UM6P Science Week 2026

WHAT IS 'UM6P's SCIENCE WEEK'?

Why did we launch Science Week as an annual event on the campus of Benguerir?

Let's start by stating three facts: 1. Scientific research lies at the heart of UM6P's mission. 2. Excellence in research and excellence in teaching are UM6P's dual ambition. 3. Disseminating knowledge is a logical consequence of the mission and the ambition - and it is a national duty, a responsibility that we have towards our country and our continent.

Those three facts, or goals, must be shown to be realized. That is why we have launched Science Week. Once a year, every UM6P's department gets the opportunity to display its achievements in research and teaching during that week.

The motto (or maxim) of UM6P's Week of Science is: 'At the frontiers of science'. Being at the frontier of science is a goal in itself, but it also means being at the cutting-edge of technology, creating new industries and contributing to a robust and healthy society.

Being at the frontiers of science means crossing traditional disciplinary boundaries. Science Week also aims at enabling students to remove disciplinary 'walls', think outside the box, question the world.

At the frontiers of science there will always be disagreement or debate about the facts and their meaning. That is why UM6P's Week of Science is also a time for reflexion and introspection. As the French humanist François Rabelais (1483-1553) wrote: "Science sans conscience n'est que ruine de l'âme" ["Science without conscience is only ruin of the soul."]

Ethical and philosophical questions are posed and discussed.

How is 'UM6P's SCIENCE WEEK' organized?

a) The Scientific Director proposes a common theme for the year - for instance, 'Convergence(s)' in 2026.

b. Every department contribute to the reflexion over the theme by a conference, a debate, an exhibition, etc., the idea being that every discipline has its own way of addressing the common theme.

c. Every department set up at least one high-level conference-debate on a subject which represents some actual, interesting scientific question in the departments' discipline. Renowned scientists will engage in debate with students and staff, sharing and 'desegregating' knowledge.

d. Every department exhibits its realizations, its achievements, its production of the latest year.

e. Students or staff can organize Reading Circles, Art Exhibitions, Plays, Music Events, etc., during UM6P's Science Week.

For whom is Science Week intended? UM6P's Science Week is mainly intended for UM6P students and staff. However, anyone interested, particularly students from all the Moroccan universities but also any citizen, can come to Benguerir during SW and attend any event they choose.

To sum-up: 'UM6P's SCIENCE WEEK' aims at

a) becoming the key event of the academic year which will show that scientific research lies at the heart of UM6P's mission, that excellence in research and in teaching are its goal and that it wishes to disseminate knowledge

b) putting Benguerir on the map when it comes to scientific research

c) presenting the latest advances in the disciplines covered at UM6P

d) welcoming, during one week, first-class scientists from the whole world.