LATEST NEWS

The ISC Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific is now accepting applications for the first of two tutorial sessions in its Science Communication Training Programme. Eight science communication projects will be selected for a one-on-one, 15-minute mentoring session with a science communication professional from the Asia-Pacific region. The session is open to ISC RFP-AP Members, affiliated organisations, and early- and mid-career researchers with a project underway or in

As part of AFRAN's 10th anniversary celebrations, we continue to showcase the diverse people, perspectives and collaborations that have shaped our network over the past decade. Today, we are delighted to feature Jessica Coldrey, a multidisciplinary artist and sustainability practitioner whose work explores the connections between people, culture and the ocean. Rather than communicating through scientific publications alone, Jess collaborates with researchers, policymakers, ar

Australia's forthcoming association to Horizon Europe from 2027 marks an important milestone for international research collaboration. It will open new opportunities for Australian universities, research organisations and innovators to participate more closely in one of the world's largest research and innovation programmes. To support the Australian research community in preparing for these opportunities, the Embassy of France in Australia, together with its partners, is dev

The Embassy of France to Australia has just announced the launch of its High-Level Research Fellowship (Séjour Scientifique de Haut Niveau - SSHN). The SSHN Fellowship is open to PhD or postdoctoral researchers (0 to 5 years after completing their thesis) working at an Australian university for a one-to-two-month research placement in France. The aim of this programme is to facilitate and strengthen collaboration with academic researchers in scientific fields that are priorit

Young French-speaking researchers across the Asia-Pacific region are invited to showcase their research in one of the world's most engaging science communication competitions. The Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) has officially opened applications for the second regional edition of My Thesis in 180 Seconds (MT180), with submissions open until 15 August 2026. Inspired by the internationally recognised Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition, first launched at the U

Over the past decade, AFRAN has brought together a vibrant community of researchers, educators, practitioners and innovators committed to strengthening collaboration between France, Australia and the Pacific. Together, they are advancing research, fostering partnerships and developing solutions to some of the region's most pressing environmental, social and technological challenges. As AFRAN celebrates its 10th anniversary—and in the lead-up to COP31—we are proud to launch ou

At AFRAN, we know that successful international research partnerships are built on more than funding alone. They grow through people, institutions, shared opportunities and long-term commitment. To better understand what makes France–Australia research collaboration thrive, we are launching a short survey to map the pathways, mechanisms and enabling factors behind successful partnerships. We are particularly interested in learning: 🔹 How research collaborations between Franc

On 17 June 2026, the University of Sydney hosted The Ocean Opportunity: Strengthening Blue Climate Action from UNOC3 to COP31, a high-level discussion co-organised by the Embassy of France in Australia, the Embassy of the Federal republic of Germany in Australia, the University of Sydney and AFRAN (Australian-French Association for Research and Innovation). Bringing together diplomats, researchers, policymakers, industry leaders, and civil society representatives, the event e

How is French taught, learnt, experienced and reimagined across the Pacific? A new edited volume, Stories from the Pacific: Teaching and Learning French, invites contributions from researchers, educators, learners and community members to explore the diverse realities of French language education in Pacific contexts. The volume seeks to amplify the voices, experiences and trajectories that shape what the editors describe as "Pacific French". The book will explore themes inclu

What happens to art and storytelling when AI stops being a tool and becomes an agent? Generative AI has already unsettled our frameworks for thinking about authorship, authenticity, and creative expression — forcing us to ask what it means for something to be genuine, original, or meaningfully human. The emergence of agentic AI — systems that can reason, decide, and act autonomously — compounds these questions in new and underexplored ways. Where generative AI mimics the pr