SENSE Lab at the heart of the Scientastic event at Sion
© 2025 EPFL
The ALPOLE building at EPFL Valais Wallis became a hub of scientific discovery in July as the Scientastic festival 2025 welcomed nearly 5,000 visitors eager to explore the world of research and innovation.
Among the highlights was the SENSE laboratory, where the team R&D engineer Sébastien Lavanchy and the EPFL Master's interns Armance Nouvel and Yanis Mouzaoui showcased innovative, low-cost sensor technology designed for marine and lake environments. The lab demonstrations highlighted an ongoing collaboration with Sailowtech, an association supported by EPFL's MAKE program, focused on developing affordable environmental monitoring solutions.
Frugal Innovation for Participatory Science
Visitors discovered how ingenuity and resourcefulness drive scientific progress through two prototype instruments developed within the SENSE team:
- A CTD sensor (Conductivity, Temperature, Depth) for water column profiling
- A surface water CO₂ fugacity measurement device
Both prototypes, originally conceptualized by Alexandre Tellier in previous semesters, are being refined by Master's students Armance Nouvel and Yanis Mouzaoui as part of their EPFL Robotics program. The instruments are designed with participatory science in mind, making advanced oceanographic measurements accessible to a broader community of researchers and citizen scientists.
Balancing Outreach and Expedition Preparation
The lab opening came at a particularly busy time for the team, as equipment for an upcoming Greenland expedition aboard the Swiss sailing vessel Forel was simultaneously being prepared for departure from Sion. Despite the logistical challenges, Lavanchy ensured smooth operations throughout the festival weekend.
The Scientastic festival continues EPFL's commitment to bringing science closer to the public, encouraging hands-on discovery and dialogue between researchers and communities across all age groups.
