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 University 

On 22 March, a workshop for doctoral students from the universities of Avignon, Aix-Marseille and Toulon was held.
26 PhD students, including four from Avignon University, participated in the regional selection of MT180's. They are :

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

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

• Amandine Rousset, doctoral student at the SQPOV laboratory (Green team). Her subject is about : "Intensification of the aqueous phase extraction process (without solvent) of guayule resin by coupling innovative techniques."

• Estelle Turc, doctoral student at the INRAE Plant Pathology laboratory, Mistral team, in a CIFRE at 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 PhD students were selected to participate in the final, which was held that evening at the MUCEM in Marseille. It was attended by a large, dynamic and joyful audience!

Two doctoral students from Avignon University were selected among these 12 candidates: Amandine Rousset and Estelle Turc.

Amandine Rousset won the 3rd Jury Prize and the Public PrizeThe latter enabled him to participate 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 the Éditions Universitaires d'Avignon. He is particularly interested in the last centuries of the Middle Ages (from the XIIIᵉ to the XVᵉ century): he has been working for more than thirty years on the world of principalities, their elites (lords, officers, notables) and their territorial anchors, especially in Savoy. Also, he studies the world of Italian cities and their lay elites between the XIIᵉ and the XVIᵉ century.

>> 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

Several initiatives have been launched to welcome and support Ukrainian researchers.

PAUSE Scientific Special Fund - Ukraine Solidarity

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

>> Find all the information here   

Opening of the ERA4Ukraine platform

The European Commission has created an online portal through the Euraxess network 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

Establishment 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 :

• To welcome, accompany and support the Ukrainian scientific community, as well as the families of scientists, 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;
• Supporting educational teams welcoming children from Ukraine into classrooms in France, with the collaboration of the Fondation La main à la pâte.

The term "scientists" includes researchers and academics as well as health 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 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 Future Investment Programme 3

On 30 March the kick-off meeting of the COMMONS project took place:
"Consortium of shared resources for open data and services in the SHS.
The latter is one of the winning projects of the call for expressions of interest "Structuring equipment for research: EquipEx+" of the Future Investment Programme (PIA 3). 

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

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

The aim of COMMONS is to cover the entire knowledge production chain, from data creation to dissemination in the public sphere, thus contributing to the advancement of the open science dynamic.

>> More about the COMMONS project

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

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 agreement for research collaboration for a period of 5 years

The purpose of this framework is to assist in "the study of extra-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 extra-European ritual objects;
• Botanical and chemical study of artefacts from archaeological excavations 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, Senior Lecturer at Avignon University in the Department of Chemistry, specialises in the study and characterisation of natural substances found in natural and cultural heritage. She is the scientific manager of this project for Avignon University.

Renewal of a partnership : signature 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 Fontaine de Vaucluseas with the SMBS in November 2021Avignon University (UMR1114 EMMAH) and the Comité départemental de Spéléologie de Vaucluse (CDS84) have signed a framework agreement for a period of five years.

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

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

As part of the development of the regional plan to combat disinformation, the Regional States of 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 actors and amateurs as well as representatives of the Regional Youth Parliament attended a rich and interesting programme with, in particular, the fascinating introductory conference byÉtienne Klein (physicist and philosopher of science) on "How to maintain a taste for truth" and the enlightening presentation of Thierry Ripoll (Professor of Cognitive Psychology, Aix-Marseille University) on "Sapiens' unfounded beliefs and conspiracy theorizing a potentially dangerous belief", as well as other relevant interventions (see programme).

A round table and workshops followed these presentations and will contribute to the reflection on the regional plan for higher education and research.

>> More about EchoSciences PACA

MidiSciences

26 April - Conference "Is nature well made?

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

>> Read more 

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

From 18:00 to 20:30
Living Lab, 120 rue Jean Dausset, Avignon

>> On registration

24 and 25 May - Fifteenth Colloquium on the ECOlogy of Plant Communities (ECOVEG15), in Gembloux, Belgium
 

From 24 to 25 May 2022, the 15th Colloquium on ECOlogy of Plant Communities (ECOVEG15) which will bring together more than 70 participants, including 32 oral presentations and 20 posters over the two days. This conference is jointly organised by Professor Grégory Mahy from the University of Liege and Thierry Dutoit, CNRS research director at the Mediterranean Institute of Biodiversity and Ecology (IMBE).

This co-organisation was possible in the framework of .

>> Read more

1 June - Implanteus Lectures

1 June from 14.30 to 16.00 by videoconference -  "Discovering 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 video conference live

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

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

>> Pre-programme and registration