Below are brief presentations of the 9 projects that our M1 students carried out for the UE ProSkills in 2025-2026, including links to the material that they produced as output of their projects
Preventing the young population about problematic social media use
by AK, JM ; KERKHOF, MANS
Have you ever wondered whether you are « addicted » to social media? You have probably come across this term in the media, particularly in discussions about young people. Indeed, social media use is significantly more prevalent among younger age groups compared to the rest of the population. But what does neuroscience actually have to say about this addiction? To address these questions, we interviewed two addiction specialists: Guillaume Sescousse, a neuroscience researcher, and Julia de Ternay, a psychiatrist. In this podcast, you will hear an exchange between these two experts on the problematic use of social media, explored from both a clinical and a neurobiological perspective, as well as a discussion of why young people are more vulnerable than other segments of the population. Through a nuanced and balanced conversation, the very notion of addiction is called into question and certain common assumptions are put into perspective. Practical tips for developing healthier social media habits, for those who feel the need, are also provided.
NeuroDiscovery Game
by J.BUNTER, C.RAVIER, L.RIEHL-CHARRETIER, L.SILVESTRI
DISCO (Découvre Ici les Secrets du CervO) is a student-led science communication project developed by four first year Master’s students in the Neuroscience masters at Université Lyon 1. Its goal is simple: make accurate neuroscience knowledge accessible and engaging for students from different academic backgrounds. The project takes the form of an interactive online quiz composed of 10 multiple-choice questions covering three themes directly relevant to student life : social relationship, emotions, sleep, and memory. Behind each question, a specialist researcher helped us answer the audiences’ questions by providing scientific answers, later shared via short explanatory videos (1-2 minutes), ensuring that the content is both scientifically accurate and clearly communicated. Glossaries summarising key neuroscience terms were made available throughout the quiz to help participants engage with the material, whatever their prior knowledge. What makes DISCO different from other science popularisation initiatives is its two-sided approach: the questions were generated by the target audience itself, and the answers come straight from the researchers. Rather than a one-directional lecture, DISCO is a dialogue, an invitation to learn what neurosciences are, test your knowledge, challenge your misconceptions, and learn from the people who study the brain every day. The quiz is freely accessible via QR code or direct link, takes around twenty minutes to complete, and is designed to be done on a computer, tablet or smartphone. It was developed with zero budget, relying entirely on the students’ time and the generosity of the participating researchers.
NeuRhône Gallery
by Z. Bellatif, D. Ben Amar, C. Chuzeville and A. Courthiau
NeuRhône Gallery is a neuroscience-and-art exhibition born from two observations: Lyon hosts a rich neuroscience research community, largely unknown to the general audience, and researchers often struggle to connect meaningfully with their own work. The project invited local neuroscientists to choose images from their own research and reflect on them from both a scientific and an artistic point of view, producing a dual-interpretation exhibition open to the general public. Eight researchers from the CRNL and ISC-MJ contributed images spanning microscopy, fMRI, computational neuroscience, and more. Each image was paired with a personal interview, accessible by QR code on the project website. The physical exhibition ran from 10 to April 21st, 2026, at the La Doua Scientific University Library, in partnership with La Semaine du Cerveau Lyon 2026 and CHAS Université Lyon 1. The gallery brought scientific communication and artistic engagement together: visitors discovered the unexpected beauty of Lyon’s research imagery, while participating researchers gained a rewarding new perspective on their own work.
Presenting Areas of Training in Human & animal neuroscience
by M. BOUNIE, A. CANTINEAU, V. DEMOTTAZ, J. MALLEGOL
Neuroscience is often perceived as a complex and highly specialized field, making it difficult for high school students to imagine themselves studying or working in this domain. However, many fundamental concepts in neuroscience can be made accessible through interactive and concrete examples connected to everyday life. The PATH project aimed to promote neuroscience while introducing Lyon Master’s degree as a possible academic pathway. Targeting a class of 29 seconde high school students, the project focused on a key moment in students’ academic orientation. A secondary objective was to encourage young girls to consider STEM careers through direct contact with female neuroscience Master’s students. To encourage participation and create a more comfortable environment, the intervention was organized around four rotating small-group workshops rather than traditional lectures. Our workshops introduced students to major areas of neuroscience: neurobiology, clinical, cognitive and sensory neuroscience. The content was adapted to students with no prior knowledge of neuroscience and combined scientific explanations with visual support. Activities such as the Stroop Test, optical illusions and games allowed students to understand neuroscientific notions through fun and interactive learning. Overall, the intervention successfully generated curiosity and engagement among students while also encouraging reflection about future scientific careers.
T.O.C : Tes Obsessions Comptent
by Arezki M., Clemençon H. , Muzard L., Cardinal M.
