Be part of the RESSAC Festival 2026 in Brest
The University of Brest (UBO) invites students, researchers, and teaching staff from SEA-EU partner universities to take part in the (Very) Big Data! Competition, a major highlight of the RESSAC Festival of Research in Science, Arts, and Creation, which will take place in Brest, March 10 to 14, 2026.
Now in its fourth edition, the RESSAC Festival celebrates creativity at the intersection of science and the arts. Through concerts, exhibitions, theater, dance, radio productions, writing workshops, and public encounters, the festival brings academic research to life in an original and engaging way, encouraging dialogue between researchers, artists, and society.
A Monumental Exhibition: “(Very) Big Data!”
As part of the 2026 edition, UBO is organizing a monumental exhibition entitled “(Very) Big Data!”, showcasing giant images of scientific data. Selected works will be enlarged into prints of up to 15 m² and displayed for one month in Les Capucins — Brest’s iconic cultural venue and the largest covered public square in Europe.
The exhibition aims not only to amaze and intrigue the general public but also to enhance the visibility of the SEA-EU Alliance.
Who Can Apply?
The competition is open to all members of the student, teaching, and research communities of the SEA-EU partner universities.
What Kind of Images?
Participants are invited to submit their most original visualizations of scientific data — whether as graphs, infographics, models, or other forms of representation. Not accepted: images produced with conventional cameras or scientific instruments (microscopes, telescopes, satellites, drones, etc.). Proposals falling into the category of data art (see the call for applications).
Selection and Prizes
- The jury will select 5 images.
- Winning works will be printed and exhibited at large scale, with all production costs covered by UBO.
- Authors’ names and affiliations will be displayed on all materials.
- The selected images will also be published on UBO’s website, social media, and potentially other media channels.
- Winners are strongly encouraged to attend the festival in Brest to present their work and meet the public. Meals will be provided.
- SEA-EU participants may apply to have their travel expenses (transport and accommodation) covered by the SEA-EU budget. To do so, they should contact their local SEA-EU office to find out about the terms and conditions and the amounts available. If travel is not possible, winners must submit a short video presentation of their image and research.
How to Apply
Each participant may submit up to 5 images, each accompanied by:
- A title,
- A caption (max. 1,000 characters) accessible to a non-specialist audience, in French or English,
- The author’s full name and affiliation.
- Applications must be submitted via the online form available here.
Calendar
- Applications open: September 22, 2025
- Deadline for submissions: November 30, 2025
- Results announced: Week of December 15, 2025
- Festival: March 10–14, 2026
For further information or inquiries, please contact the RESSAC team.
