Francouzský institut v Praze, Goethe-Institut a Univerzita Karlova uspořádaly 18. dubna 2024 v 17 hodin panelovou diskusi a promítání filmů o zkušenostech LGBTQ+ lidí na akademické půdě s názvem “Breaking Barriers in Academia". Cílem této akce, která je součástí projektu Queer 24 koordinovaného Francouzským institutem a Goethe-Institutem a financovaného Francouzsko-německým kulturním fondem, je nabídnout program týkající se queer kultury a LGBTQ+ komunity v České republice a v dalších zemích Evropské unie.
Diskuze u kulatého stolu, kterou moderoval novinář, fotograf a aktivista Lukáš Houdek, se zůčastnili zástupci a zástupkyně tří zemí, České republiky, Francie a Německa. Za Francii to byla Léovanie Das, která má na starosti boj proti LGBTQ+ diskriminaci v DILCRAH (francouzská meziresortní delegace pro boj proti rasismu, antisemitismu a anti-LGBT+) a představila některé statistiky a vládní opatření ve Francii. Z Německa přijela Eileen Schwanold, referentka pro diverzitu na univerzitě v Hamburku, a hovořila o obtížích, s nimiž se queer lidé setkávají, když se rozhodnou pro akademickou dráhu. Představila take svou síť "Science and Beλond" jako příklad nástroje boje proti LGBTQ+ diskriminaci. Z České republiky jsme měli dva účastníky: Michala Pitoňáka, vedoucího pracovní skupiny pro duševní a veřejné zdraví sexuálně a genderově odlišných lidí a předsedu pražské nevládní organizace Queer Geography, který se podělil o své zkušenosti queer akademika, a Michala Mikeska, předsedu studentského LGBTQ+ sdružení Spolek Charlie Univerzity Karlovy, který hovořil o současných administrativních potížích queer studentů, týkajících se například jejich preferovaných jmen a zájmen.
Po diskuzi byly promítnuty tři krátké filmy, jeden za každou zemi přítomnou na panelu. Za Česko byl vybraný film Přistoupili ? ("Approaching", 2016) režisérky Terezy Pospíšilové, který zachycuje rozvíjející se vztah dvou cestujících ve vlaku, rozzlobeného teenagera Martina a staršího osamělého vdovce. Francouzský byl film PD ("FAG", 2019) režiséra Oliviera Lallarta vypráví příběh mladého muže, o němž se na chodbách jeho školy šíří pomluvy kolem jeho sexuality. Německým krátkým filmem byl Ich bin trans* ("I am trans*", 2021) režiséra Marcela-Jana Urbana, sledující mladého trans muže, který ukazuje svou ranní rutinu a skrze ni věci, které mu přinášejí radost.
Pokud si přejete zhlédnout celou panelovou diskusi, můžete se na ni podívat v plném znění zde. Krátké filmy nejsou přes tento odkaz dostupné, ale Přistoupili ? a PD můžete najít online.
On January 24th, 2024 at 5PM, the Embassies of France in Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia organized a webinar to familiarize you with the research landscape in France and the basics of doctoral studies, including funding opportunities. Presentations and advice on entering doctoral school, enrollment, research opportunities and funding, were presented by François Pradal from Campus France, Melike Riollet from the Association Bernard Gregory, and Sylvie Pommier from the National Network of Doctoral Colleges (Réseau national des collèges doctoraux).
We were also joined by several alumni who shared their experience : Magdolna Gucsa from the EHESS (PhD in History), Anna Mazurek from the École Polytechnique (PhD in Biochemistry), Sára Stachovičová from INRAE (PhD student in Molecular Biology), Barbora Sedmidubská from the Université Paris Saclay (PhD in Physics).
On October 24th, 2023, the I2EN, the Embassy of France in the Czech Republic and the French Institute in Prague organized a one-day event dedicated to the promotion of study and professional opportunities in the nuclear energy sector: “Building the Czech Republic’s New Nuclear Programme”.
In order to meet the challenges of the low-carbon transition and meet the objectives of the Green Deal, France and the Czech Republic have both chosen to implement ambitious nuclear power development programmes. This is a promising sector for our economies, and one in which our two countries have long been actively collaborating, but it is also a sector with a high consumption of technology and high potential for innovation, the nuclear industry offers a wide range of career opportunities.
REPLAY
Starting with the first part below,
followed by the others in the dedicated YouTube playlist here.
Digital technologies are one of the most powerful drivers of structural change in our economies and societies. However, while many initiatives are being taken at national and European level to fight gender inequalities, the place of women in these key technologies for our future remains very low: around 20% of jobs in the sector in the European Union, a figure that hides large differences between countries (only 10% in the Czech Republic).
Why are women so poorly represented in the tech sector? Why is this a problem and what can we do about it?
On 12th April 2023, the “Women in Tech – The gender algorithm” conference (organized by the French Embassy, the French Institute in Prague and RICAIP Centre together with CIIRC CTU and La French Tech Prague) brought together Czech and French experts and practitioners, to discuss, in two panels, the roots of this phenomenon, its impact on our societies and strategies to change the status quo.
Program
• Welcome words
• Panel 1 "Fostering girls’ participation in the tech sector – it’s never too early to start!"
• Panel 2 "Women in Tech – how can the business ecosystem contribute to changing the status-quo?"
Here for more information about the panelists and event.
On Thursday 23rd June 2022, the second edition of the event "Sounds of Science" took place at Národní dům na Vinohradech. Organized by the French Embassy in the Czech Republic and the French Institute in Prague, the evening offered a stunning time mixing music and sciences.
