Acfas research popularization competition: Winning works in 2025

Since 1993, ACFAS has invited success scientists to popularize their research work during an annual competition. Here are the works rewarded in 2025.

Open to students in master’s degree, doctorate or postdoctorate of all Canadian university establishments, the popularization competition for ACFAS research encourages the production of texts, audio, video and comic files that highlight subjects from all disciplines. The godmother of the 32^e edition is the artist-researcher Emanuelle Dufour, author of comics Quebec was born in my country! (2021).

Again this year, acfas and Québec Science Allow themselves to present the winning works, rewarded on May 6, 2025 as part of the 92^e ACFAS Congress, in Montreal. On the menu: the dance of quantum spins, the effect of tire particles on the molds and the canopy seen from the sky.

Winning works

Article – Frustrate to better dance: the case of quantum spin liquids

Par Rodolphe Alquierdoctoral student at the Quantum Institute of the University of Sherbrooke.

How about diving into the heart of matter, in the kingdom of quantum mechanics, where residents are waves and particles and where laws have nothing to do with those of physics on a human scale?

Comics – Rolling tire does not have a mold!

Par Julie Anquetina doctoral student in oceanography at the University of Quebec in Rimouski (UQAR) and at the University of the coast of Opale, in France.

Did you know that a car is able to upset the daily life of blue mussels, even if they do not live in the same environment? For most of us, it makes no sense. And yet, research shows that tire particles can move from road to oceans, disturbing the health of certain aquatic species. A new anecdote to tell during your next car trip!

Article – Highlight the canopy: decode the invisible to protect our forests

Par Louis-Vincent Grand’Maisonmaster’s degree in geomatic sciences at Laval University.

We live in the era of the ecological crisis, where the biodiversity of forests around the world is crumbling a little more every day. To protect it, we must understand and observe it.
Faced with emergency, a question is essential: how to unravel the mysteries of our immense Quebec forests, these complex ecosystems where life abounds in each corner?

Photos provided by people winners