Research news - March / April 2022 #8

[MT180] My thesis in 180 seconds: a look back at the local final

Credits Christine Criscuolo - Yellow Studio, Aix-Marseille Université 

On 22 March, doctoral students from the universities of Avignon, Aix-Marseille and Toulon took part in a series of workshops.
26 doctoral students, including four from Avignon Université, took part in the MT180's regional selection. They are :

• Clémentine Leroy, doctoral student at the UR 406 Bees and the Environment laboratory. Her thesis is on "Assessing the sensitivity of wild bees to variations in floral resources using an ecophysiological approach".

• Thomas Pressecq, doctoral student in the INRAE Plant Pathology laboratory, Mistral team. The subject of his thesis is: "Development of a decision-making tool to promote microbial biocontrol".

• Amandine Rousset, doctoral student in the SQPOV laboratory (Green team). Her subject is "Intensification of the aqueous phase (solvent-free) extraction process for guayule resin using a combination of innovative techniques".

• Estelle Turc, doctoral student in the INRAE Plant Pathology laboratory, Mistral team, on a CIFRE placement with Elephant Vert. Her thesis topic is: "Contribution to the development of a biocontrol agent against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on oilseed rape".

At the end of the afternoon, 12 doctoral students were selected to take part in the final, which was held that evening at the MUCEM in Marseille. It was attended by a large, lively and happy audience!

Two doctoral students from Avignon University were selected from the 12 applicants: Amandine Rousset and Estelle Turc.

Amandine Rousset won the 3rd Jury Prize and the Public PrizeThis enabled him to take part in the national semi-final on 8 April.

Watch Amandine Rousset's performance again

April 2022 - Guido Castelnuovo

Guido Castelnuovo is Professor of Medieval History and Director of Éditions Universitaires d'Avignon. He is particularly interested in the last centuries of the Middle Ages (from the XIIIᵉ to the XVᵉ century): for over thirty years he has been working on the world of principalities, their elites (lords, officers, notables) and their territorial roots, particularly in Savoy. He is also studying the world of Italian cities and their lay elites between the XIIᵉ and XVIᵉ centuries.

>> Discover his portrait

March 2022

For the 3rd consecutive year, on the occasion of international women's rights day on 8 marchWe invite you to discover four new portraits of women who work daily for Research at Avignon University.

Upcoming thesis defences

Mobilisation for Ukrainian scientists

A number of initiatives have been launched to welcome and support Ukrainian researchers.

PAUSE special scientific fund - Ukraine solidarity

The National Programme for the Emergency Reception of Scientists and Artists in Exile (PAUSE) is launching a special appeal for emergency aid to Ukrainian researchers.

>> Find out more here   

Opening of the ERA4Ukraine platform

Through the Euraxess network, the European Commission has created an online portal designed to provide information and support to researchers based in Ukraine or who have already fled the country. In particular, ERA4Ukraine provides information to help Ukrainian researchers find accommodation and employment, and to use their academic qualifications abroad.

>> Find the portal here

Creation of a Committee of Scientists for Ukraine (CSU) by the Academy of Sciences

The Academy of Sciences is setting up a Committee of Scientists for Ukraine (CSU) to :

• Welcoming, accompanying and supporting the Ukrainian scientific community, as well as the scientists' families, in their exile in France;
• To provide a platform for the exchange of information with Ukrainian scientific institutions and support for researchers remaining in Ukraine;
• Working with the Fondation La main à la pâte to support teaching teams bringing children from Ukraine into French classrooms.

The term "scientists" encompasses researchers and academics as well as healthcare workers, engineers, teachers and students.

For more information on these initiatives, please contact the Euraxess contact point: euraxess@univ-avignon.fr

New accreditation for the UMT IQUAR: "Innovating to preserve the post-harvest quality of fresh fruit and vegetables".

The IQUAR² Joint Technology Unit "Innovating to preserve the post-harvest quality of fresh fruit and vegetables" has just received new approval from the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food (2022-2026). This project follows a very positive assessment of the first generation IQUAR (2017-2021).

>>

Launch of the COMMONS project, winner of the Investing in the Future 3 programme

The launch meeting for the COMMONS project was held on 30 March:
"Consortium de moyens mutualisés pour des services et données ouvertes en SHS".
The latter is one of the winning projects in the call for expressions of interest "Structuring facilities for research: EquipEx+" under the Future Investment Programme (PIA 3). 

It brings together three leading French infrastructures in the humanities and social sciences: OpenEdition, Métopes and Huma-Num.

