Passionate about science, technology, and DIY from a young age, Matthieu Desfontaines, an engineer who graduated from the Arts et Métiers campus Arts et Métiers , returned to his Arts et Métiers campus Arts et Métiers Lille from February 10 to 14, 2024, with a completely different goal in mind.
Since graduating, he has left his student days behind and become an entrepreneur. With a rich and inspiring background, he founded Les Apprentis Curieux, a company dedicated to introducing science and experimentation to young children.
From engineering to entrepreneurship: Matthieu (Ai221) committed to scientific communication
A career marked by a passion for science and technology and a commitment to Arts et Métiers
After completing a preparatory class in Armentières, Matthieu first enrolled at ENSMA in Poitiers, a school specializing in aeronautics. But his career took a decisive turn when he joined the Arts et Métiers campus Arts et Métiers , where he specialized in low-carbon ecological transition. It was there that he forged his innovative spirit and nurtured his desire to share his knowledge.
Innovation has always been at the heart of his projects. From childhood, he took part in robotics competitions and, in 2015, he won the INNOVEZ competition thanks to an ingenious invention: an automatic notebook selector and organizer, designed to make it easier to prepare school bags.
From engineering to technology transfer: A return to our roots
After completing his studies, Matthieu worked for a subsidiary of an IT group, producing carbon assessments. But he soon realized that his desire to share and pass on his knowledge was stronger. He therefore decided to leave the industry to launch Les Apprentis Curieux and bring to life his ambition to inspire young people to take an interest in science and innovation.
This return to teaching came naturally... and in a place that is dear to him: his old school. Leading his first INNOVEZ internship session at the Arts et Métiers campus Arts et Métiers Lille, Matthieu was moved to return to the classrooms of his former education, but this time in the role of inspiring the next generation.
INNOVEZ: A partnership currently being developed to offer internships atArts et Métiers
Since November, Matthieu has been testing his concept through presentations in middle schools and activities for children. But his greatest success remains the launch of the "INNOVEZ" workshops, the first of which was organized on the Arts et Métiers campus Arts et Métiers Lille. Designed to prepare young people for the famous INNOVEZ competition run by Sciences et Vie Junior magazine, these courses are proving extremely popular, with participants sometimes traveling from Switzerland to take part.
Returning to Arts et Métiers a lecturer is a source of immense pride. This is where I learned to innovate, and today I pass on this spirit to young people.
His approach is based on active learning: "Understanding science through hands-on activities." Through practical experiments—such as building catapults to illustrate the concepts of force and weight—children discover science in a different way.
A positive impact and prospects for the future
The first workshop was a resounding success, and Matthieu's assessment is extremely positive: "The children learned a lot and were delighted. Some had never dared to do crafts before, and this workshop gave them confidence. Maybe some of them will become engineers... and who knows, maybe evenArts et Métiers studentsArts et Métiers "
But Matthieu doesn't intend to stop there. His goal is to expand his concept to otherArts et Métiers campusesArts et Métiers
"Middle school is a key moment when young people begin to explore their options. If we want to spark their scientific curiosity and prevent them from spending too much time on screens, this is the age to intervene."
With Les Apprentis Curieux, Matthieu has come full circle: a former student at Arts et Métiers, he has now returned as an entrepreneur with a strong educational mission. It is an inspiring adventure that could, in turn, inspire new generations of engineers and innovators.
