With climate change impacts accelerating and the high rates of biodiversity loss, the media have more than ever a critical role to play in facilitating the general public’s understanding of environmental sciences.

Indeed, the challenge is to move from scientific expertise to science popularization in an efficient way, in order to foster the implementation of appropriate measures by policy makers.

But this transfer of knowledge often faces barriers, especially in the African continent, whose exceptional vulnerability to climate change and lack of scientific data implies a very robust and efficient knowledge transmission chain.

 

During this luncheon, you will see to what extend international partnerships between public and private organizations can be a key to meet this challenge, through two round tables:

 

• Round table 1: The rise of African science journalism
  Key role played by science journalism in Africa: what specific challenges and obstacles do journalists face and what are the triggers to foster the dissemination of science?

 

• Round table 2: Popularization of Science: the Power of new media
  An example of efficient collaboration between environmental researchers and different types of new media in the frame of the SoCa project.

 

Which are the real added values of such partnerships in science journalism? What are the keys to a successful, effective and sustainable collaboration to popularize science? How to value it efficiently? So many questions that various speakers from different backgrounds will try to answer during this luncheon.

 

Short description of the BNP Paribas Foundation:

Under the aegis of the Fondation de France, the BNP Paribas Foundation has been playing a key role in corporate philanthropy for 30 years.

The BNP Paribas Foundation’s activities are aimed at promoting innovative projects dedicated to culture, social inclusion and the environment. It is paying close attention to provide optimal support to its partners, through a long-term commitment. Dialogue, loyal support and a relationship based on trust are the hallmarks of its involvement.

Since it was set up in 1984, more than 300 cultural projects, 40 scientific research programs and around one thousand social and educational initiatives have benefited from its support, in France and across the world.

 

Detailed program:

 

12.15PM-13.35PM               

Jean-Jacques Goron (Managing Director of the BNP Paribas Foundation)   

General presentation of corporate philanthropy and the BNP Paribas Foundation - Focus on actions carried out by the BNP Paribas Foundation in environmental research and science popularization - Focus on the Climate & Biodiversity Initiative program and the One Planet Fellowship program - Presentation of the partner speakers

 

12.35PM-13.10PM               

Round table 1: The rise of African science journalism

Key role played by science journalism in Africa: what specific challenges and obstacles do journalists face and what are the triggers to foster the dissemination of science?

• Jean-Jacques Goron (Managing Director of the BNP Paribas Foundation)
• Julien Chongwang (Cameroonian journalist, Assistant Editor of the French edition of SciDev.Net.)
• Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg (Director of AWARD)

 

13.10PM -13.55PM              

Round table 2: Popularization of Science: the Power of new media

An example of efficient collaboration between environmental researchers and different types of new media in the frame of the SoCa project.

• Jennifer Gallé (Head of Environment and Energy section at The Conversation France)
• Matthew Shribman (Science Youtuber)