Les Célébrales, a successful fusion of knowledge and entertainment

For one Saturday, Geneva vibrated to the rhythm of psychiatric neuroscience at the Les Célébrales festival, an event that brilliantly blended disciplines and drew an enthusiastic crowd to the Bâtiment des Forces Motrices.

And it's done! On 5 October, after months of intense preparation by the UNIGE's Synapsy Centre for Neuroscience and Mental Health Research, the Les Célébrales festival met its ambitious challenge of combining science and culture in an atmosphere that was both serious and convivial. Held in the emblematic Bâtiment des Forces Motrices in the heart of Geneva, the festival devoted to neuroscience and mental health offered an immersive and enriching experience to the large audience, made up of enthusiastic and curious people as well as researchers from all backgrounds, who came to discover the latest advances in the field.

Unique and innovative

The Synapsy Centre has made this event a showcase for neuroscientific knowledge. For one day, the emphasis was on popularising neuroscience and its applications to health through a variety of interactive activities. According to the organisers, nearly 1,500 people attended the event from 2pm to 2am. This success testifies to the growing public interest in mental health, with more and more people affected by mental disorders.

Among the highlights were ten educational workshops that allowed participants to immerse themselves in such fascinating topics as autism, mindfulness meditation, psychedelics and neurofeedback. These workshops, designed to be both educational and interactive, covered topics ranging from the basics of how the brain works to exploring cutting-edge neuroscience technologies and approaches to diagnosis and treatment. These activities gave the public the chance to learn more about the functioning of the human mind and to talk to specialists.

Exchanges and sharing

The other highlight of the festival was the live recording of the podcast “Dingue”, hosted by Adrien Zerbini on RTS. This format won over the audience, who were riveted by the discussion between a psychiatrist and a person suffering from major depression. The day then moved on to a giant meditation, lectures and round tables featuring researchers, psychiatrists and witnesses, including comedian Brigitte Rosset. All the talks were sold out. At the same time, a microscopy exhibition in the entrance hall of the BFM revealed breathtaking images of the human brain, a kind of look at its complexity through the beauty of its anatomy.

Stimulating the mind

After a day rich in scientific discoveries, the evening took a more relaxed turn with a concert by the music band Pale Male, followed by a session by DJ TonyShade, which helped to create a festive atmosphere. Festival-goers were able to alternate between neuroscience, psychiatry and relaxation, reinforcing the idea that science and entertainment can coexist perfectly.

But the real highlight of the show was the performance by comedian Thomas Wiesel: he won over the audience with his incisive and intelligent humour. His contribution added a touch of levity to the event, offering a moment of escapism while stimulating reflection and a critical eye.

A model for the dissemination of science?

Professor Camilla Bellone, coordinator of the Synapsy Centre, made no secret of her satisfaction at the resounding success of this first edition of the Célébrales - yes, there will be others. “The scale and impact of the festival far exceeded our expectations,” she declared enthusiastically. This sense of achievement was shared by Stefan Kaiser, vice-coordinator of Synapsy – “The excellence of this festival has been remarkable, the bar has been set very high”, he said.

Les Célébrales proved to be much more than just a festival: it was a genuine celebration of knowledge and a unique opportunity for researchers, practitioners and the general public to come together. This initiative, supported by the University of Geneva, its Faculty of Medicine and its Synapsy Centre, brilliantly demonstrated that science can be fun, engaging and a source of culture for everyone.

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