“Science tells stories”: three shows at the Émile Zola media library to present research in a different way

Published on January 28, 2026 in Press Room

The University of Montpellier, through its scientific culture department, and the Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole Network of Media Libraries and Scientific Culture are offering the public three storytelling performances based on the "La Science rend des contes" residency, on Saturdays February 14, March 14, and March 21, 2026, at the Émile Zola media library (Montpellier). Designed in direct collaboration with UM research teams, these events invite audiences to discover science in a different way: through storytelling, fiction, and imagination, while promoting encounters between artists and scientists. This residency is part of the ministerial label Science avec et pour la société (SAPS) (Science with and for society) supported by the University of Montpellier.

A SAPS residency to connect science and storytelling

Since September 2025, the "La Science rend des contes" residency has brought together three storytellers at the University of Montpellier's laboratories. Immersed in the world of scientists, the artists explore different research topics and transform them into stories that are accessible to all, combining scientific rigor with narrative power.

This creative project has been developed with researchers from the University of Montpellier, in close partnership with the Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole Network of Media Libraries and Scientific Culture. The aim is twofold: to open up laboratories and knowledge to the general public, while renewing the formats of scientific mediation through the art of storytelling. At the end of the residency, several productions will see the light of day. In addition to storytelling shows, podcasts and illustrations will also be developed. The podcasts will be available on the main online listening platforms.

The three dates scheduled at the Émile Zola media library are a highlight of the residency: each show is designed as a shared experience, in which the artists bring knowledge to life, then the scientists involved in the project extend the encounter through a discussion with the audience. Admission is free, subject to availability, and registration is strongly recommended on the event website.

Program of shows at the Émile Zola media library

Saturday, February 14, 2026 (4:00–5:00 p.m.): "Can we count on mosquitoes?"

The first show takes a familiar subject, the mosquito, and turns it into a real story. Behind this insect, often associated with nuisance, lies a complex world: species diversity, ecological roles, interactions with other forms of life, virus circulation, and more. The show draws on this wealth of scientific knowledge while evoking imagery from a variety of sources, including tales from Africa and northern regions.

This show brings together storyteller Francine Vidal, accompanied by scientists Mathieu Sicard, professor at the Institute of Evolutionary Sciences in Montpellier (ISEM), and Claire Loiseau, researcher at the MIVEGEC laboratory (Infectious Diseases and Vectors: Ecology, Genetics, Evolution, and Control). Together, they offer a format combining narration, dialogue, and scientific perspective to take a different look at a tiny but essential insect.

Saturday, March 14, 2026 (4:00–5:00 p.m.): "Lokili – The Worlds of Water"

The second event immerses the audience in an adventure centered on water, an essential yet fragile resource. The tale "Lokili – Les mondes de l'eau" (Lokili – The Worlds of Water), narrated by Rémi Garcia Kerviel, follows a character named Léo, who sets out in search of the Lord of the Springs to understand why water is disappearing from his home. Along the way, the story travels through underground worlds where water hides, flows, splashes, and becomes almost a character in its own right.

The show is extended by the participation of scientists involved in the residency, specialists in issues related to water and its management. Caroline Lejars, deputy director of the G-EAU laboratory (Water Management, Actors, Uses), will engage in dialogue with the audience alongside Géraldine Abrami, research engineer and mediation officer at the same laboratory.

Saturday, March 21, 2026 (4:00–6:00 p.m.): "Le Cosmos des Minus" (The Cosmos of Minus), followed by "Lokili – Les mondes de l'eau" (Lokili – Worlds of Water)

The third event takes a longer form, with two successive performances. The afternoon opens with "Le Cosmos des Minus" (The Cosmos of the Tiny), a show devoted to the infinitely small. Through the eyes of a child who is regularly reminded of his small stature, the story shifts to another scale of life: that of cells, invisible structures, and microscopic worlds that organize reality. The show invites us to "think big" by changing our perspective and exploring the scientific discoveries that allow us to observe and understand this universe. This tale is performed by Gwladys Batta, accompanied by Marie-Pierre Blanchard, a research engineer at the Institute of Human Genetics (IGH) and technical manager at Montpellier Ressources Imagerie (MRI), who will provide scientific insight into the themes addressed.

This date will be followed by a second performance of "Lokili – Les mondes de l'eau" (Lokili – Worlds of Water), allowing the audience to (re)discover this story and continue the dialogue with the project's scientists: Caroline Lejars and Géraldine Abrami (G-EAU laboratory).