From September 24 to 27, 2026, Le Havre will host the 5th edition of “On the Shoulders of Giants,” with “paradox” as its central theme. Organized by the City of Le Havre in partnership with the University of Le Havre Normandy, the CNRS, the CEA, the CNES, INRIA, the Academy of Sciences, and Universcience, the event invites the public to discover science in a new light through discussions, lectures, experiments, and innovative formats.
The Paradox at the Heart of Programming
Why can sound and movement surprise us? How can we explain the differences between what we perceive and what we know? Is chaos really chaotic? What does our intuition tell us about fluids? How do fractals help us conceive of infinity? These are just some of the questions we’ll explore over the course of these four days.
This new edition involves a large portion of the scientific community at the University of Le Havre Normandy. Nine laboratories, 16 Faculty members and 8 doctoral students are involved in the program, reflecting the richness and diversity of the research conducted at the institution.
Among the events on offer: “The Paradox of Sound and Movement,” “The Chemistry of Smells: The Paradox of Perception,” “It’s All Chemistry!,” “What If Chaos Isn’t as Chaotic as It Seems?,” “The Paradoxes of Food,” “Our Intuition Put to the Test by Fluids,” and “Infinity Within a Frame: The Paradox of Fractals.”
The humanities and social sciences will also be featured with “The Laboratory of Decision-Making Paradoxes” and “Social Media: The Paradoxes of Food.”
The First Researchers’ Night
This year’s event will also feature a new addition: the first Researchers’ Night, co-organized by the University of Le Havre Normandy and the City of Le Havre.
Highlights of the program include a session dedicated to a topic that is more relevant than ever: “Can We Still Understand One Another in the Age of AI? ,” featuring Giuseppe Pintus from the University of Sassari as part of the European EUNICoast alliance, and Romain Sauzet from the University of Le Havre Normandy.
The evening will continue with the show *Cerebro*, presented by the Compagnie du Faro at the Maison de l’étudiant, followed by an evening combining a science quiz and a DJ set, featuring Jennifer Pasquier from the University of Le Havre Normandy and Roland Lehoucq from the CEA.
Research is shared across the campus
The University of Le Havre Normandy will be fully involved in this year’s event. Many of the activities will take place at the University Library, the Student Center, and the Faculty of Science and Technology.
- Two in-depth lecture series will also provide an opportunity to meet leading scientists in the De Manneville Auditorium.
- Physicist Anne L’Huillier, a professor at Lund University in Sweden and winner of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics, will speak on the topic “The World at the Attosecond Scale.”
- Bana Jabri, a physician and researcher and director of the Imagine Institute, will offer her reflections on “The Boundaries of the Self.”
An event to explore, share ideas, and ask questions
The event will also serve as an opportunity to inaugurate the Creativity & Innovation Hub on Friday, September 25, at 12:45 p.m. at the Faculty of Science and Technology, alongside partners from the Le Havre Campus Polytechnique des Territoires Maritimes et Portuaires.
Lectures, discussions, interactive activities, performances, quizzes, and conversations with researchers… Over the course of four days, “On the Shoulders of Giants” will offer a program designed to make science accessible, spark curiosity, and encourage people to question what they take for granted.
An event not to be missed for anyone who wants to explore research from a different perspective and share a moment of reflection, discovery, and fellowship.
The complete program for the 5th edition of “On the Shoulders of Giants” is available online
Please note: Some events require registration. Be sure to reserve your spot now!
