Biennial event - Workshops 2026
Before registration
⚠️ Please read all the information regarding registration carefully.
Upon registration
- Choose 2 workshops, spread across 2 of the 3 sessions.
- For the remaining session, you must select "Discovery Fair."
If your selection doesn't follow these guidelines, your registration will be adjusted automatically, and your workshop choices may be changed without notice.
Archives
(01) Maths make the difference!
Workshop presented by: Espace des Inventions
Languages: French (session 2, 3) and English (session 1)
(02) Build your own clock and design your watch
Workshop presented by: TAG Heuer
Languages: French (session 1, 3) and English (session 2)
(03) Become an ice explorer in Antarctica!
Workshop presented by: UniBE – Climate and Environmental Physics & British Antarctic Survey
Languages: French (session 1, 2) and English (session 3)
(04) In the shoes of a bioanthropologist
Workshop presented by: UniGE – Anthroposcope (ARCAN)
Languages: French (session 1, 2, 3)
(05) Volcanoes and life: no fire, no living Earth!
Workshop presented by: UniGE – Enviroscope
Languages: French (session 2, 3) and English (session 1)
(06) Art & maths inspired by Sophie Taeuber-Arp: perfect partitions
Workshop presented by: UniGE – La Performative (mathematics section)
Languages: French (session 1, 3) and English (session 2)
(07) Cryptography
Workshop presented by: UniGE – Infoscope (CUI)
Languages: French (session 1, 2) and English (session 3)
(08) From binary to the computer
Workshop presented by: UniGE – Infoscope (CUI)
Languages: French (session 2, 3) and English (session 1)
(09) Polyhedra by laser
Workshop presented by: UniGE – Mathscope
Languages: French (session 1, 3) and English (session 2)
(10) Lab investigation: discovering blood types
Workshop presented by: X Labs
Languages: French (session 1, 2) and English (session 3)
(11) Virtual reality and programming with Delightex
Workshop presented by: Futurekids – ASIO Sàrl
Languages: French (session 2, 3) and English (session 1)
(12) Production Workshop
Workshop presented by: UniGE – Pharmascope (Institut des Sciences pharmaceutiques)
Languages: French (session 1, 3) and English (session 2)
(13) DNA and personalised health: investigating genetic mutations
Workshop presented by: SIB Institut Suisse de Bioinformatique
Languages: French (session 1, 2) and English (session 3)
(14) Making the invisible visible — What lies behind microplastics?
Workshop presented by: Plastic Free Campus (Gallifrey Foundation)
Languages: French (session 2, 3) and English (session 1)
(15) The vaccines of tomorrow
Workshop presented by: Institution de santé publique
Languages: French (session 1, 3) and English (session 2)
(16) Cosmic rescue
Workshop presented by: CERN
Languages: French (session 1, 2) and English (session 3)
(17) Fragrance Academy - Introduction to Perfumery
Workshop presented by: COTY
Languages: French (session 2, 3) and English (session 1)
(18) At the heart of mould
Workshop presented by: Agroscope, département Protection des Végétaux
Languages: French (session 1, 3) and English (session 2)
(19) The quest for exoplanets
Workshop presented by: UniGE – Département d’astronomie et projet Salomé
Languages: French (session 1, 2) and English (session 3)
(01) Maths make the difference!
Workshop presented by: Espace des Inventions
Languages: French (session 2, 3) and English (session 1)
Category : Mathematics
How can we build fairer cities? Why does our intuition sometimes play tricks on us? How do scientists track changes in biodiversity? And what role do mathematics play in all of this? In this workshop, discover the hidden mathematics behind the great challenges of sustainability. Through hands-on activities, experimentation, and group discussion, you'll see that maths isn't just about calculations: it helps us understand the world, make better-informed decisions, and imagine a more sustainable future. And who knows? You might even help shape it!
Workshop led by: Ilaria Rossinelli and Giulia Mescolini
(02) Build your own clock and design your watch
Workshop presented by: TAG Heuer
Languages: French (session 1, 3) and English (session 2)
Category : Watchmaking
An introduction to mechanical watchmaking: assemble your own working clock to take home with you, then design your own watch.
Workshop led by: Carole Kasapi, Sophie Furley and Ariane Kasapi
(03) Become an ice explorer in Antarctica!
Workshop presented by: UniBE – Climate and Environmental Physics & British Antarctic Survey
Languages: French (session 1, 2) and English (session 3)
Category : Geosciences
Come and experience the adventure of Antarctica! We need new explorers to help bring back ancient ice and reveal the secrets of past climates. You'll learn how to drill ice cores and discover how the air bubbles trapped inside them reveal what the atmosphere was like long ago. You'll also find out about the equipment and daily life of scientists working at -50°C on missions in the polar regions. Put on your hat for a journey to the other side of the world!
