Activities/Events
Upcoming events
Public Event: Centre Déclic Scientific Cabaret: Should We Trust Scientific Studies? with Dr. Serge Rivest
2026-03-03 @ 19:00 – 20:30
Scientific Cabarets
On March 3 at 7:00 p.m., we will welcome Serge Rivest to the CDSP auditorium at Cégep Garneau. Dr. Rivest is a professor in the Department of Molecular Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine at Université Laval and Director of the Research Centre of the CHU de Québec–Université Laval.
Free and open to the general public, this evening of science culture is titled Should We Trust Scientific Studies? The event will be hosted in collaboration with the Centre Déclic.
Online reservation is mandatory. To register:
https://cdsp.qc.ca/inscriptions/
To view the Facebook event:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1AUC42Hf76/
To learn more about the lecture:
https://cdsp.qc.ca/offre-dactivites/cabarets-scientifiques/
This evening is presented in collaboration with Science pour tous, with the support of the Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie du Québec.
(Neuro)Science Pint as part of Brain Awareness Week in Québec
Friday, March 20 | 6:00–9:00 PM
(Neuro)Science Pint as part of Brain Awareness Week in Québec
Free event
📍 Ninkasi (811 Rue Saint-Jean, Québec)
Join neuroscience researchers from Université Laval for a casual evening over a beer. On the menu: accessible talks, lively discussions, quizzes and games to challenge your friends on their brain knowledge!
Schedule:
6:00 PM – Doors open
6:30 PM – Popular science presentations & discussion
8:00 PM – Games & quiz
Screening of Her followed by the film discussion “Emotions and Relationships with AI” at Cinéma Beaumont.
2026-03-21 @ 16:00 – 17:00
As part of Brain Awareness Week (March 16–22), Cinéma Beaumont, in collaboration with NeuroQuébec and Cerveau en Tête, is hosting a film discussion on emotions, relationship development, and artificial intelligence.
Join us for a screening of Her, starring Joaquin Phoenix, followed by a discussion with experts:
Alexandre Marois – Psychology and AI
Laura Silva – Philosophy of emotions
Philip Jackson – Emotions and empathy
What drives people to develop romantic relationships with AI? What are the potential risks? You’ll have the opportunity to ask your questions directly to our panel of experts.
March 21 at 2:00 PM – A perfect winter activity!
Tickets: $12.50 – Available here.
Open House on Parkinson’s Disease at CERVO
2026-04-10 @ 13:00 – 16:00
Open House on Parkinson’s Disease!
The teams of Martin Parent and mine are organizing an open house dedicated to sharing and popularizing research on Parkinson’s disease at the CERVO Brain Research Centre.
Friday, April 10, 2026 | 1:00–4:00 PM
2601 chemin de la Canardière, Québec
Free event
Registration is required by scanning the QR code on the poster.
Limited to 30 participants.
A great opportunity to better understand the research being conducted in Québec!
Past events
Parkinson Québec Scientific Webinar: Non-Invasive Neurostimulation to Slow Functional Decline in Parkinson’s Disease, with Dr Cyril Schneider
2026-02-12 @ 19:00 – 20:00
Webinar summary
Research is increasingly focusing on non-pharmacological and non-surgical approaches, used alone or in combination with medication. Among these, non-invasive neurostimulation is generating growing interest, as it is painless and associated with few side effects, whether applied to the scalp (brain stimulation) or to the skin (muscle stimulation). In both cases, studies report a slowing of functional decline, and in some cases significant improvements in motor and cognitive symptoms, possibly linked to meaningful changes in brain function.
This webinar will present promising results from personalized non-invasive neurostimulation approaches (magnetic or electrical, applied to the brain or muscles), as well as the limitations of current research protocols. Short-, medium-, and long-term effects will be discussed, along with accessibility issues, as these approaches remain exploratory and are not yet recognized as treatments. Greater participation in research studies remains essential to better understand their effectiveness, safety, and potential to improve quality of life for people living with Parkinson’s disease.
Would you like to know:
What is non-invasive neurostimulation?
What is the difference between electrical and magnetic stimulation?
What are the exclusion criteria for neurostimulation treatment?
