“Viral Diseases: Between Panic and Trivialization” will be the theme of this year’s first Science Bar

[Press Release] - Published on January 15, 2026 in the Press Room

On January 29, starting at 7:30 p.m., the University of Montpellier will host the first Science Bar of the year. For this edition, Bernard Taverne, a health anthropologist; Serafín Gutierrez, a virologist; and Alain Makinson, a university professor and hospital-based infectious disease specialist, will discuss the topic of “viral diseases: between panic and trivialization.”

The Bar des sciences has become one of Montpellier’s flagship events for science culture, offering a monthly participatory public discussion on all aspects of science from January through June. Throughout the season, scientists are invited to engage in a dialogue where their knowledge and practices are not only shared but also open to discussion. The season is co-produced by theUM scientific culture departmentsUM its partners: theUM Faculty of Sciences, INRAE, INSERM, and IRD. Sign language interpretation is provided for this event. Free admission while seats last.

A Science Bar dedicated to viral diseases

Given the rise in epidemics and the massive spread of information, how can we distinguish scientific understanding from media-driven panic—or, conversely, from complacency in the face of the threat?

The discussion will cover topics such as the evolution of viral diseases—from AIDS to emerging viruses—as well as disparities in access to care across different populations and countries, and the challenges of prevention and scientific monitoring. This event offers an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of viral diseases within their scientific and social contexts, while engaging directly with researchers over drinks in a relaxed setting.

To discuss this topic at the intersection of science and society, three multidisciplinary experts will answer questions from the audience:

• Bernard Taverne: a health anthropologist at the Laboratory for Translational Research on HIV and Infectious Diseases and Northern Coordinator of the ANRS Senegal site (UMI TransVIHMI – IRD, ANRS Emerging Infectious Diseases Unit of Inserm). His work focuses on the social dimensions of HIV in West Africa, particularly care pathways, treatment adherence, aging with HIV, and the adaptation of health policies to local realities.

• Serafín Gutierrez: virologist at the Animal-Health-Territories-Risks-Ecosystems Unit (ASTRE – CIRAD, INRAE, University of Montpellier) and research associate at the virology laboratory of Montpellier University Hospital. His research focuses on the ecology and evolution of viruses, particularly those transmitted by mosquitoes (West Nile and Usutu viruses).

• Alain Makinson: university professor and hospital-based infectious disease specialist in the Department of Tropical Infectious Diseases (MIT – Montpellier University Hospital) and chair of the Occitanie Regional Sexual Health Coordination Committee (CORESS – formerly COREVIH). His work focuses primarily on aging with HIV, comorbidities, and frailty—particularly neurocognitive disorders—with the aim of improving clinical care for people living with a controlled chronic infection.