Three science outreach workshops at a festival

What we did

For the Inspirations durables festival, the Town of Saint-Gratien asked Cortex to design a series of science outreach workshops on biomimicry and animal behaviour. Three formats were devised to reach a family and intergenerational audience.

A workshop on gastropods, combining observation under a magnifying glass, sensory discovery and scientific anecdotes, to better understand the ecological role of these often overlooked animals. A workshop on the bee dance, combining physical play, sensory exploration and a scientific explanation of how pollinators communicate. And a workshop on biomimicry, with concrete examples of innovations inspired by the living world and hands-on activities adapted for children.

Designed to fit the pace of a festival, these workshops made it possible to approach scientific concepts in a playful way that was accessible to everyone. Each session was led by science outreach facilitators from the research world.

“Cortex was responsive and adaptable throughout our discussions, and the three workshops proposed matched the needs we had expressed perfectly. A really wonderful experience!”