In the fall, the Bpi offers a series of conferences on the relationships between us and other animals. How can we envisage a more fruitful and respectful alliance for everyone?
Animal life, their diversity and complexity pose multiple challenges for the future of humans and that of the planet. At a time of climate change, when biodiversity is in danger, we are beginning to understand the emotions of other animals. Faced with the resurgence or emergence of certain viruses or diseases, it becomes all the more necessary to better understand animals, their ecology, and their interactions with the environment. Non-human animals inspire many areas of scientific research and benefit us every day. Their behavior, their physiology and their adaptive capacities are models noted in the history of science and in current research: ethologists, ecologists, engineers, health specialists work interdisciplinarily.
While, on a daily basis, many domestic animals help humans live by their simple presence and save them in risky situations, the co-existence between human and non-human animals is becoming more and more complex. Finally, respect for animal life and the rights of animals and the environment have entered the public debate and are raising awareness: living things are a whole.
Three round tables will explore the potentials and challenges of a necessary alliance between animals and humans, with the prism of the support that they are for us and the importance of biodiversity as well as the respect that we must to animals. Sabrina Kriefest, the scientific advisor for the Us & the Other Animals cycle, will participate in each of the meetings. A veterinarian by training, primatologist specializing in behavioral ecology and zoopharmacognosy in chimpanzees, professor at the National Museum of Natural History (MNHN, Paris), she regularly alerts public opinion on the disappearance of great apes and their habitats. She is also the founder of the research and conservation project in Uganda, Sebitoli Chimpanzee Project.
With Reporterre, the National Museum of Natural History and the City of Sciences and Industry
Animal partners of humans
Monday October 21, 2024 • 7 p.m. • Small room at the Center Pompidou
The benefits of living with animals are recognized, particularly for fragile or weakened human populations. On the other hand, animals in captivity and those who work for humans are the subject of awareness: we are now working to improve their living conditions. Researchers are committed to finding solutions to guarantee the satisfaction of their primary needs and their well-being, necessary for a good human-animal relationship. With Marine Grandgeorge, lecturer at the University of Rennes 1 at the animal and human ethology laboratory (EthoS), specializing in human-pet relationships and animal mediation Dominique Grandjean, specialist in canine nutrition and animal medicine sports and working dog, professor at the National Veterinary School of Alfort, head of the Nosaïs program for medical detection dogs, Odile Petit, specialist in social organizations and the well-being of mammals, research director at the CNRS (laboratory LAPSCO Clermont-Ferrand) and president of the Ethosph’R association.
Hosted by Alexandra Delbot, science journalist and radio producer, host of the daily column Avec Sciences de France Culture.
Learning from animals to prepare for the future
Monday November 25, 2024 • 7 p.m. • Small room at the Center Pompidou
There are many animal species which, through their incredible adaptations to environmental conditions, serve as models for surpassing human limits: the medical knowledge of chimpanzees helps medicine to choose the most effective plants to fight against several diseases; a small marine worm with super-powerful hemoglobin could help preserve grafts awaiting transplantation; the webs woven by spiders fascinate with their resistance and inspire biotechnologies… Adapting these nuggets of nature to the human body or our environment still remains complex to implement, but research is progressing and our view of animal intelligence is evolving.
With in particular Christine Rollard, teacher-researcher and biologist at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris (MNHN), specialist in spiders, Jérôme Sueur, professor at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris (MNHN) where he directs the laboratory of ecoacoustics, Franck Zal, doctor in marine biology, CNRS bronze medal in 2001, founder of the Hemarina company.
Hosted by Nicolas Martin, journalist and former host of The Scientific Method on France Culture, and passionate about life.
Animal and environmental law: how to (re)reconcile them?
Monday December 2, 2024 • 7 p.m. • Small room at the Center Pompidou
Cohabitation between non-humans and humans is often complex, particularly in territories where economic issues leave little room for respect for living things. Yet living together is possible: safeguarding biodiversity requires a renewed perception of everyone’s place. Zooinclusivity, as well as ecological and environmental justice, are among the paths to take to ensure that species and species are preserved.
With Nadia Belaïdi, research director at CNRS, UMR 7206 Eco-Anthropologie (joint CNRS-MNHN-University Paris Cité research unit), Gilles Bœuf, professor emeritus at Sorbonne University, guest professor at the Collège de France and former president of the Muséum national d ‘Natural history, Émilie Dardenne, university professor, head of the Animals and Society DU at Rennes 2 University, senior member of the Institut universitaire de France.
Hosted by Alexandra Delbot, science journalist and radio producer, host of the daily column Avec Sciences de France Culture.
Practical information
Public information library
Pompidou Center
75197 Paris Cedex 04
Access to the Bpi via Place Georges-Pompidou (Paris 4th)
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