Prototypes. From experimentation to innovation: the Occitan example

Every day except Saturday: 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. July and August: 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Closed on May 1 and November 1.

Based on an original idea by the PATSTEC national network, this exhibition was co-produced by the PATSTEC regional missions of the University of Montpellier and the University of Toulouse, in partnership with the Centre de l'Imaginaire Scientifique et Technique (Center for Scientific and Technical Imagination) and the Musée du Saut du Tarn (Tarn Leap Museum), with financial support from the Occitanie / Pyrénées-Méditerranée Region.

Through a series of objects, interviews, and activities, visitors are encouraged to reflect on the concept of prototypes. Indispensable to discoveries both large and small, prototypes offer a glimpse behind the scenes of laboratories; their history highlights the challenges, difficulties, and hesitations involved. They are the result of collective adventures, encounters, and opportunities. And sometimes prototypes leave the lab bench and enter the business world. But beyond their technological dimension, prototypes are above all horizon openers, present in many fields and in many different forms. Both unique and threatened, they are now a precious heritage to be preserved for future generations, lest we suffer an irreversible loss of knowledge.

Exhibition accessible to people with disabilities. Guided tours for groups can be arranged by appointment. Telephone: +33 (0)5 63 45 91 01.

Events for the general public

• Wednesday, May 24 – 8:15 p.m. – All ages – Free – Public opening – Concert by Guilhem Desq.

• Thursday, May 11—starting at 6:30 p.m.—Open to all—free—No reservation required.
  FabLaB evening and Repair workshop.
  Café: 6:30 p.m.: discovery of the exhibition.
  7 p.m.: round table discussion.
  8 p.m.: Repair café with shared buffet.
  With ACNE, the Association for Digital Culture and the Environment.

• Saturday, June 3 – starting at 2 p.m. – All ages – Meet the scientists who designed the exhibition prototypes – screening – Theme: art & science.

• Sunday, October 1 – 5 p.m. – All ages – Free – No reservation required – GMEA concert – Riverrun Festival.
  The Riverrun Festival is a must-see event for musical creation in Occitanie. Find the full program at www.gmea.net.

• Tuesday, October 25 & Wednesday, October 26 – 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – reservation required – €5 per person.
  Introduction to 3D printing by FabLab Albi.
  Wednesday, October 25 for ages 11-14.
  Thursday, October 26 for all ages.
  
  The Albi FabLab offers an introduction to familiarize you with technologies, empower you, and open you up to new practices. 3D printing allows you to bring some of your desires and inventions of all kinds to life.