Bar des sciences : Le nouveau est-il déjà vieux ? Peut-on vraiment être original ?

Evolution, our brains, and our societies—do they truly create something new, or do they simply recombine what already exists? An evening dedicated to exploring creativity, inventions, evolution, and breakthroughs, and to trying to understand what truly constitutes novelty.

We love what’s new. A new show to watch, a new phone, a new car, a new idea… No sooner have we discovered something than we already want the next version. But deep down, what is truly new?

Does evolution truly invent, or does it simply tinker with what it has on hand? Does our brain create entirely new ideas, or does it build with old memories like Lego blocks? Are great inventions or revolutions true breakthroughs… or simply excellent reinterpretations, with a little extra marketing thrown in?

Because sometimes, to invent, we may not need to create something from scratch, but rather learn to see what was already there in a new light.

An evening to discuss creativity, evolution, and inventions… and to try to see novelty in a new light. Which, let’s face it, has surely been done before.