Fête de la Science

Digital technology often seems magical, fluid, almost immaterial. Yet, behind our screens, it rests on a very physical reality: billions of devices, networks of cables crisscrossing the planet, data centers that consume vast amounts of energy and water, and tons of metals extracted under often disastrous conditions. Beneath the promises of "paperless" data, "unlimited plans," or "the cloud," lie very real social and environmental impacts: exploited workers, depleted natural resources, and a massive environmental footprint. Becoming aware of these realities is essential to rethinking our habits, our policies, and our consumption choices. Digital technology is not neutral: it is up to us, individually and collectively, to make it fairer, more sustainable, and more acceptable. This conference offers a clear-eyed look at the dark side of digital technology and concrete steps to take action.

Prior to this conference, readers from the media library will read some excerpts from the text "Les fils conducteurs" by Guillaume Poix, a first novel which focuses on the dark side of globalization: an open-air dump of electronic equipment on African soil.