How does it complement medication (e.g., L-Dopa), or could it potentially replace medication to avoid side effects?
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn more about the scientific and technological advances that are transforming the detection and understanding of Parkinson’s disease.
Prepare your questions and join us on February 12, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.!
Our guest
Dr Cyril Schneider, PhD
Cyril Schneider is a Full Professor at the School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, and a clinical neuroscience researcher at the Research Centre of the CHU de Québec – Université Laval. His work focuses primarily on brain function, movement disorders, and the use of non-invasive neurostimulation as a research approach to improve motor and cognitive symptoms, particularly in Parkinson’s disease. He leads and supervises numerous provincially and nationally funded research projects and has a strong interest in knowledge translation to clinical settings and the general public. He regularly participates in conferences, workshops, and science outreach activities related to the brain and neurological disorders.
Science and Philosophy – Consciousness in Coma, Near-Death Experience, Dream, Meditation, and Supercomputers
January 28, 2026
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Location: Pavillon Félix-Antoine-Savard, Room 140-Z
For information: luc.langlois@fp.ulaval.ca
Additional Details
Attend the lecture titled Science and Philosophy – Consciousness in Coma, Near-Death Experience, Dream, Meditation, and Supercomputers, presented by Steven Laureys, holder of the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Neuroplasticity (Université Laval, CERVO, CIUSSS, CHUL) and Research Director at the National Fund for Scientific Research (FNRS – University of Liège).
This lecture is offered as part of the public lecture series of the Chair in Philosophy in the Contemporary World.
Come and attend, engage in discussion with Professor Laureys, and take the opportunity to purchase some of his books, available on site.
Abstract
Understanding consciousness remains one of the greatest mysteries in science. How does our mind work? Will we ever be able to understand the possible existence of an afterlife? How can we know whether certain patients, after a coma, are conscious—and how can we communicate with them? How should we define the near-death experience (NDE)? What is brain death? And what does the brain reveal during dreaming or meditation?
No one yet understands how matter (our trillions of neural connections) becomes perception, emotion, and thought. These questions have fascinated philosophers since Antiquity. Today, new brain imaging technologies are gradually lifting the veil. The study of coma, anesthesia, sleep, and hypnosis helps us identify which brain networks are essential for human consciousness.
Scientific research into near-death experiences highlights how uncertain and poorly understood—yet deeply fascinating—the boundaries of consciousness remain. It is essential to examine these experiences critically but openly, without dogmatic preconceptions, confronting what we believe we know with what we can actually measure.
Speaker Biography
Steven Laureys, MD, PhD, is an internationally recognized neurologist known for his research on consciousness, perception, thought, and emotion.
He founded the Coma Science Group and the GIGA Consciousness Research Unit at the University of Liège. He is also a visiting professor at Harvard Medical School (BIDMC, Boston).
Author of more than 600 scientific publications, he has also written several popular science books for the general public, including:
- Near-Death Experience: Science and Spirituality – Éditions Odile Jacob
- A Brilliant Mind: The Border States of Consciousness – Éditions Odile Jacob
- Meditation Is Good for the Brain – Éditions Odile Jacob
- Caring for Life (with Matthieu Ricard, Christophe André, Alexandre Jollien) – L’Iconoclaste
- When Death Sheds Light on Life (with Matthieu Ricard, Christophe André, Christophe Fauré) – L’Iconoclaste
Special screenings of the documentary Billy
When mental health is neither recognized nor treated,
it is not concepts that collapse — it is lives.
On January 21 and 22 in Québec City, we invite you to special screenings of the documentary Billy, an essential film for anyone working in healthcare, justice, or the community or institutional sectors.
🎬 Directed by Lawrence Côté-Collins, Billy plunges into a reality our systems encounter far too often, without always understanding it:
a man living with undiagnosed, untreated schizophrenia, whose most severe crisis resulted in two deaths.
This film does not seek to excuse or to simplify.
It documents blind spots, questions our practices, and sheds light on the human consequences of fragmented care, judicialization, and stigma.
