Perceiving Arctic Change: Climate, Society and Sustainability

Perspectives of Franco-German scientific cooperation

Evening event
6 October 2021, Langenbeck-Virchow-Haus, Berlin (Mitte)


The Arctic has increasingly moved into the international spotlight in recent decades, partly because of the particularly striking impact of climate change on humans and the environment there. Today, the Arctic is affected by warming twice as strong as the global mean temperature of the Earth, to witness the first rainfall recorded ever on top of Greenland’s icesheet in August 2021. The Arctic is therefore considered an early warning system of global climate change.

Fostered by a long-lasting collaborative Franco-German initiative, a new Graduate School in Arctic transdisciplinary studies has been founded by AWI and UVSQ/Université Paris-Saclay with the support of the Franco-German University in Saarbruck. The Graduate School will connect doctoral training programmes of the two institutions in this rapidly developing field of polar research. Driven by a team of internationally renowned polar scientists, the Graduate school will consolidate Franco-German cooperation and excellence in this field while training future experts at the highest level.

This official opening event will raise awareness among Arctic specialists and the public about the urgent need for important decisions and coordinated action among all nations on climate mitigation and adaptation and the particular role that Franco-German initiatives can play in this field. The evening will be dedicated to regional and dynamical aspects of change in the Arctic concerning both the environment and humans. A panel discussion with experts including scientists and the indigenous representatives will then focus on the important question of the role of international and transdisciplinary cooperation in this context. The event will be closed by the official inauguration of the new Graduate school PACCSS (Perceiving Arctic Change – Climate, Society and Sustainability).

Discussions will be followed by a reception including food and drink, to foster exchange between participants.


Programme

18:00–18:20 h   
Opening

Anne-Marie Descôtes
Ambassador of France to Germany

Prof Olivier Mentz
(President of Université franco-allemande / Deutsch-Französische Hochschule Saarbrücken)

Prof Antje Boetius
(Director of Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

Prof. Alain Bui
(Président of UVSQ, associate member of Université Paris-Saclay)



18:20–19:00 h   
Testimonial Lectures

The Arctic region in the spot light of climate
Apl. Prof Bernhard Diekmann (Head of Research Unit AWI Potsdam /  Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

Co-Construction scientific knowledge about climate change in Siberia with Indigenous Communities

Alexandra Lavrillier (UVSQ / Université Paris-Saclay / Institut Universitaire France) and Semen Gabyshev (Evenki Reindeer Herder, Associate Researcher UVSQ / Université Paris-Saclay)



19:00–20:00 h
Moderated Panel Discussion

The importance of international and transdisciplinary cooperation in view of Arctic change: environment, societies and science diplomacy

Moderation: Grace Dobush

Jacques Raharinaivo (Executive Officer to the Ambassador for the Poles, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Dr Alexandra Lavrillier (UVSQ / Université Paris-Saclay / Institut Universitaire France)

Semen Gabyshev (Evenki Reindeer Herder / Associate Researcher UVSQ / Université Paris-Saclay)

Apl. Prof Bernhard Diekmann (Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

Prof Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen (Aleksanteri Institute - Finnish Centre for Russian and East European Studies, University of Helsinki)



20:00–20:15 h
Inauguration of PhD Graduate School

Prof Olivier Mentz  (Président of Université franco-allemande / Deutsch-Französische Hochschule Saarbrücken)

Prof Jan Borm (Vice President UVSQ in charge of international relations)

Dr Klaus Grosfeld (Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research / REKLIM)

Dr Renate Treffeisen (Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research / REKLIM)


Wrap-up, drinks and food
End 22:00 h

More Information on the event and registration:

Registration:
Please register until 30 September under
www.reklim.de/arctic-change
Participation in the event is free of charge.

Corona hygiene concept:
The event and get togeher is subject to strict hygiene requirements. These regulations are based on the SARS-CoV-2 Infection Protection Ordinance of the State of Berlin and will be adopted accordingly.

Venue:
Langenbeck-Virchow-Haus
Luisenstraße 58/59
10117 Berlin (Mitte)


Travel information:

Bus 147 and 245 - stop Charite Campus Mitte
Please note that the venue does not have its own parking spaces.


Live stream:
This event will also be live-streamed on:
www.youtube.com/BotschaftFrankreich

Contact:

REKLIM Koordinierungsstelle
am Alfred-Wegener-Institut
Helmholtz-Zentrum für
Polar- und Meeresforschung
Am Handelshafen 12
27570 Bremerhaven
Tel.: +49 (0) 471-4831-1750
E-Mail: info@reklim.de
www.reklim.de

Contact French Embassy:
Marie de Chalup
Science and Technology Office
E-mail: marie.de-chalup@diplomatie.gouv.fr
Tel : +49 (0) 30 590 03 92 63
www.wissenschaft-frankreich.de

.......................................................
Conception and realization:
Pascal Revel and Nicolas Cluzel, Science and Technology Office, French Embassy
Dr Klaus Grosfeld, Dr Renate Treffeisen (both REKLIM)
and Prof Jan Borm (UVSQ)