Democracy, Praxis, Research

A space to explore the role of basic science in society.

We are a couple of researchers deeply committed to the role of science in society. Our shared journey has been marked by a constant dedication to fundamental research, academic freedom, and the dialogue between science and citizenship. After working for many years in Argentina, we were forced to leave the country in the face of policies openly hostile to science and critical thinking. The name of this site, LabDPR, echoes the Laboratorio de Detección de Partículas y Radiación, which was founded and directed in Argentina before our departure. This online project aims to defend a form of research that is curious, grounded in the world, and open to everyone.

María Belén Lovino

Public Engagement Officer, IN2P3 et IJCLab

Trained in science communication and education, with university teaching experience in Argentina, I am particularly interested in audiences often considered “distant” from science — those who are not reached by conventional channels and too often viewed as indifferent or illegitimate. I work to develop more inclusive, sensitive, and sometimes unconventional forms of science engagement, to open up research to new imaginaries and narratives. For me, talking about science also means talking about justice, perspective, and empowerment.

Xavier Bertou

Senior Research Scientist, IJCLab (CNRS/IN2P3)

I am a researcher at the CNRS, specializing in astroparticle physics and instrumentation. I am French and spent over twenty years living in Argentina, where I founded the Laboratorio de Detección de Partículas y Radiación (LabDPR) in 2010. I was forced to leave the country in 2024, driven out by a political climate that had become deeply hostile to scientific research. This site takes up the name of the original laboratory but broadens its scope: it explores the place of scientific thinking in our societies, its connection to democracy, and the conditions that allow research to remain truly free, critical, and fertile.