The Odyssey of the Musical Brain receives the 2026 Scientific Outreach Medal

The project The Odyssey of the Musical Brain, notably led by Emmanuel Bigand, Professor of Cognitive Psychology at Université Bourgogne Europe (UBE), CNRS researcher and member of the Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), has received the Knowledge Sharing Award as part of the 2026 Scientific Outreach Medals.

Organised jointly by the CNRS and France Universités, these awards recognise innovative initiatives that help bring science and society closer together. For this fifth edition, three projects were recognised, including The Odyssey of the Musical Brain, which offers an immersive and participatory approach to scientific outreach.

At the crossroads of neuroscience and artistic creation, the project invites audiences to explore the brain mechanisms underlying music through a performance combining musicians, artists and scientists. At the heart of the experience is a monumental 16 m³ brain equipped with more than 5,000 LED lights, which visualise in real time the brain activity associated with the music performed on stage.

Since its creation in 2022, this touring experience has already reached more than 8,000 spectators in France and abroad. It also features conferences, public debates and participatory workshops.

This distinction highlights UBE research teams’ commitment to fostering dialogue between science and society, as well as their ability to share scientific knowledge with the widest possible audience.

The 2026 Scientific Outreach Medals ceremony will take place on 2 December at Sorbonne Université in Paris.