Brilliant scientific lectures have been given by three leading French scientists brought together in Prague for the occasion:
In addition to the event in Prague, Sounds of Science 2022 took place in Brno as well on June 24th 2022: the three French scientists gave their talks in the premises of the Mendel Museum's Augustinian Abbey Refectory in Brno (organized with the MUNI Seminar Series team of Masaryk University.)
In the frame of Sounds of Science, our French scientists have been interviewed by Daniel Stach for the Hyde Park Civilizace TV program on Česká televize. Watch again Jean Tirole's and Thomas Ebbesen's interviews.
REPLAY (in two parts)
In the frame of the French Presidency of the council of the European Union, the MSMT, the DZS and the French Embassy in the Czech Republic organized an event bringing together universities, local and national authorities and representatives of civil society to discuss these questions with a particular focus on the role of European university alliances, « a source of inspiration for the wider higher education community » (Proposal for a Council Recommendation on building bridges for effective European higher education cooperation, 2022).
How can EUA help design reproductible approaches to tackle this challenge? What has already been done? More generally, how does the frame offered by the European Union can contribute to changing our overall approach to this central issue?
In its recent communication on a European strategy for universities (January 18th, 2022), the European Commission highlights its will to support all higher education institutions in Europe, to provide them with the necessary tools to adapt to a changing environment, to thrive and contribute to the resilience and recovery of Europe. As such, universities should become « lighthouses of our European way of life » and « actors of change in the twin green and digital transitions ».
As recognized knowledge powerhouses, universities are now expected to actively connect with local communities and societies at large to contribute to answering social challenges, in particular in connection to the SDGs. This requires that universities transform the way they educate students by promoting project-based learning and encouraging local engagement as well as the way they do research: how do we empower learners to address complex societal and promote sustainability in our communities and beyond? How do we build a transformative research agenda that takes into account our surrounding ecosystems?
Welcome words by Alexis Dutertre, Ambassador of France to the Czech Republic ; Prof. MUDr. Milena Králíčková, Rector of Charles University ; Jaroslav Miller, Deputy minister, MŠMT ; Michal Uhl, Director, DZS
Keynote speech on social engagement in the academic community Michaela Šojdrová, Member of the European Parliament
First panel discussion: How to systematically embed civic engagement in training
Speakers include: Palacky University, Sorbonne Université, Student Chamber of Higher Education Council, ČVUT
Second panel discussion: Research and innovation with and for society.
Speakers include: Center for knowledge and technology transfer - Charles University, Technology Center of the Czech Academy of Sciences, IKEA
Moderator: Aleš Vlk, former adviser to the Minister of Education of the Czech Republic and co-founder of the online magazine on science and research Vědavyzkúm.
In the framework of the 2022 cycle of events « FEM2:2 Das Jahr de l'égalité », the Goethe-Institut and the Institut français in Prague organised a panel discussion on gender equality in science, with a special focus on the field of STEM, in partnership with Charles University and its Kampus Hybernská.
Why do we need gender balance in every area of science? What misconceptions and difficulties are women and girls facing? In science systems and institutions, how do we move from mere gender awareness to effective and transformative actions? What are the key levers to trigger the necessary changes? The panel discussion focused on sharing experiences between three speakers coming from different professional and cultural backgrounds and promote best practices from the field as triggers for real-life changes.
Welcome words by Prof. MUDr. Milena Králíčková, Rector of Charles University
Panelists :
Moderator: Aleš Vlk, former adviser to the Minister of Education of the Czech Republic and co-founder of the online magazine on science and research Vědavyzkúm.
The panel discussion was followed by the screening of the French documentary "La science a mauvais genre" ("Misgendering science" - in French with English subtitles).
64 min – Directed by Laure Delalex – Authors Thomas Levy and Laure Delalex – Production J2F Production and APC Productions, with the participation of France Télévisions
« Today, women represent only a third of jobs in science, and sometimes less than 15% in sectors such as mathematics or digital technology. Why and how did we get here? How to change mentalities and change the situation? This film explores these questions through the portraits of four women scientists: Solène, a mechanical engineer at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique; Mathilde, researcher in biology near the Arctic Circle; Agathe, computer developer, and Zoé, student at the Ecole polytechnique. »
Here for more information about the documentary
To go further in the reflexion, discover here the press article written by Karolina Poliaková about this panel discussion (article in czech). The article was published both on the science oriented website Vedavyzkum.cz and as part of Forum, the online magazine of the Charles University in Prague.
Presentation slides of all speakers (in english) available for download here
That online event, organized by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic, the French Embassy in the Czech Republic and the Technology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, took place on 2 December 2021. Twenty years of cooperation and experience within the bilateral Barrande Mobility Programme and during previous framework programmes were evaluated. Possibilities of future cooperation in the Horizon Europe programme were presented as well.
REPLAY of the conference (in english) available here or directly below
Does the force from the Dark side of the Universe exist?
Our Universe is mainly composed of Dark Energy and Dark Matter. Up to now, none of the existing experiments has allowed to identify the composition of these Dark Sectors of the Universe. Several experiments around the world are looking for a new particle, named boson, which will do the link with the Dark side of the Universe and act thus as the messenger of a new force of the Universe.
Dr Beyhan BASTIN is a researcher at CNRS (France) in astrophysics. She came to Prague along with other French and European colleagues to conduct experiments with her Czech colleagues from the Nuclear Physics Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences in the frame of the New JEDI project.