📅 Tuesday, January 21
🕒 3:00 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. – Open screening
💲 $15
📅 Wednesday, January 22
🕕 6:00 p.m. – Special screening
💲 $20
🕗 8:00 p.m. – EXPERT PANEL | Cross-perspectives on health, justice, and the community
🎙️ Panel moderated by Luc Vigneault, with:
• Lawrence Côté-Collins, director
• Dr. Sébastien Proulx, forensic psychiatrist (IUSMQ) and administrative judge at the TAQ
• Marie-Jo Labrecque, Executive Director, Le Cercle Polaire
• Doris Gendreau-Rodrigue, family peer support worker, Le Cercle Polaire
👉 This evening is intended for those who:
– work with people living with severe mental health disorders;
– intervene in contexts of judicialization or crisis;
– wish to reflect differently on responsibility, prevention, and recovery.
⚠️ This film is dedicated to the victims.
It invites us to move beyond simplistic answers and to open a rigorous, humane, and necessary dialogue between our systems.
🎟️ Limited seating – registration required
January 21: https://www.schizophrenie.qc.ca/fr/evenements/detail/sensibilisation-billy-a-quebec-projections-du-21-janvier-2026/80666
January 22: https://www.schizophrenie.qc.ca/fr/evenements/detail/sensibilisation-billy-a-quebec-projection-speciale-du-22-janvier-2026/80707
Understanding our collective failures is a prerequisite to better prevention.
An invitation from: Le Cercle Polaire, Luc Vigneault – Mental Health Speaker and Trainer, and the Quebec Schizophrenia Society.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9th
[GENERAL PUBLIC] LUNCHTIME WEBINAR – Dr. Amélie Achim: Schizophrenia: Challenges in Social Interactions and Verbal Communication
2025-12-09 @ 12:00 – 13:00
Virtual Event – FREE FOR ALL!
Dr. Achim will explain her work in the field of social cognition, verbal communication, and social interactions in people living with schizophrenia.
REGISTRATION REQUIRED
THE SPEAKER
Amélie Achim – Full Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences (Université Laval)
Registration
The activity will take place in a VIRTUAL SESSION. A Zoom link will be sent to you upon registration.
The webinar will also be streamed live on our Facebook page! No registration is required to watch it on that platform.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19th
📢 It’s time to register for the first public event titled Let’s demystify obesity—together!
🗓 November 19, 2025, starting at 6:00 p.m.
📍 Auditorium of the Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec – Université Laval (or online, via live streaming)
Organized by the Fonds Denis Richard en mobilisation et transfert des connaissances en #obésité (Fondation IUCPQ), this event aims to inform the public about the causes, complications, treatment, and prevention of obesity.
A panel of scientists and citizen partners – including Jean-Pierre Després, Benoit Arsenault, Andréanne Michaud, Virginie Blanchette, and Guy Poulin – will engage with the audience to debunk myths and, most importantly, explore practical solutions.
👉 Dr Alexandre Caron will have the pleasure of moderating the discussion in collaboration with Obesity Matters (Parlons Obésité).
✨ An event not to be missed!
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25th
2025-10-25 @ 14:00 – 17:00
3rd edition of Vulgariser pour discuter
Irish Pub Chez Murphy’s – 2nd floor, 1095 Saint-Jean Street, Old Québec
This year, several scientists, students, researchers, and health professionals from different research centers in Québec will take on the challenge of making science accessible to everyone.
The event is free and open to the general public. Register here
TUESDAY OCTOBRE 21RST, VIRTUAL EVENT
Scientific webinar – October 21rst, virtual event
Role of the Blood–Brain Barrier in Parkinson’s Disease
What if the key to the progression of the disease lies beyond the neurons?
Dr. Aurélie de Rus Jacquet invites us to explore two key factors involved in the progression of Parkinson’s disease: the blood–brain barrier, an essential structure that protects the brain and regulates its exchanges with the rest of the body, and non-neuronal cells, whose role is increasingly recognized.
Using advanced technologies such as 3D models and stem cells, she will present discoveries that shed light on the mechanisms behind the deterioration of brain cells and open the way to new therapeutic approaches.
An unmissable conference to understand the latest scientific breakthroughs.
