“It’s not Rocket Science” aims to make science accessible to as many people as possible, particularly secondary school students. The goal is clear: to demystify complex scientific concepts while offering young people a captivating gateway into the world of research.
The idea behind “It’s not Rocket Science” is simple yet ambitious: each pair of students must create a 2-minute science communication video explaining a scientific concept or phenomenon related to space. Out of a pool of 300 videos, the most compelling ones are selected to compete in a contest held during the “Printemps des Sciences” (Spring of Science festival). Secondary school students are then invited to vote for the best video.
The objectives of this project are multiple: (1) to practice English in a hands-on way, (2) to give secondary school students a glimpse of the work being done at the university, (3) to explore interdisciplinarity, and (4) to inspire young people to study science – perhaps even at UNamur!
To successfully take on this challenge, the finalist students are supported in creating their videos by a team of English and subject teachers, the Confluent des Savoirs – UNamur’s science communication department – and the Audiovisual Service.
2025 Edition: Exploring Space
The videos produced by the students cover concepts related to space—a theme that captures the imagination and sparks curiosity and interest among young people. From the effects of cosmic radiation on the human body to the search for new energy sources in space, and even the study of volcanoes on other planets, each video becomes a fascinating exploration of a complex topic, presented in a clear and engaging way.
Check out the videos from the 2025 edition.
A remarkable live session with the International Space Station (ISS)
This year’s competition prize-giving event featured a standout moment: a live session with American astronaut Donald Pettit, who is currently aboard the International Space Station. This special moment allowed the students and secondary school pupils present to ask questions to the astronaut orbiting the Earth and learn more about life aboard the station, the astronauts’ journeys, and the daily challenges they face.
Following this exchange, the winners of the 2025 edition were presented with prizes offered by the EuroSpace Centre, a project partner. Among the 7 finalist videos, the one created by Ella Cishahayo and Angelina Severino, biomedical science students, won the competition.
The evening concluded with a speech by Julie Henry, STEAM Project Manager at UNamur, on the challenge of attracting girls to scientific fields.
