8th edition of the "Sud de sciences" festival from December 2 to 7, 2025, for a different way of experiencing science in Montpellier
The University of Montpellier, the Faculty of Sciences, four partner organizations (CIRAD, INRAE, INSERM, IRD), the Center for Scientific and Technical Imagination (CIST), the City of Montpellier, the Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole media library network, and Arte Campus are joining forces to organize the8th edition of the "Sud de sciences" festival. This annual event, dedicated to scientific film, affirms a shared ambition: to strengthen the dialogue between science and society by offering free screenings of recent documentaries to as many people as possible, followed by discussions with researchers and filmmakers. The 2025 edition offers a rich and diverse program, held in several media libraries in the metropolitan area (Castries, Castelnau-le-Lez, Clapiers, Montpellier) as well as at the Nestor Burma cinema.
Once again this year, the festival is supported by the University of Montpellier's Science with and for Society (SAPS) ministerial label. As part of this certification, the commitment to making scientific culture increasingly accessible continues. Special attention will be paid to the inclusion of deaf and hard-of-hearing people during the evening event on Thursday, December 4.
"Sud de sciences" 2025: a program to understand, question, and debate
This new edition explores major scientific issues: accelerated glacier melt, the Anthropocene, the ubiquity of screens, sustainable food, biodiversity, living soils, innovative fish farming in the Amazon, and geological mysteries in the Mediterranean. The common thread is an essential theme: the fight against misinformation, addressed in particular during a day dedicated to professionals, students, and the general public.
SCREENINGS & DISCUSSIONS:
- Tuesday, December 2 at 6:30 p.m. at the Albert Camus media library (Clapiers)
"Arctic Glaciers, Current Status" by Pierre Dugowson, 2025 – 52 min
Glaciologist Heïdi Sevestre travels across the glaciers of Svalbard to assess the state of a global phenomenon: rapid ice melt.
Speaker: Frédéric Bouchette, University Professor, Geosciences Montpellier.
- Thursday, December 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the Emile Zola media library (Montpellier)
"Anthropocene, the relentless investigation" by Cédric Defert, 2024 – 58 min
A scientific exploration of the clues that could define humanity's entry into a new geological era.
Speakers: Cédric Defert, director, Mary Robles, PhD in paleoecology and paleoclimatology (ISEM – UM), and Ludovic Dolez, PhD in archaeology and paleoenvironments (UM). Accessible session: adapted subtitles + LSF interpreting.
- Friday, December 5 at 6 p.m. at the Françoise Giroud media library (Castries)
"What if we looked up? A class facing screens" by Gilles Vernet, 2024 – 53 min
A teacher and his students question the role of screens, going so far as to experiment with ten days of disconnection.
Speakers: Gilles Vernet & Diane Purper-Ouakil (Montpellier University Hospital).
- Friday, December 5 at 8:30 p.m. at the Françoise Giroud media library (Castries)
"Planet Collembola: The Secret Life of Soil" by Philippe Lebeaux, 2023 – 52 min
Spectacular discovery of microscopic life in soil.
Speaker: Jérôme Cortet, University Professor (CEFE – Montpellier).
- Saturday, December 6 at 10 a.m. at the Aimé Césaire media library (Castelnau-le-Lez)
"The Fox Who Saved His Island" by Emma Baus, 2025 – 52 min
The incredible story of the Santa Cruz Island gray fox, which has recovered from near extinction.
Speakers: Emma Baus & Marianne Dupré-Gabirot (University of Montpellier).
- Saturday, December 6 at 3 p.m. at the Aimé Césaire media library (Castelnau-le-Lez)
"What shall we eat? Ideas for better nutrition tomorrow" by Bertrand Delapierre, 2025 – 90 min
Concrete ways to reduce the environmental impact of our food.
Speaker: Caroline Méjean, Research Director (INRAE – MOISA).
- Saturday, December 6 at 5 p.m. at the Emile Zola media library (Montpellier)
“Sustainable Fish Farming in the Amazon” byAna Castañeda, 2025 – 20 min
Fish farmers are developing an innovative industry that uses organic waste transformed into fish feed.
Speaker: Michel Sauvain, Emeritus Research Director (IRD – PHARMA-DEV).
- Sunday, December 7 at 11 a.m. at the Nestor Burma cinema (Montpellier)
"Reunion Island, Laboratory of Evolution" by Jürgen Hansen, 2024 – 52 min
How to protect a recent island ecosystem that has been weakened by human activity.
Speakers: Jürgen Hansen, Vasilis Dakos (CNRS – ISEM), Adrien Chevallier (IRD – MARBEC), Mathieu Rouget (CIRAD – PVBMT).
- Sunday, December 7 at 3 p.m. at the Emile Zola media library (Montpellier)
Cap Corse, the Mystery of the Rings by Yann Rineau, 2024 – 90 min
A scientific investigation led by Laurent Ballesta into mysterious underwater structures.
Speaker: Julie Deter, scientific director of the film (Andromède Océanologie).
A professional, student, and public event on Wednesday, December 3, 2025
University of Montpellier, Triolet campus, lecture hall A36.01
9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Interactive conference "What is scientific evidence?" by Frédéric Feu (CIST), as part of the regional project Science or Fake News?
1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Arte Campus master class on the film "La fabrique de l'ignorance" (2021) with Franck Cuveillier, co-director, Sophie Della Mussia (CIRAD – communication/scientific mediation), Pierrick Labbé (ISEM).
Reservations recommended in the morning: here and in the afternoon: here
School screenings
Organized throughout the year in partner schools, upon registration, based on documentaries adapted to elementary, middle, and high school levels.
Practical information:
- Date: December 2–7, 2025
- Program, registration, and information about the festival: here