Coordinated by the University of Milan for over 15 years, UniStem Day is the largest European event dedicated to the dissemination and public engagement of science around stem cells and regenerative medicine. This exceptional day aims to encourage high school students to develop their scientific knowledge and spark their curiosity by introducing them to the latest advances in research. Every year, tens of thousands of students around the world take part simultaneously from their local university or research institute — a unique experience of science shared at a European and international scale.

True to this annual appointment, LabEx Revive once again organised a scientific congress at Institut Pasteur last March, welcoming a new cohort of high school students from the Île-de-France region for a full day of immersion into the world of research. 

Looking back at the 2026 edition 

For its 18th worldwide edition and 8th participation at Institut Pasteur, UniStem Day opened the doors of research to approximately 150 high school students from the Île-de-France region, for a day of immersion themed "Free to Choose". Highlights of the day included: a giant interactive quiz organised for the first time via simultaneous video connection with students from Toulouse, Berlin and Warsaw; two plenary lectures delivered by Walter Habeler (I-Stem) and Rachel Bellone (Institut Pasteur); poster and oral presentation sessions evaluated by a panel of experts covering infectious diseases, developmental biology and neurobiology; and a speed-meeting with around twenty research professionals.

At the European level, UniStem Day 2026 brought together more than 30,000 students across 93 universities and research institutes in 12 countries.

This collective success was made possible thanks to the support of LabEx Revive, SupBiotech engineering school, Institut Pasteur, ANR and the Inception Convergence Institute. It also owes a great deal to the people who invest their time and energy in the event: many thanks to the jury members and speed-meeting participants, and in particular to the Pasteurians who, having been faithful to the event for several editions, have become its indispensable pillars. Their long-standing commitment is an invaluable asset — and we are always delighted to welcome new profiles to enrich the discussions and bring fresh perspectives on science and its many careers. 

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Save the Date — UniStem Day 2027: join the adventure! 

Building on the success of this eighth participation, we are thrilled to announce that the 2027 editionof UniStem Day will take place on Friday, 12 March 2027 at Institut Pasteur, with the support of the PEPR Cell-ID, a priority research programme on cells and living systems.

For this edition, the scientific reviews proposed to students will cover a broader range of topics: in addition to infectious diseases, the programme will include neurodegenerative diseases, immunity and genetics, reflecting the richness and interdisciplinary nature of the research conducted at Institut Pasteur.

Would you like to get involved? Whether as a jury member, a speed-meeting participant, or to connect us with a high school wishing to take part in the event, all contributions are welcome! Please get in touch with Marina Caillet as soon as possible at marina.caillet@pasteur.fr 

We look forward to seeing you on 12 March 2027 and to continuing, together, this wonderful meeting point between science and the next generation.