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2021 AFRAN Forum

Sustainability and Wellbeing




Each year, the Australian-French Association for Research and Innovation (AFRAN) Inc. runs a Forum to exhibit and discuss current cooperation and areas of future cooperation upscaling potential. The 2021 AFRAN Forum will be held on Tuesday 7 and Wednesday 8 December 2021, and will be hosted online.


The theme for 2021 is “Sustainability and Wellbeing”.



Societies are facing increasing pressures linked to the global pandemic,climate change, ecosystem degradation, and rapid technological and mobility changes in our daily lives. It is thus an appropriate moment for reflecting globally on the role for research and innovation collaboration for supporting greater sustainability and well-being. This Forum will explore the challenges and opportunities driven by the energy transition, global and local health issues, agriculture and food practices, and human and environmental quality and wellbeing. It will also highlight current and future opportunities for strengthening French and Australian research and innovation cooperation.


The online AFRAN Forum 2021 will be followed by in-person receptions:

  • At the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday 8 December at 18.00

  • At the Alliance française of Adelaide on Wednesday 8 December at 18.30

Stay tuned for reception details in other AFRAN Hubs!



Programme:


Tuesday 7 December- DAY 1: 19.00 - 21.00 AEDT

  • 19.00-19.05 - Welcome: Prof Katherine Daniell, AFRAN President

  • 19.05-19.10 - keynote speech - Message from H.E. Mr. Jean-Pierre Thebault, Ambassador of France in Australia

  • 19.10-19.15 - keynote speech - Message from H.E. Ms Gillian Bird, Ambassador of Australia to France

  • 19.15-20.20 - Keynote panel : French-Australian R&I collaboration keynote-panel

Chair: Prof Thierry Correge, Attaché for Science and Higher Education, Embassy of France in Australia

Dr Eric Huttner, Chief Scientist at the Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research

Dr Thierry Lefrançois, Veterinarian and Director of the Biological Systems Department at CIRAD

Dr Marie-Laure Vercambre, Director General - French Water Partnership


  • 20.20-20.30 - Presentation of the AFRAN and French Embassy’s tools to support cooperation - Prof Thierry Correge, Attaché for Science and Higher Education

  • 20.30-20.40 - Australia’s priorities for science collaboration with France - Ms Sarah Brown, Australia Science and Innovation Counsellor in Brussels and Ms Deciana Speckmann, First Secretary at the Embassy of Australia in France

  • 20.40-21.00 - Launch of the AFRAN French hub


Wednesday 8 December - DAY 2: 9.15 - 16.15 AEDT


  • 9.15-9.20 - Welcome: Prof Katherine Daniell, AFRAN President

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