FROM SEPTEMBER 19, 2025 TO OCTOBER 17 AT THE UNIVERSITÉ LAVAL LIBRARY
An exhibition to reflect on the impacts of artificial intelligence in everyday life
This initiative by the International Observatory on the Societal Impacts of AI and Digital Technology will run until October 27 at the Library
Click here to learn more
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26th:
Orchestre Symphonique de Québec: Brain and music conference by Dr Andréanne Sharp
2025-09-26 @ 16:00 – 20:00
September 26, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. at the Telus Studio, Grand Théâtre de Québec.
Free activity, but registration required
This lecture by researcher and professor Andréanne Sharp will allow you to learn more about the benefits of music on the brain, as well as on hearing protection. The event will be hosted by Marie-Ève Paquin, Cultural Mediation Coordinator at the Orchestre symphonique de Québec, and will conclude with a public Q&A session.
Location: STUDIOTELUS, Grand Théâtre de Québec
Music is a real workout for the brain! Playing a musical instrument engages several senses: sight (to read sheet music), touch (to feel the instrument’s vibrations), movement (to play the notes), and of course, hearing. This multisensory training improves the ability to process and integrate information from different senses.
It is also a great source of pleasure in human life, capable of triggering a wide range of emotions. Music accompanies life’s milestones and can even help maintain hearing abilities as we age. Excessive sound exposure—whether linked to amplified listening or professional music practice—can, however, cause irreversible hearing damage.
This lecture offers a reflection on the balance to be maintained between musical enjoyment and hearing protection. Through scientific data, concrete examples, and practical advice, we will explore how to listen to music better, prevent the risks of hearing loss, and make music a long-lasting ally for well-being and quality of life.
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2025 starting at 5:00 p.m.
Date:
September 25
Time:
5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Location:
Galerie Vincent & moi, Room G-1343,
2601 chemin de la Canardière, Québec
Join us for the OPENING RECEPTION of the new annual exhibition Les Tournesols de Vincent.
In the presence of the exhibiting artists, come discover the 38 new works that will be added to the Vincent et moi Collection.
website: https://vincentetmoi.com/
Participating Artists:
Caroline Audet · Danielle Beaulieu · Denis Belleau · Pauline Bolduc · Mireille Bourque · Mélissa Butler · Hélène Cloutier · Réjean Côté · Claudette Anne Dallaire · Maria Luisa Dias · Fanny Dubé · Jean-Claude Duval · Rémy Gagnon · Annie Gervais · GODAIN · Yorick Godin · Chantale Guillemette alias CHANTE · Dany Hokayem · Suzie Houde · Karine Labbé · Karine Labrie · Claire Lafrance · Suzanne Morin alias ZANNE · Lorraine Pelchat alias LAURA · PÉYO · Michel Potvin · Danielle Provost alias PROVO · Marie-Dominique Rouleau · Enrico Sanna · SANTIAGO · Isabelle St-Pierre alias ZAZAROXY · Carol-Ann Taillefer · Barbara Thibaudeau · Christian Watters
Photo Exhibit: Aging with a Traumatic Brain Injury
📸 FREE EXHIBIT | Aging with a Traumatic Brain Injury: An Intergenerational Dialogue
What if aging with a traumatic brain injury became a space for connection, dialogue… and creation?
Born from a collaboration between individuals living with TBI, researchers from Cirris, and the organization Servio, this unique photo exhibition gives a voice to intergenerational pairs who have chosen to share their experiences, perspectives, and humanity.
Through sensitive images and moving testimonials, discover the richness of life journeys and the power of intergenerational bonds.
An encounter between science, art, and social engagement not to be missed!
June 12, 2025, starting at 6:15 p.m. at the Musée de la Civilisation (525 Dalhousie Street, Québec City)
InterG Exhibition: FREE
Multi-arts Show:
- $15 presale (from May 23 to June 10 at the Servio offices)
- $20 at the door on the day of the event
(All proceeds will help fund Servio’s activities)
Please let us know if you require accessible seating (limited availability)
For more information: j.jolivet@servio.ca
SoapBox Science Quebec city
Soirée Parlons Santé mentale 2025
march 24th, 2025
Théâtre Impérial de Québec
