In Nicolas Martin's laboratory
A lecture, a writing workshop, an interview: Nicolas Martin, author of the dystopian novel Fragile/s, met with students from the Faculty of Sciences in Montpellier for a unique exchange. Focus on this event.
On Wednesday, December 4, the Faculty of Sciences of Montpellier had the honor of welcoming Nicolas Martin, science journalist and former host of the program "La Méthode scientifique" on France Culture. Also a writer, he has just published his first science fiction novel, "Fragile/s," with the publisher Au Diable Vauvert. It is a dystopian tale that explores the challenges of human procreation in the near future through well-known biological themes such as Y chromosome degeneration and fragile X syndrome. Through a lecture and a writing workshop, the author invited students to reflect on this imaginary literature, which is anything but a subgenre.
From journalist to writer
Writing has always been a natural choice for Nicolas Martin, who, from a very young age, dreamed, imagined, doodled, and read fantasy literature. Writing predates his career as a science journalist and his passion for science. According to him, it was access to this imaginary world that sparked his curiosity. For more than fifteen minutes, three members of the SCRIBES association and Sonia Chalbi, Culture and Arts-Science Relations Officer, interviewed Nicolas Martin about the creation of Fragile/s and the link between science and science fiction. How can we prevent dystopia from becoming reality? Is "science without conscience nothing but the ruin of the soul"? Find the answers to these questions in the podcast of the interview published on the Faculty of Science's YouTube channel!
"There is a contiguity between science and science fiction. [...] When you evolve in a scientific universe, it is normal to see how literature takes hold of it, giving rise to new ideas and avenues for reflection."
Science fiction as a testing ground
Nicolas Martin explored the origins and scope of science fiction in a fascinating and richly referenced lecture that lasted nearly an hour. "Frankenstein is the starting point for science fiction as we know it today," he explained, pointing out that although the genre was officially recognized in 1926, its roots lie in a much older tradition of speculative writing. Currently, "writing science fiction in 2024 means starting from the current reality and changing the parameters to see what happens." This approach, similar to philosophical thought experiments, transforms each work of science fiction into a field for reflection on contemporary challenges and possible futures.
A unique writing workshop
“Science fiction is similar to philosophy: you create a system and observe how it reacts.” It was with this perspective that Nicolas Martin guided around fifteen students during a writing workshop. Based on his advice, they tried their hand at writing a science fiction short story. Perhaps the next George Orwell was among them?
By offering students an immersion into the world of science fiction, Nicolas Martin demonstrated that literature can be a tool for navigating the complexities of our world. This encounter served as a call to imagine, create, and experiment. A call that will hopefully continue to resonate well beyond this Festi'sciences event. The SCRIBES association, which co-led the project with the Faculty of Sciences of Montpellier, will resume its writing workshops in January, providing an opportunity to further explore the avenues already taken on Wednesday.
To follow S.C.R.I.B.E.S: Instagram @scribes_um
To follow Nicolas Martin: Instagram @nicomartinfc
Publisher: Instagram @editionsaudiablevauvert
Article written by Nafi Terrasse, student in the MédiACCES Master's program at the FdS
