During the 2026 Festival of Science, nearly 7000 people attended the event in Marseille. LEST's workshops invited the public to explore concrete societal issues. Researchers such as Claudie Riberolles, Naëlle Riccone, Caroline Vincent, and Cathy Krohmer presented a workshop on the consequences of the health crisis on life and work paths (Panelvico Project). Delphine Mercier guided participants through the intricacies of global logistics (Le Grand Entrepôt Project) with maps, drawings, field narratives, and an "unusual" urban walk in Marseille's docks. In Gap, Mikaël Akimowicz, an HDR lecturer at LEST, was particularly involved with Gap Sciences Animation 05 (GSA), hosting 890 students and 1300 members of the public to discuss the links between food, agriculture, and biodiversity.
These events highlight the diverse approaches to scientific mediation, from everyday experiences and participatory activities to the use of visual materials to make social science research understandable.
LEST's knowledge dissemination extends beyond events. The laboratory also engages with young people and the educational community through programs like Sciences en classe, Chercheur·es en classe, teacher-researcher meetings, and the Cordées de la Réussite, aiming to introduce research careers and scientific methods.
The media serves as another channel for knowledge circulation. As part of the « Dis-moi pourquoi » (Tell me why) series published by La Marseillaise, Mikaël Akimowicz answers everyday questions from a scientific perspective, such as "why are there no blue vegetables?" or "Why are there so many different types of bread in French bakeries?".
Conferences, public meetings, and debates further contribute to discussing research in relation to contemporary issues, fostering exchanges between researchers, societal actors, and citizens.
These actions are driven by a collective effort from researchers, doctoral students, teachers, and support staff dedicated to making their content accessible and adapted to all audiences through various mediation formats.
