From October 5 to 9, 2026, the Bordeaux-Talence campus of the Arts et Métiers took part in the Bordeaux Science Circuit, an event dedicated to school groups and organized as part of the Fête de la Science. Through several workshops led by campus staff and researchers from the I2M laboratory, more than 100 middle and high school students were welcomed on campus, while nearly 200 young people across the Bordeaux School District were introduced to engineering sciences.
Introducing science in a new way through immersive workshops
Organized as part of the Fête de la Science, the Bordeaux Science Circuit gives thousands of middle and high school students the opportunity each year to explore the world of research at local institutions of higher education and laboratories. Co-organized by the CNRS and the University of Bordeaux, it brings together numerous partners, including Arts et Métiers, Bordeaux INP, Inria, Inserm, INRAE, the CEA, Bordeaux Montaigne University, and the University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour, with support from the Bordeaux Academy Rectorate and Cap Sciences.
For this event, teams at the Bordeaux-Talence “ Arts et Métiers ” campus came together to introduce students to engineering through hands-on experiments, demonstrations, and tours of technology facilities. More than a hundred students visited the campus throughout the week.
Among the workshops offered, “Exploring the Inner Workings of AI, ” led by Fabian Magnin and Morgane Suhas, gave students a better understanding of the mechanisms, uses, and challenges of artificial intelligence. In “Solve the Puzzles, Challenge AI,” Tania Felices, Étienne Mary, and Luc Letellier invited participants to take part in an escape game centered on famous female scientists and to compare their thinking with that of algorithms through fun, collaborative activities.
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On Thursday, October 8, several workshops highlighted the diversity of research and innovation topics being pursued on campus. “Être à un cheveu, ” led by Jérémie Bega and Pascal Le Roux, introduced participants to tools for analyzing and characterizing materials.
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In addition, “Steel in Your Hands, ” led by Tristan de Chazeron, Philippe Guibert, and Fabian Magnin, offered an immersive experience with the campus’s technology platforms and an introduction to virtual and augmented reality using an aircraft engine.
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Although originally scheduled, the activities focused on space and safety education could not be held due to the current situation at several schools.
A collective effort to inspire interest in science
In addition to the workshops held in Bordeaux-Talence, the campus has also contributed to the rollout of the Science Circuit throughout the Bordeaux Academy’s region—an initiative launched in 2024 to reach students living far from major research centers.
The workshop “What If I Worked in Engineering?” was offered at several schools thanks to the dedication of Gadz’Arts volunteers: Eric Le Roux, Didier Freyry, Bernard Delhomme, Marc Fernandez-Beltran, Yves Lagarde, and François Carbonnel. These sessions enabled nearly 200 students to discover the diversity of engineering professions, the educational pathways, and the opportunities offered by careers in science.
This participation illustrates the commitment of theArts et Métiers , and the I2M laboratory to fostering dialogue between science and society. By opening its laboratories, technology platforms, and research activities to younger generations, the institution is fully contributing to the goals of the Science Circuit: making research more accessible, sparking scientific curiosity, and encouraging the next generation of engineers, technicians, and researchers.
