Who will replace Hubert Reeves? | The Press

Among the great missing of 2023, we include the astrophysicist and popularizer of science Hubert Reeves, who left us in October. “I have been asking myself this question since his death, especially as the father of a young child. Who can now occupy this place in the imagination of children (and adults)? », wrote to me a reader, Sébastien Lynch.

The question is good. Hubert Reeves is irreplaceable. But Quebec is teeming with scientists who have chosen to address the general public, each in their own way. I present to you here some of them, the result of a very personal selection which is far from exhaustive.

Boucar Diouf

He writes in The Press, does TV, speaks on the radio, presents comedy shows, publishes books for both adults and children. Does Boucar Diouf ever stop to sleep? This is a mystery for science to solve. What is clear, however, is that this biologist of Senegalese origin has won the hearts of Quebecers. He handles the French language with truculence and never misses an opportunity to pass on to us notions of biology (or bits of wisdom from his grandfather) which come across all the better because they are generously coated with humor. Holder of a doctorate in oceanography from the University of Quebec at Rimouski, Boucar won the Thérèse-Patry prize in 2023 for her exceptional contribution to Quebec scientific culture.

Chloé Savard/Tardibabe

Immersing yourself in the world of Chloé Savard means being drawn into a fascinating and little-known world: that of bacteria, microbes and other micro-organisms. You might think these are disgusting. But Tardibabe, as she is known on Instagram, shows them to us in colorful and captivating videos. Under his microscope, both the mites that live on our face and a drop of beer reveal universes that blur the boundaries between art and science. There are now nearly 1 million subscribers following her on the social network. The scientific explanations are in English, but Savoir media also broadcasts programs in French which feature the microbiologist. If Hubert Reeves represented the archetype of the researcher with long white hair like Albert Einstein, this queer woman shows us a completely different image of science, and that’s all the better – as does engineer Farah Alibay, another popularizer appreciated by Quebecers.

Bernard Lavallée

The man we call the “urban nutritionist” talks about food like no other. His latest work, In defense of food biodiversity, won the Hubert-Reeves prize in 2023 (everything is in everything) for the quality of its scientific popularization. He sounds the alarm on a little-known phenomenon: the fact that many food species are disappearing. He succeeds in delivering a ton of knowledge in a fun, personal and friendly tone. This holder of a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in nutrition does columns on TV (I eatTélé-Québec), co-hosts the podcast We call each other and have lunch and wrote two other books.

Norman Voyer

If I had to make a list of the nicest scientists I had the chance to interview, Normand Voyer would be at the top. This chemist from Laval University is not only a leading authority in his field – the discovery of bioactive molecules, particularly drawn from plants in Northern Quebec –, he is also a man who has made it his mission to interest young people to studies and science. The man who admits to having come close to dropping out of school himself has been traveling to schools for years giving conferences. The one on the chemistry of love, completely crazy, was presented 366 times and reached 67,000 students. You may also have heard him on the radio or TV talking about the chemistry of mosquitoes or the chemistry of spaghetti sauce. A pure popularizer, passionate, invested.

Viviane Lalande

Ten years ago, engineer Viviane Lalande launched a science popularization channel on YouTube, Scilabus, in her spare time. “It was dazzling. In six months, I had already obtained… 13 subscribers,” she says with humor in a video which tells her story. Word will eventually get out, and not nearly so. In 2019, after obtaining a doctorate in biomechanical engineering from Polytechnique Montréal, M^me Lalande made the decision not to continue in research to devote himself full time to Scilabus. The bet succeeds. The channel now has more than half a million subscribers and M^me Lalande was even able to surround himself with a small team. What are toilet paper patterns used for? Why does your nose runny in winter? Why do cats purr? All the answers on Scilabus.

Martin Carli

He piqued the curiosity of thousands of young (and not so young) people by co-hosting the quiz Awesome ! at Télé-Québec. The eternal white coat he wears is not just a show-off: Martin Carli is a real scientist with a doctorate in neurological sciences from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Montreal. The man who also describes himself as a teacher and professional magician has worked at both the Montreal Science Center and the magazine The Resourcefulestablishing himself as an essential figure in Quebec scientific popularization.

Marie-Ève ​​Naud and Nathalie Nguyen-Quoc Ouellette

These two space enthusiasts, holders of doctorates in the field, are attached to the Trottier Institute for Research on Exoplanets at the University of Montreal. Their role: to bridge the gap between the world of research and the general public. You may have heard Nathalie Nguyen-Quoc Ouellette explain in the media the discoveries of the new space telescope James Webb. She already told me about road trip to Tennessee to witness a solar eclipse with contagious passion^⁠1. Marie-Ève ​​Naud notably founded La petite école de l’espace, intended for children aged 3 to 8 years old. She also created resources so that elementary and secondary teachers can talk to their students about exoplanets. In explaining the Universe to the public, these two women seem to me to be directly in line with Hubert Reeves.