Science at UM [S01-ep26]: From Semaxone to Virtual Reality
This week on *A l’UM la science*, Stéphane Perrey, a neurophysiology researcher at Euromov Digital Health in Motion, and Guilhem Belda, an engineer and founder of the startup Semaxone, discuss an innovation designed to monitor pilots’ performance in real time. In the second half of the program, Nicolas Floquet uses virtual reality to give us a hands-on experience with the Spike protein.
Do you know the Native American legend of the hummingbird? No? Well, here it is: “As a massive fire raged through the forest, leaving the animals distraught and frozen in the face of the unfolding disaster, the hummingbird busied itself between the pond and the flames. With each trip, the brave bird emptied a few drops of water from its tiny beak—a drop in the bucket compared to the intensity of the fire.
– “What are you doing?”the other animals asked him irritably. “Do you think you can put out the fire with just a few drops?”
– “No,” replied the hummingbird, “but I’m doing my part.”
While the university does not claim to change the world on its own, it does aspire to contribute to that goal by putting its discoveries and findings to work for society. It is this spirit of innovation—this public service mission—that we invite you to explore in the pages of the latest issue of LUM, the University’s science and society journal. An enhanced print edition that provides access to videos as well as podcasts from our show. From ecological chemistry to cutting-edge surgery, from ocean conservation to the development of new drugs, from cryptosecurity to the “blockchainization” of legal registries, this issue offers a glimpse into the positive impact of university research serving society.
And to continue this special feature, we’re joined today by two guests at the forefront of innovation in the aviation industry. Their goal? To improve safety and performance in both civil and military aviation. How? By monitoring pilots’ operational status using a sensor capable of measuring their brain activity in real time. An innovation developed by the startup Semaxone and tested on the pilots of the French aerobatics team. Nothing less!
Stéphane Perrey is a neurophysiology researcher at Euromov Digital Health in Motion, while Guilhem Belda is an engineer and the founder of the startup Semaxone.
More info:
- The sky's the limit, LUM, June 2022.
- The Physical Demands of Aerobatic Flying on Pilots, The Conversation, June 2022.
In the second half of the program, we take you tothe National School of Chemistry, where Nicolas Floquet is a researcher in molecular pharmacology atthe Max Mousseron Institute of Biomolecules and head of the virtual reality lab located at the National School of Chemistry in Montpellier. Today, he gives us a hands-on look at the infamous spike protein involved in the dreaded COVID-19.
At UM Science, you’ve got the program—let’s get started!
Production: Universityof Montpellier/Divergence FM
Host: Lucie Lecherbonnier
Interview: AlinePériault/Lucie Lecherbonnier
Reporting and editing: Lucie Lecherbonnier
Director: AdelineFloch’
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