Follow up on the AFRAN Forum 2024
The role of research and innovation in industry, policy and public dialogue
AFRAN Inc. has held its annual Forum on 4, 5 and 6 November 2024 in Canberra. This 9th AFRAN Forum was held on the theme: The role of research and innovation in industry, policy and public dialogue.
The three-day event was hosted by the Australian National University, with financial support and in partnership with the Australian Department of Industry, Science and Resources, and the Embassy of France in Australia.
The Forum brought together a large number of experts, researchers and industry representatives from Australia, France, New Caledonia and French Polynesia, as well as members of the Australian government (Department of Education and Department of Industry, Science and Resources).
This event provided an opportunity to discuss the contribution of science to education, policy-making and innovation in our societies. The findings were that the multiplication of social media and sources of information, and the invasion of fake news disturb scientific messages and distort the image of science. There is also a problem with policies focussing on short-term economic objectives and a crisis in our western democracies, whose political messages are no longer evidence-based. The Forum discussions focused on how science can address increasingly complex and demanding environmental, social and geopolitical challenges, and how its image can be upgraded.
In parallel to the Forum, a public event was organised to strengthen the link between science and general public, with the screening of the documentary: “La Fabrique des Pandémies – The Pandemy factory” followed by a panel discussion of experts. A Hackathon was also organised to lead groups of 4-5 PhD students to start their own business on sustainable and low-emission solutions. They discovered the business culture and learned to establish a dialogue between the complexity of research and empirical experience of the market, before presenting their projects to a panel of experts.
Introduction
The financial support from the Australian Department of Industry, Science and Resources has enabled the Australian government to be involved in the event, with several members participating in the panels and others attending the entire event. The support of the Embassy of France in Australia allowed to invite a large number of experts from the region and Metropolitan France, who would not have been able to come otherwise, to participate in the Forum. Strategic representation and high-level scientific and diplomatic engagement were then ensured at this event. Thus, some sixty speakers participated in the Forum, ten from New Caledonia, three from metropolitan France, one from French Polynesia and one from Fiji, the rest coming from Australia.
The Forum combined keynote speeches, discussion workshops, a hackathon and a film screening for the general public. (See the full programme in Annex 1).
Panels and discussions
An essential component of the Forum was the series of four panels bringing together experts from various backgrounds (historians, researchers, academics, industry or government representatives) around different themes:
Student aspiration, education, training, and work-integrated learning;
The challenges of translating research into innovations;
Research and policy, obstacles to evidence-based policy making, and the role of science in government;
Research, innovation and public opinion.
Each panel had between 4 and 5 participants, moderated by an expert in the field, with the objective of discovering different perspectives and making recommendations.
a. The panel on “Student aspirations, education and training proposals, and work-integrated learning” explored levers for improving education systems. How to establish evaluation mechanisms, accountability of educational institutions, how to support a reflection to improve practices, and finally how to integrate external contexts such as family, social, regional, etc.?
Elements of response that emerged from the discussions are:
Regarding work-integrated learning and employability objectives, strong links between academic and professional partners help to jointly define educational programs and students’ skills to be developed. Professional guidance by trained and resourced mentors, as well as an ethical environment will ensure a smooth transition for students.
Regarding the well-being and aspirations of students, the development of an effective student advisory service, which takes into account their lifestyles and cultures as well as their extra-academic experiences, was proposed. The aim is to adapt increasingly complex and non-linear training paths so that they can be experienced as the building of a professional career.
The modernisation of education systems was discussed, with the examples of industrial or entrepreneurial experiences, not very much developed or supported in Australia, or the use of generative artificial intelligence, which requires the implementation of a new ethical framework. Participants supported these new practices, provided they are accompanied by a framework to guide students.
Education systems play an important role as providers of adapted, consistent and reliable curricula; they should survive despite online educational content. They ensure an education based on equity, the development of intercultural and interdisciplinary skills such as conflict resolution, non-violent and accessible communication, and an openness against intolerance...
