France Tales

Last Thursday Thursday we went to a science exhibit, photography show, lecture in an old Electricté de France substation, EDF. It was an old factory that has been turned into an exhibition space. It is on the banks of the Garonne River where the Canal Brienne comes into the Garonne. The building and exhibition space were fantastic. There was a photo show of science lab like photos from I’d say the 50’s. They were interesting but not incredible. There were some schematic drawings from the Concorde and architectural drawings of the “boule”, the science observatoire near my job. Those were neat. The observatory is going to be open on July 9th for public viewing. Apparently it is not easy to get in to see it and it is very James Bond. We are going to go.

The lecture was fascinating. It covered lightening, thunder, and weather patterns. I know, it doesn’t sound fascinating but the speaker was funny and engaging so it was lively. Too bad there weren’t many people there. His name was Serge Chauzy, physicien de l’atmosphère et professeur émérite de l’Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, and the lecture was entitled,”Coup de foudre pour le métier de chercheur”, my literal French knowledge tells me it means more than lightning for the career of researcher. I looked it up and asked Jean-Jacques and it is an expression meaning to fall in love with research.

Visit the site of Sciences et Patrimoine, there is an English and a French version. Here you can see all kinds of interesting videos, games, photos, and upcoming events. The site is really well made and the navigation is clear, something I don’t usually find in French sites.

See a video here of Mssr Chauzy.

Games for kids.

This is the kind of science I wished I had been exposed to when I was younger. When I think back to my science classes in school they were boring and did not stimulate curiousity. Oh well, live now, as an adult, as a child.