Workshop led by: Lison Soussaintjean and Ailsa Chung
(04) In the shoes of a bioanthropologist
Workshop presented by: UniGE – Anthroposcope (ARCAN)
Languages: French (session 1, 2, 3)
Category : Bioanthropology, Archaeology
What if bones could tell their own story? Human remains uncovered through archaeology are true archives of the past. By analysing them, bioanthropologists shed light on the life of ancient societies: diet, health, funerary rites, migration, family ties… all clues that help retrace humanity's biological and cultural history. This workshop offers a hands-on introduction to the work of a bioanthropologist, learning to determine a biological identity, such as sex, age, or stature, for individuals buried in archaeological contexts, simply by examining their skeleton.
https://scienscope.unige.ch/ateliers/atelier-anthropo/
Workshop led by: Jocelyne Desideri, Antoine Mailhot, Mila Courlet and Axelle Paszkowiak
(05) Volcanoes and life: no fire, no living Earth!
Workshop presented by: UniGE – Enviroscope
Languages: French (session 2, 3) and English (session 1)
Category : Geology
Volcanoes aren't just destructive forces, they're also creators of life! When they erupt, they release gases, ash, lava, and minerals that are essential to the Earth and its atmosphere. For life to exist, our planet's temperature has to stay ‘just right’, neither too cold nor too hot. Volcanic gases act like a natural thermostat that regulates this vital warmth. Volcanoes also fertilise the Earth: their mineral-rich ash transforms soils and waters into genuine sources of energy for plants and animals. Of course, living near a volcano comes with risks, but these fire giants also bring renewal and prosperity. Studying, understanding, and monitoring volcanoes means protecting life. And for that, we need you: curious young minds ready to imagine the technologies of the future. Discover why life on Earth depends on the fire of volcanoes! On the programme: experiments, spectacular videos, and the chance to handle real volcanic materials!
Workshop led by: Lucia Dominguez and Clothilde Jost
(06) Art & maths inspired by Sophie Taeuber-Arp: perfect partitions
Workshop presented by: UniGE – La Performative (mathematics section)
Languages: French (session 1, 3) and English (session 2)
Category : Mathematics, Computer Science and Art
Sophie Taeuber-Arp revolutionised abstract art with her colourful geometric compositions. Inspired by her work, we'll explore a genuine mathematical research problem that remains unsolved today: how can a shape be cut into pieces that are all different, yet as close as possible in area? Starting with rectangles on a square grid, then moving on to more surprising pieces on a triangular grid, you'll create your own colourful compositions somewhere between art and geometry, and discover a puzzle that mathematicians are still working to solve. No prior knowledge required: just curiosity and a desire to explore the art of tiling!
https://erikaroldanroa.github.io/art-maths-taeuber-arp/
Workshop led by: Erika Roldán Roa and Begoña Cuquejo
(07) Cryptography
Workshop presented by: UniGE – Infoscope (CUI)
Languages: French (session 1, 2) and English (session 3)
Catégorie : IComputer Science
Cryptography, or encryption, is a very old method dating back to antiquity. Digital technology has made it possible to automate and refine these methods, making them ever more secure. In this workshop, we'll walk through a series of increasingly complex and robust techniques to understand the principles of modern cryptography. The presentation will be illustrated with hands-on encryption and decryption activities. Magic? Almost!
https://scienscope.unige.ch/ateliers/cryptographie/
Workshop led by: Elie Zagury, Laetizia Carusi and Olga Bilodid
(08) From binary to the computer
Workshop presented by: UniGE – Infoscope (CUI)
Languages: French (session 2, 3) and English (session 1)
Category : Computer Science
Behind every game, every message you send, every AI query, lies an invisible world: a world made of billions of tiny switches, electrical signals, and zeros and ones. In this workshop, we look under the hood. From the earliest vacuum tubes to today's AI chips, you'll discover that even the most powerful computer in the world can, at its core, only do one thing: say yes or no.
(09) Polyhedra by laser
Workshop presented by: UniGE – Mathscope
Languages: French (session 1, 3) and English (session 2)
Category : Mathematics
Is it possible to get a hexagon by slicing a simple cube? Come take up the challenge! After assembling large-scale polyhedra, you'll explore their structure to uncover hidden shapes and bring them to life with coloured string. That's when the mysterious Ring of Fire comes in: a surprising tool that lets you test your hypotheses and hunt for new shapes before reproducing them at full scale. A chance to approach mathematics through experimentation, handling, observing, and testing your ideas directly.
Workshop led by: Shaula Fiorelli and Pauline Baudat
(10) Lab investigation: discovering blood types
Workshop presented by: X Labs
Languages: French (session 1, 2) and English (session 3)
Category : Biology
Through a fun, simulated blood test, participants will learn to identify blood types without handling any real blood.