As guardian of USR OpenEdition CenterAvignon Université is a partner in the project alongside Aix Marseille Université and EHESS, with coordination provided by the CNRS.

The aim of COMMONS is to cover the entire knowledge production chain, from the creation of data to its dissemination in the public sphere, thereby helping to advance the open science dynamic.

>> Find out more about the COMMONS project

Signing of the research framework agreement between Avignon University (IMBE) and the Musée du Quai Branly

In February 2022, Avignon University, on behalf of the Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Écologie (IMBE), team Ingénierie de la Restauration des Patrimoines Naturels et Culturels (IRPNC), and the Musée du Quai Branly - Jacques Chirac signed a framework research collaboration agreement for a period of 5 years.

The aim of this framework is to help "the study of non-European ritual objects and the chemical characterisation of the natural substances used in their manufacture and/or decoration".

The collaboration will enable projects to be carried out, including the following studies:

• Chemical study of decorated objects or objects with pigment remains ;
• Botanical and chemical study of plants used in the manufacture and/or decoration of non-European ritual objects;
• Botanical and chemical study of artefacts from archaeological digs carried out by the museum (mainly, but not exclusively, the AROMA project in the royal palaces of Abomey in a voodoo context).

Carole Mathe de Souza is a lecturer in the chemistry department at Avignon University, specialising in the study and characterisation of natural substances found in natural and cultural heritage. She is the scientific manager of this project for Avignon Université.

Renewal of a partnership: signing of a framework agreement between Avignon University (EMMAH) and the Comité départemental de Spéléologie de Vaucluse (CDS84)

As part of the research on "The study of a particular hydrogeological object: the karstic system known as the Fontaine de Vaucluse".as with the SMBS in November 2021Avignon University (UMR1114 EMMAH) and the Comité départemental de Spéléologie de Vaucluse (CDS84) have signed a five-year framework agreement.

This agreement is a renewal following the success of the first joint projects since the agreement was signed in 2013.

The Regional States of Scientific and Technical Culture: 8 April 2022 in Marseille

As part of the process of drawing up a regional plan to combat misinformation, the États régionaux de la CSTI were held at the Hôtel de région in Marseille on Friday 8 April 2022. The theme was infodemia and disinformation.

An audience of 153 people, including members of the Culture Science PACA network, CSTI stakeholders and enthusiasts, as well as representatives of the Regional Youth Parliament, attended a rich and interesting programme, including a fascinating introductory talk byÉtienne Klein (physicist and philosopher of science) on "How can we maintain a taste for the truth? Thierry Ripoll (Professor of Cognitive Psychology, Aix-Marseille University) on "Les croyances infondées de Sapiens et le complotisme une croyance potentiellement dangereuse", as well as other relevant contributions. (see programme).

These presentations were followed by a round table discussion and workshops, which will contribute to the discussions on the regional higher education and research plan.

>> Find out more about EchoSciences PACA

MidiSciences

26 April - Lecture "Is nature well made?

by Guillaume Lecointre, teacher-researcher at the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle
6.30pm - Harmas J.H. Fabre, 445 route d'Orange, Sérigan-du-Comtat
Booking required: jhfabre@mnhn.fr / 04 90 30 57 62

>> Read more 

28 April - FrenchTech afterwork on artificial intelligence, with presentation of the LIAvignon chair

From 6.00 pm to 8.30 pm
Living Lab, 120 rue Jean Dausset, Avignon

>> Registration required

24 and 25 May - Quinzième colloque en ECOlogie des COmunautés VEGétales (ECOVEG15), in Gembloux, Belgium
 

From 24 to 25 May 2022, Gembloux in Belgium will host the fifteenth conference on the ECOlogy of Plant Communities (ECOVEG15) which will bring together more than 70 participants, including 32 oral presentations and 20 posters over the two days. The conference is jointly organised by Professor Grégory Mahy of the University of Liège and Thierry Dutoit, CNRS research director at the Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et Ecologie (IMBE).

This co-organisation was made possible by .

>> Read more

1 June - Implanteus Lectures

1st June 2.30 pm to 4 pm by videoconference -  "Uncovering the cause of a major food safety incident through the application of analytical chemistry". by Christopher Elliott (Queen's University Belfast) and Olivier Chevallier (DARI / Avignon University)

>> Follow the videoconference live

4, 5, 6 July - TISS1, Tersys - Implanteus Summer School

4, 5 and 6 July - SFR Tersys and EUR Implanteus are joining forces to organise their first symposium on 5 and 6 July 2022. It will be preceded on 4 July by the IMBL scientific day.

>> Pre-programme and registration