Science Festival 2026 in Guyancourt (78): what's on the program

Science Festival 2026 returns to Guyancourt in the Yvelines, offering activities, meet-and-greets, and hands-on experiments accessible to the public, from October 2 to 12, 2026. A chance to better understand research, innovation, and everyday science in a town known for its universities and cutting-edge tech.

Every autumn, the Science Festival invites the general public to meet the researchers behind the work. From October 2 to 12, 2026, this free national event brings together workshops, tours, lectures, and experiments across France to show that science is part of everyday life. The 35th edition, under the theme "Savory Science", highlights the connections between food, health, the environment, and innovation. In the Yvelines, the town of Guyancourt participates by offering events that make science tangible and accessible.

Today part of the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines urban community, Guyancourt has, over a few decades, evolved from a rural village into a university, scientific and economic hub. While its growth accelerated from the 1970s with the development of the new town, the commune still bears traces of its past, especially around its Saint-Victor Church and several old farms. It also hosts major higher-education institutions, research centers, and innovative companies, cementing Guyancourt as a leading hub for research and technology in Île-de-France.

In Guyancourt, the Science Festival truly comes into its own in a region where education, research, and innovation sit at the heart of life. The events held for the occasion help people grasp the scope of work across various scientific fields and discover the careers tied to them. The town’s setting—with its campus, cultural venues, and open spaces—also supports a diverse, hands-on approach to science, whether it’s about new technologies, the environment, or the living world. For locals in Yvelines and for visitors alike, it’s an opportunity to view a commune that links heritage, knowledge, and contemporary research in a fresh light.

The 2026 Science Festival program in Guyancourt:

Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Observatory

The Science Festival at OVSQ on Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11

- Thursday, October 8 and Friday, October 9 are reserved for schools with prior registration, 40-minute workshops
- Saturday, October 10 is set aside for children aged 6 to 12 with prior registration, from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday, October 11 is a public day, no booking required, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 40-minute workshops

> Public workshops on October 11:
- SQY Amateur Radio Club
- Lidar and Space
- Launching a rocket
- The Inuits
- The Astro Meal
- Space exploration of nearby planets, in search of life, water and the rest!
- Spectroscopy, the Swiss Army knife of planetary research
- How climate works?
- Planetarium
- Community garden
- Bacteria
> Children's workshops on October 10, in detail :
- 1:30 p.m. Welcome of children accompanied by their parents
- 2:00 p.m. First workshop
- 2:45 p.m. Second workshop
- 3:30 p.m. Third workshop
- 4:15 p.m. Fourth workshop
- 5:00 p.m. Afternoon snack offered by the Observatory and end of the science afternoon
Learn more +
> OVSQ site
Contact and registrations: communication.ovsq@uvsq.fr

Participation requirements :
• Target audiences : 6–11 years, 11–15 years, 15–18 years, 18–25 years, 25 years and up
• Conditions : Free admission
Hours : Saturday, October 10 — 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Sunday, October 11 — 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Jean Rousselot Media Library

One-woman show: Lady Pipette, Rap Your Science
Concept, writing, direction, performance: Yaëlle Wormser
Between stand-up, rap and science communication, Lady Pipette, Rap ta Science is a unique one-woman show that brings urban culture and scientific culture into dialogue.
Through precise flow and sharp wit, Lady Pipette guides the audience behind the scenes of a biology lab: experiments, missteps, doubts, small victories, and the passion that drives research.
As a PhD student at Pasteur, she speaks of her daily life to demystify biology and make science more accessible, more vibrant, and more human. By blending music, humor and science, she reframes the norms of popular science into a genuine, performative language.
Rap ta Science questions our relationship with knowledge and curiosity, delivering a show that is rhythmic, funny and sincere—proof that science can be talked about in a different way, with flow, humor and self-deprecation.
Participation guidelines:
• Target audiences: 11–15, 15–18, 18–25, 25 and up
• Conditions: Free admission
Schedule: Saturday, October 3 — 4:00–5:00 PM
Eureka: From barley to beer, the whole alchemy

An unlikely journey from porridge to beer: its story began when ancient people mixed wild grains with water to feed themselves. By a fortunate turn of events, more than 15,000 years ago the liquid transformed. Since then, this drink, first known as cervoise in these parts, has continually evolved into beer.
Whether made from barley, wheat, corn, rice, or sorghum, the path is always the same: starting from starch to reach fermentable sugars.
Through the work of enzymes, the influence of hops, and the labor of yeast, you’ll discover the stages of the brewery’s intricate journey.
And why so many beers for so many brewers, why are some tastier than others, and where does bitterness fit into all this?

Participation requirements:
• Target audiences: 15–18, 18–25, 25 and over
• Conditions: Free admission
Schedule: Saturday, October 3 — 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM

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