T.O.C: Tes Obsessions Comptent is a student podcast created by Arezki Massyl, Cardinal Mario, Clemencon Hugo and Muzard Léo as part of the UE Proskills project. Its aim is to raise awareness among young people about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), a psychiatric disorder that is still widely misunderstood and often reduced to stereotypes such as excessive cleanliness or perfectionism. Through an accessible and engaging podcast format, the project explores OCD from several complementary perspectives. It begins with common misconceptions collected from young people, before introducing a clear explanation of the disorder, its symptoms and its impact on daily life. The podcast also includes an interview with a psychiatrist, allowing the audience to better understand the clinical reality of OCD, the suffering it can cause, and the importance of seeking professional help rather than self-diagnosing. The project’s main objective is to reduce stigma and encourage empathy toward people living with OCD. By combining scientific explanation, public perception and professional expertise, the podcast shows that OCD is not a lack of willpower, but a real mental health condition involving anxiety, intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviours. Designed for young listeners and shared on Spotify, this project aims to make mental health education more accessible, relatable and human. Its final message is simple: understand, empathize, and support.
Brainstorming: Making Neuroscience Accessible Through Short-Form Video Podcasts
by E. Babu, A. Bertin, C. Thebault, I. Wyper
Brainstorming is a science communication project created by four Master’s students in Neuroscience at Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1. The aim of the project was to make neuroscience more accessible to young audiences through short-form video podcasts published on Instagram and TikTok. The project was motivated by the observation that young adults increasingly consume information through short and informal social media formats, while reliable neuroscience content remains scarce on these platforms. To address this gap, we developed conversational podcast-style videos presenting neuroscience concepts in an accessible and engaging way rather than through a traditional lecture format. Topics were selected through an online survey of more than 100 respondents. Based on audience interest, two themes were chosen: romantic love and procrastination. Each episode was researched, scripted, filmed, and edited by a pair of students. Scientific rigor was a central objective throughout the project. Scripts were based on scientific literature and reviewed by external experts before publication to avoid oversimplified or unsupported claims. The videos generated audience engagement through views, likes, comments, shares, and informal feedback. Analytics collected during the first month showed that the content successfully reached the intended audience, with most viewers belonging to the 18–24 age group. Feedback highlighted appreciation for the informal and approachable format while also revealing challenges related to audience retention, technical quality, and the adaptation of complex scientific concepts to short videos. Overall, Brainstorming enabled the development of skills in scientific communication, literature review, teamwork, project management, video production, and critical evaluation while promoting neuroscience to a broader audience.
Links : Romantic love video
Links : Procrastination video
Neuractu
by N. Rio and S. Banymandhub
Neuractu is a neuroscientific communication account born from a simple observation : the easier information becomes to access, the less people engage with it in a critical way and especially in a landscape where AI can answer any question instantly. Where most science communication accounts deliver conclusions, Neuractu shares the reasoning behind them : figures, methods, results. Two formats are shared on a single topic : memos lay the groundwork, paper summaries put that knowledge to the test. Neuractu does not simplify neuroscience. We want to preserve what makes neuroscience what it is : its complexity. Whether you have a background in science or none at all, we do not ask you to trust us. We ask you to think.
Neuromyths Officially Proven Erroneous
by A. Chira ; F. Garcia ; E. Sanchez ; H. Truong
Debunking Neuromyths: Can a comic book dismantle brain myths more effectively and in a more accessible way than a textbook? To find out, our team launched an innovative science communication project under the scientific supervision of Pr. Emiliano Macaluso from the CRNL. Our mission is to translate complex, neurobiological mechanisms into a smooth, visually entertaining comic-booklet format designed to improve critical thinking. This booklet takes a deep, fascinating dive into two hyper-relevant contemporary themes that rule adolescent life: the dopamine-drive reward pathways of digital addiction and the shifting neural architecture of sleep cycles. Taking our creation straight to the field, we deployed a high-energy 30-minute interacting pilot test with senior high-schoolers at Lycée Aux Lazaristes. The verdict? According to our results based on their feedback, the intervention was an overwhelming success. 87% of students enthusiastically favored the comic medium over boring academic texts, while 90% applauded the absolute clarity of the scientific explanations. Most importantly, 73% of the cohort reported a genuine shift in how they view brain function, proving that clever visual storytelling can successfully break intuitive biases and spark a lifelong passion for scientific truth.
How to Have a Successful Year Without Burning Out
by CHALAL, I. GHABANI, M. SID
This project is an ebook designed to improve university students’ learning efficiency and academic performance based on scientific evidence written. The main goal is to provide science-based accessible evidence to help students in their revision (especially for exams) by being written in an accessible language for a broad audience. Entitled “How to Have a Successful Year (Without Burning Out)”, this ebook aims to help students that continue to rely on passive study strategies, such as repeated reading or highlighting, which are ineffective for long-term retention. The book is divided into six chapters, all of them have been validated by experts from the Lyon Neuroscience Research Center (CRNL), ensuring scientific accuracy and relevance. In accordance with our principle to help students, the ebook is freely accessible online. Each chapter translates empirical findings from scientific literature into practical, accessible strategies that students can implement immediately. By promoting active retrieval, optimized scheduling, stress management, focused engagement, and effective time use, the ebook supports sustainable learning practices that enhance academic performance while reducing burnout risk. This project demonstrates how research-based evidence can be adapted to create accessible tools that empower students to learn smarter and maintain well-being throughout the academic year.