this page, you’ll discover the various workshops on offer during the Fête de la Science at the Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers. Each workshop reflects the passion and expertise of our researchers, aiming to spark interest in science and engage the public in a fascinating exploration of modern scientific knowledge.
Attrape-moi si tu peux : la course folle du système immunitaire contre le cancer
From age 11
A biological “escape game” to find cancer and eradicate it using the immune system…
Patient X038’s immune system has gone haywire, and a cancer has begun to spread in his body. He urgently needs help to regain control! Come and investigate in the laboratory to find out where and how cancer develops, and what weapons are available to fight it.
This biological escape game will give you a first-hand experience of basic laboratory techniques: microscopy, cell culture, histology and other surprises…
Le foie n’aime pas le gras!
From age 7
Come and carry out an experiment on fat absorption by the liver: prepare the reagents, stimulate the cells, and reveal the results.
Whether it’s called non-alcoholic steatosis, fatty liver disease or soda disease, this silent pathology is a major problem in our industrialized countries. Linked in large part to junk food, it can have serious consequences on the health of sufferers, to the point of putting them at vital risk if the disease is not diagnosed in time. After a short introduction to the role of the liver and a brief presentation of our research work, you’ll be able to feed our liver cells in culture good fat and bad fat, and analyze the effect of these two nutrients on the function of your cells. At the same time, you’ll be able to explore our laboratory, and ask any questions that may be on your mind!
Mimer le cancer en un coup de ciseaux
From age 11
Discover CrispR/Cas9 molecular scissors (Nobel Prize 2020) and how they can be used to modify genes that are mutated in liver cancer.
We invite you to visit a research laboratory working on liver cancer using models that mimic human disease. We use the CrispR/Cas9 molecular scissors technique to modify genes mutated in cancer. After a brief introduction to liver cancer and the CrispR/Cas9 system, you’ll be able to make and observe liver sections after cell staining to understand how biologists and doctors can analyze these tumors. We’ll also show you what indicates that the CrispR technique has worked and cut the DNA, by performing a PCR and gel analysis.
Découvre le rein!
From age 11
Visit the Renal Physiology Laboratory: Come and meet the researchers studying the kidney and its functions.
You will participate in several experiments:
- “Microdissection,” which allows you to see kidney slices and microdissected nephrons under a magnifying glass.
- What does a kidney look like under the microscope? You will stain kidney sections (mouse) to distinguish between a normal kidney and one affected by renal fibrosis.
- But what is in urine? We invite you to measure the molecules present in normal urine and that of a sick patient.
Enquête au labo : les cellules en folie !
From age 9
Panic in the laboratory, liver and colon cells are out of control… Come solve the mystery and help us identify the culprit!
Help us!!!! Liver and colon cells have started dividing chaotically and have gone completely mad and out of control! Now, panic has set in because a tumor is developing in these organs! Several suspects responsible for the appearance of these mutants have been identified: tobacco, alcohol, processed meat, a nasty toxin, or even a virus. Aspiring Sherlock Holmes, detective-researchers, we need you to investigate and find the culprit!
Le B-A-BA des cellules
For students
Come discover and experiment with the scientists’ secrets for studying, preserving, cultivating, staining, and exploring human body cells!
Studying human body cells is essential for understanding diseases and developing treatments.
Through various workshops, you will learn how to preserve cells (both human and bacterial), extract their DNA, perform the proper techniques for cultivating them, and use different methods to characterize their components.
Les cellules brillent dans la nuit
From age 11
Experiment with two fluorescence techniques commonly used in biology to unravel the mysteries of the immune system.
Fluorescence is a widely used technique for observation in biology. After a brief introduction to the phenomenon of fluorescence, we will explain the principles of fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. You will then have the opportunity to experiment with both techniques yourself.
Atchoum ! Aidons Nouka à lutter contre ses allergies !
From age 7
Nouka has an allergy to her favorite food! Help us uncover the cause of her illness and choose the right treatment!
Nouka, our beloved stuffed bear, is allergic to her favorite food! She sneezes, scratches, and has blue patches all over her body. A gene is responsible for her allergy—come help us identify it using bioinformatics. You’ll also explore how her environment affects her allergies and assist in selecting the best treatment.
Le rein, filtre de vie
From age 6
Visit the Renal Physiology Laboratory: How do researchers study the kidney and its functions?
Come meet the researchers studying the kidney.
You will participate in several experiments:
- The in vitro microperfusion technique, which allows you to see microdissected mouse kidney slices under a magnifying glass and a segment of nephron mounted on the microscope.
- Staining of kidney sections (mouse), which helps distinguish between a normal kidney and one affected by renal fibrosis.
- The use of urine test strips to identify various conditions (diabetes, urinary infection, kidney failure).
Les dents, reflet de notre santé
For students
The condition of your teeth reflects your overall health.
In these workshops, researchers will show you healthy teeth, pathological teeth, and various biological techniques used to diagnose dental diseases.
Et mon œil… comment il voit?
For students
The eye converts light into signals that the brain can interpret, a process it performs more or less effectively depending on its health and the quality of the light to which it is exposed.
You will test your knowledge of the eye through a fun quiz. With optical illusions, you will experience different perceptions of a normal versus pathological eye. Finally, you will learn how light can, under certain conditions, severely impact eye health.
L’autophagie, ou comment la cellule recycle ses composants
For students
Our cells are eco-friendly… they recycle their components. Come explore this crucial cellular self-digestion mechanism important for health.
Autophagy, which literally means “self-eating,” is a recycling process of damaged cellular components. This process also allows for the production of energy resources under stress conditions, such as nutrient deprivation. Autophagy plays a vital role in the proper functioning of cells and tissues, and its dysregulation can significantly impact the development and progression of various diseases, including cancer.
From microscopic observation to digital image analysis, you will discover how researchers visualize the process of autophagy.