Universcience, an organisation that works to make science accessible to all, has announced the global launch of its new travelling exhibition, Cave Journey: Through the Chauvet Discovery, beginning in Spring 2027.
Created by the Cité des sciences et de l’industrie in Paris, this innovative exhibition will be on display from October 2024 to May 2025 in Paris, before moving to the Chauvet 2 site in Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, Ardèche, where it will remain until January 2027.
Aimed at adults, families, and school groups aged eight and up, it offers a groundbreaking, immersive, and interdisciplinary exhibition that explores the scientific research conducted in the famous Chauvet Cave.
The Chauvet Cave, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site, features prehistoric artworks that are over 36,000 years old. This exhibition is the first ever dedicated to highlighting the research conducted in the Chauvet Cave, offering a unique glimpse into how scientists employ archaeology, geology, chemistry, and digital technology to explore humanity’s earliest mysteries.
Immersive, eco-conscious scientific exhibition
With 500 square metres of modular, eco-designed exhibition space, Cave Journey combines scientific storytelling with sustainability. All materials are recyclable or repurposed, the scenography is reusable, and the carbon footprint is minimised.
Fully accessible, the exhibition allows visitors to experience the roles of researchers by engaging with interactive tools, including light-based detection technologies, and physical evidence such as fossils, footprints, and cave drawings.
Divided into four sections—”The Chauvet Cave”, “At the Crossroads of Research”, “Living Beings”, and “Cave Art”—this exhibition promotes an engaging exploration of prehistoric life and contemporary scientific inquiry. It aligns with educational programmes in science, history, and art, igniting the curiosity of a wide range of visitors.
This new format creates opportunities for global partnerships and presents innovative archaeological research to international audiences. Universcience is the institution comprising both the Cité des sciences et de l’industrie and the Palais de la découverte.
“Hosting this exhibition has been an enriching experience for our institution and our visitors. It truly sets a new standard for how science and cultural heritage can be communicated,” says a spokesperson from Chauvet 2, Vallon Pont d’Arc.
Laure Rigaud-Soares, digital marketing project manager at Universcience, adds:
“Cave Journey is not just an exhibition—it’s a celebration of scientific inquiry and environmental responsibility. We’re excited to share this immersive experience internationally and highlight the incredible work of researchers in a globally significant site.”
Last year, Universcience announced that its two touring sports exhibitions were labelled by Paris 2024 as part of the Olympiade Culturelle.
