“Science suggests and argues, but citizens decide,” Jimmy Gormaud recalls.

On television, in conferences, in books, and now on social networks. Jimmy Gormod rubs his shoulders with all the media. Since 1993 and the launch of the show This is not rocket science In France 3, he established himself behind his models and in Marcel’s truck as one of the faces of the flag on the small screen. continue to be made available at Jimmy’s world In France 5, three episodes of it will be broadcast on October 12, and on social networks as he popularizes, dissects and makes these topics more accessible than ever.

It is therefore not surprising that it was chosen to sponsor the Fête de la science, which was held from October 7-17, 2022 in mainland France and whose theme is climate change. 20 minutes Take this opportunity to discuss with the journalist at this time when the flag comes back to us like a boomerang in its face.

TV host, author, influencer? How should you be defined today?

I am qualified as a transmitter of knowledge and knowledge. I’m kind of an association between those who have this knowledge, those who know, those who want to learn or even those who don’t necessarily want to but when things are explained to them, they are happy to discover. I am by no means a scientist: I do not practice science, I say.

Where does this passion for science come from?

Not from my childhood anyway (Laugh). I can’t say I’ve been resistant to science, but if someone had told me when I left journalism school that I would be the host of a science program someday, I would have smiled so much that I wouldn’t have believed he-she. It is the passion for serving that has brought me to this vast stadium. I am above all a journalist, I like to watch what is happening around me and explain it.

There is also an element of chance. As a young journalist, I worked in several newsrooms and inadvertently specialized in the subject. I worked for the first time in I carefor medical journals or for the newspaper Agriculture France. Arrival This is not rocket science It definitely got me hooked on these topics.

I discovered science through its anatomy and liked it. These subjects which seemed inaccessible to me, when the experts explained them, became conceivable, finding the words, showing the right pictures, and having the right experiences.

with This is not rocket scienceIt accompanied the childhood of millions of French men and women. You are part of popular French culture…

I find it hard to get used to this idea. Obviously, we all have a part of our ego. But I get the impression that I’m doing my job as at the beginning of my career, when I wasn’t yet on the small screen. What dominates the profession I do is storytelling and what I will still be able to learn.

Being known and recognized is one of the details. What is very interesting is that if I am recognized, we are also aware of the interest of science and that is what needs to be highlighted. These sometimes a little intimidating themes also generate enthusiasm.

So why not consider Fred and Sabine reuniting to bring the show to life?

That was ten years ago and I think there is a lot of nostalgia This is not rocket science. I feel nostalgic for myself because he was such a sweet kid and he still lives on social media and YouTube channel. The career life of the program team members took a turn. It was great, I don’t regret anything but we moved on. I don’t think returning to the air would be healthy for the image we have of this show and the nostalgia that still lives on in our memories and in our hearts.

You’ve been talking about science on TV for nearly 30 years. Two years ago, you took your first steps on social networks, was it obvious to get involved in this new field?

I do my job to the best of my ability, whatever the means. Social networks are just new media. When we want to say, we use all the means at our disposal.

But on networks as on television, there are certain demands that run through my veins. I systematically put myself in the shoes of the person who is going to read, watch, or listen to this topic. As soon as the expression is not clear, we change it. It may not be visible, but I am very meticulous with the images and words I use. I am constantly correcting myself so that it is publicly accessible.

Is this popularization work more important since the pandemic or the summer of heat waves we just experienced?

This is obvious! All these issues highlight the need to transfer and disseminate scientific knowledge. To understand Covid or global warming, we need to understand the scientific development of the situation. Not just at a given moment, but how these phenomena emerged and unfolded over time, sometimes cascading with snowball effects.

However, with the arrival of Covid-19, we have seen a lot of misinformation spreading, especially on social networks…

There are always people who question the networks, some even condemn them in a malicious way. When you make this kind of statement, you have to argue and any argument is based on the scientific method, otherwise there is no potential exchange. I am, trying to give keys, to show how a vaccine works with knowledge that is no longer in question because it has been tested over time. We won’t wonder about Pasteur’s research and the various vaccines that were developed that saved millions of lives. So I explain how the vaccine works and I explain it in a very concrete way by following this scientific method.

If there are people who tell me that I’m making it up, that I’m not telling the truth, let them prove it to me. There will always be counterexamples but the counterexample is not true. I am here to give the keys so that people will understand and not grow on the fertile ground of ignorance of false truths.

Apart from the lies, the environmental changes have also created anxiety among the population. Are you worried about the environment?

I’m not worried about the environment, I’m worried but I’m also full of optimism. If we continue as we do today, it will not work. Of course, it can be intimidating, but I am convinced that we have the resources to change directions, to change direction. If we are overwhelmed by anxiety, we give up and do nothing. We must be careful not to let emotion and emotion make us make bad decisions.

The environmental issue has been a concern of mine for many years. These are the questions I’ve been asking from the start This is not rocket science in 1993.

In recent weeks, the government has called on residents to take “small initiatives” to reduce their electricity consumption and environmental impact. What do you think?

I think we should avoid throwing oil on the fire or shooting the ambulance. Maybe we could do better but if we actually did, it’s not bad. When we’re asked to turn down the heating, it’s not a court order, it’s advice. One degree more is 7% more power consumption and one degree less is much less. The challenge is to avoid depleting the reserves, if we do it all, we will win.

I believe we can all contribute to something greater than ourselves. Over the past 30 years, I myself have adopted certain behaviors that go in the right direction. I didn’t change overnight after the summer we just had. I have compost in my garden for 25 years, I bike around Paris, I have a car but I mainly travel by train when I travel…

From a more global point of view, France has set itself goals, in particular through COP21 In 2015…

Yes, but we are far behind in terms of these very ambitious commitments. We have to cut our CO2 emissions by 40% by 2030. It’s in 7 years, so we’ll have to work twice as hard in the coming years if we want to keep this track, we need real cultural changes.

What is the “Jami Method” for residents to understand?

She was going to try to turn the injunction into membership through clarification. When we understand a relentless phenomenon, we have no choice but to commit to it because it is a fact.

If you are asked not to build your house near the sea because in 20 years there will be no coast, then this is not an injunction, it is to understand a phenomenon. But if you say, “Don’t build your house here because the sea advances” and don’t explain why and how, people find it hard to accept. I am convinced that when we make it clear, when we show, we no longer need to block.

Do you think that knowledge is the basis of action?

It is necessary to understand the measures to be taken. In France, global warming is already there, we’ve taken 1.7°C since the beginning of the 20th century and the curve is going up.

You have to fight to reduce that curve and then you will have to live with those few extra degrees. It does not appear but is huge from the point of view of the disturbances generated. It is more necessary than ever to bring in knowledge in the face of the great challenges of our time. Because science proves, suggests, and argues, but it is not she who decides, but the citizens.