It all started with a choice of courses. Just a year and a half ago, in Master 2 at Sorbonne University, as part of a supramolecular chemistry course, Sidonie was faced with an alternative: a research project or a popularization project. She chose the second option without hesitation. “I immediately thought of my brother Léonard for the artistic direction, as I have always admired his talent for drawing,” she said. Thus was born “Mom Researcher,” a series of graphic videos that highlights, in each episode, a thematic of scientific research carried out by a woman.
The project has a dual ambition: to make research more accessible and to highlight the role of women in science. Each episode takes the form of a dialogue between a researcher mother and her daughter, hence the title. “The child’s perspective allows us to address sometimes complex topics with simplicity and pedagogy, while encouraging young people, especially young girls, to envision themselves in the sciences,” said Sidonie. The videos last about five minutes and are suitable for ages 12-13 and up.
Behind each episode is a precise creative process. It all starts with a meeting with a researcher, a discussion about their work, and questions to better understand their field. Sidonie then writes a popularization dialogue that the researcher reads to ensure accuracy. “But it’s really when I meet my brother that everything takes shape. We organize a sketch session to reflect together on the drawings. And finally… action!” she said. This project allows her, she says, “for the first time, to bring together two dimensions that are dear to me: my attachment to scientific research and my passion for teaching and transmission.” It is also, she adds, “an opportunity to meet fascinating researchers and explore fields that are sometimes very different from my own.”
The mediation does not stop at the screen. When Laurence Grimaud, research director at the chemistry department of ENS, heard about “Mom Researcher”, she proposed to Sidonie to co-host the conference for children “Little Explorers of Knowledge” at ENS. She enthusiastically accepted. It was the first time she addressed such a large and diverse audience in age. “I was deeply touched by the children’s enthusiasm, curiosity, and desire to participate, especially when they rushed onto the stage to take part in the experiments we had prepared,” she said.
This passion for transmission dates back long before “Mom Researcher”. Upon her arrival at ENS-PSL, Sidonie became involved in teaching missions. She started with the TalENS experience, where she supervised a group of about fifteen high school students in physics, chemistry, and biology tutoring. At the same time, she gave many private lessons to students of all levels and in various disciplines, participated in prep school classes, and led intensive tutoring sessions during school holidays. “What I particularly love is the relationship that is created with each student, because it is always unique. Even today, I feel connected to each of them through the bond of knowledge transmission,” she said.
For her, raising awareness of young girls in science is another essential aspect of mediation. In addition to Mom Researcher, she is involved in initiatives from the “Women and Girls in Science” program at ENS-PSL. This year, the program launched a scientific tutoring program with Miriam Makeba Middle School in Aubervilliers, to accompany a group of third-grade girls in carrying out a scientific project throughout the year. “These are always precious moments of exchange, which mean a lot to me.”
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