From the end of 2020 (until 2024), the Palais-de-la-Découverte and the Planetarium will close their doors for renovation. During this time, the programming of this museum is proposed (from spring 2021) in an ephemeral structure "Les Étincelles" mainly intended for school groups. These are temporary installations set up in the André Citroën Park in the 15th arrondissement of Paris. It consists of 6 wooden tents on 770 m2.
Note: This renovation of the museum is conducted at the same time as that of the Grand Palais which houses it.
Description of the Palais-de-la-Découverte before renovation 2020-2024
The Palais-de-la-Découverte was a science-universe place, presenting in a dynamic way fundamental and contemporary science in the form of interactive experiments commented by scientific mediators.
This museum obeyed a will to treat these subjects separately: research and its practical and technical applications. At the Musée des Arts et Métiers, technology and practical applications. At the Palais de la Découverte the fundamental research and its methods. It aimed at popularizing science.
The fields approached and presented to the museum
The fields covered were astronomy with the "Planetarium", but also biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, earth sciences. The presentations are "practical" thanks to the rooms of Electrostatics, the Sun and planets. Two new permanent spaces: the Light room to deepen this theme under the angle of chemistry, biology and physics, and the Hydrogen space devoted to the applications and stakes of this energy!
The Acoustics room was an experimental set animated by a mediator who offered all the possibilities of investigation on the sound phenomenon: propagation and speed of sound, structure of simple and complex sounds (organ pipes), analysis and harmonic synthesis, interference and diffraction, Doppler effect, beats, resonance. Also, in a completely different field, the Genome workshops: a place of education and culture dedicated to genetics and DNA.
The sections of the Palais-de-la-Découverte
The sections of the Palais de la Découverte are fluorescence, phosphorescence, optics, gas discharges, electrostatics, Foucault's pendulum, cathode rays, X-rays, biology, planetarium
Real experiments that arouse vocations
This was the idea of Jean Perrin who, as early as 1937, wanted to promote the popularization of science through experiments performed in front of the public or by the visitors themselves. Almost unchanged since their origins due to their success, the demonstrations on liquid air and electrostatics are among the most requested
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