Workshop led by: Aleksandr Smorgonskii
(11) Virtual reality and programming with Delightex
Workshop presented by: Futurekids – ASIO Sàrl
Languages: French (session 2, 3) and English (session 1)
Category : Computer Science
This workshop invites the participants to immerse themselves in building virtual worlds. They will be free to build as they like using a wide range of objects: basic shapes, animals, characters, and more. Participants will also get to use the power of code to programme how the different elements in their scene interact. The result can then be viewed using a VR headset and a smartphone!
Workshop led by: Caroline Genouod
(12) Production Workshop
Workshop presented by: UniGE – Pharmascope (Institut des Sciences pharmaceutiques)
Languages: French (session 1, 3) and English (session 2)
Category : Pharmacy
What are the different ways medicine can be administered? How is medicine made? What quality requirements must be met to manufacture one? There's nothing like hands-on learning to fully grasp how a medicine is produced. By making your own hand sanitiser gel, you'll understand the checks and requirements that must be followed when manufacturing a medicine for market. At the end of the workshop, you'll get to take your creation home as a nice souvenir of the activity.
https://scienscope.unige.ch/ateliers/production/
Workshop led by: Marie-Jose Barbalat and Luana Colopi
(13) DNA and personalised health: investigating genetic mutations
Workshop presented by: SIB Institut Suisse de Bioinformatique
Languages: French (session 1, 2) and English (session 3)
Category : Bioinformatics
How can a few small changes in DNA alter our appearance, our health, or the treatments offered to certain patients? Using simplified genetic data, lead your own investigation to understand what genetic mutations are and how scientists identify and interpret them using bioinformatics tools. Reconstruct composite portraits from DNA, explore the link between mutations and disease, and discover how modern medicine uses this information to speed up diagnoses and choose personalised treatments, particularly for cancer.
Workshop led by: Dorian Ziegler, Maïa Berman, Francesca Zoete and Valérie Barbié
(14) Making the invisible visible — What lies behind microplastics?
Workshop presented by: Plastic Free Campus (Gallifrey Foundation)
Languages: French (session 2, 3) and English (session 1)
Category : Chimie/biologie
Ever wondered what’s hiding in your face scrub or lip gloss? Become a real scientist for a day!
Mission 1: The Microplastic Mystery : Bring your beauty and personal care products (anything with texture, scrub, shimmer, or “dissolving action”) and hunt for invisible plastic particles under a microscope.
Mission 2: Fake or Legit? The Bioplastics Experiment: Are “compostable” labels true? Design an experiment to test bioplastics/compostables to track what happens over time. Come explore, question everything, get a little messy, and leave inspired, informed, and empowered.
(15) The vaccines of tomorrow
Workshop presented by: Institution de santé publique
Languages: French (session 1, 3) and English (session 2)
Category : Public health
The vaccines of tomorrow are being developed today, come discover everything it takes to create a vaccine.
Workshop led by: Cristina del Pueyo, Rocio Lopez Cavestany, Visali Jeyaseelan, Liliane Boualam, Ishani Aziz and Darcy Levison
(16) Cosmic rescue
Workshop presented by: CERN
Languages: French (session 1, 2) and English (session 3)
Category : Physics
Discover how particle detectors are used in experiments at CERN — and even in space — through a gripping adventure game! Aerospace and particle physics have a lot in common: both require electronic systems capable of working in extreme environments, and both need to process huge amounts of data quickly and autonomously. Did you know that a CERN particle detector is actually on board the International Space Station? In this workshop, participants solve puzzles while exploring the electromagnetic spectrum with different detectors. In doing so, they discover the wide range of applications for detection technologies, reaching far beyond laboratories on Earth, all the way to the frontiers of space exploration.
(17) Fragrance Academy - Introduction to Perfumery
Workshop presented by: COTY
Languages: French (session 2, 3) and English (session 1)
Category : Chemistry
In this workshop, participants will discover the basics of scent perception, how a perfume is composed, and the different fragrance families.
Workshop led by: Karine Taupin, Eva Vinas and Maria Torres
(18) At the heart of mould
Workshop presented by: Agroscope, département Protection des Végétaux
Languages: French (session 1, 3) and English (session 2)
Category : Chemistry, Microbiology and Mycology
Did you know that mould can be blue, green, red, yellow, or even pink? Some give their unique flavour to cheeses like Roquefort, while others produce astonishingly colourful pigments. But what we see is only a small part of their story! Beneath the surface lies an invisible world made of microscopic filaments that spread out like a vast, secret network. Come discover these architects of life, explore their surprising colours, and uncover the mysteries of the fungi that surround us without us ever noticing.
Workshop led by: Katia Gindro, Clara Chevalley, Sara Leoni, Vivien Ramos and Léonie Pellissier
(19) The quest for exoplanets
Workshop presented by: UniGE – Département d’astronomie et projet Salomé
Languages: French (session 1, 2) and English (session 3)
Category : Astrophysics
An immersive journey inside a planetarium and a workshop on methods for detecting exoplanets.
https://bdsalome.com/projetpedagogique/
Workshop led by: Baptiste Lavie, Chloé Lavie and Marion Cointepas