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b. The panel “Challenges of translating research into innovations” explored the links between research and industry, the difficulties in implementing them, and the benefits they generate. First, the correlation between R&D investment over time, the number of scientific articles published, and the number of patents filed by country was highlighted. Then, several models of structures strengthening the links between research and industry were presented:
The University of New Caledonia is home to a collaborative manufacturing laboratory (the UNC Fab Lab), a network of student entrepreneurs (Pepites), as well as a business club which offers schemes to strengthen the university’s partnerships with New Caledonia companies (internships, working groups, CIFRE PhD, collaboration contracts etc.). The university also maintains links with the New Caledonia incubator, which supports innovative start-ups, and is developing a new building that will invite companies to work alongside researchers and students.
Collaborative Research Centres (CRCs) have been in existence in Australia since 1990 to establish research-industry collaborations around an industrial problem and to promote a skilled and competent workforce. Funded by the federal government over a period of 4 to 10 years, these centres enable industries to jointly design an R&D programme to make them more competitive, sustainable and innovative. The application areas are very wide, ranging from hearing, eye or dental health devices to detection of computer fraud, materials science to low emission solutions...
The Food and Agriculture Innovation Institute of the Australian National University aims to accelerate innovation for the development of Australian agri-food systems by connecting industry and entrepreneurs with researchers and important university capacities and research infrastructures, around complex and long-term agri-food challenges. The idea is to form interdisciplinary teams, including science, technology, engineering, mathematics, but also humanities, arts and social sciences, in order to establish a common language, and a balanced and coordinated work dynamics.
The Nahiti project in French Polynesia, funded by the French government, aims to facilitate the development of innovative solutions from the academic or industrial worlds in the island and isolated context of Polynesia. It consists, on the one hand, in promoting the interfaces between academics and the socio-economic world in order to develop the entrepreneurial spirit of researchers, and on the other hand, in supporting the emergence and development of projects and start-ups with the creation of regional collaborative infrastructures and the incubation of innovative projects. Examples range from textile manufacturing from banana fibres, to the design of non-polluting materials for pearl oyster farming...
The discussions at this workshop reminded that innovations are not always technological, but they can be social, such as changes in the way we teach and learn or cultural valuation.
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c. The panel “Research and policy, obstacles to evidence-based policy development, and the role of science in governments” highlighted different models for structures that enable science to inform policy decisions.
The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), under the supervision of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water, undertakes scientific programmes on the Antarctic and Southern Ocean in collaboration with other Australian and international organisations. Research is conducted on climate, ecosystems, human impact, biodiversity conservation and fisheries management to inform policy, environmental regulations and international fora. The AAD’s science branch provides long-term climate studies and observations to inform regulatory policies, or on sectors related to international treaties signed by Australia, to ensure their follow-up.
The New Caledonia Environment Observatory (ŒIL) provides an interface between science, public authorities and civil society. Its mission is to address environmental issues, such as the impact of mining, fire, erosion, etc., using scientific methods and data. But the ŒIL is facing difficulties due to the interpretation of research results for a profane public and a lack of long-term funding. Short-term economic activities are often prioritised over the environment by decision makers.
Research Australia is the national alliance representing the entire health and medical research sector, including laboratories, patients and markets. Many areas are interacting (basic research, prevention, treatments, clinical trials, care systems, but also their economies, practitioners, research policies, commercialisation, monitoring and evaluation...). How can we make these worlds collaborate at the individual and systemic levels, when languages are different, sectors are not connected and there is little collaborative culture? The Alliance therefore seeks to strengthen links between its members, decision-makers and civil society through fora, advocacy campaigns, and consultations.
This panel was an opportunity to compare France and Australia with regard to science-policy links. Australia has many bodies to advise the government on issues that can be resolved by science: the Chief Scientist, the National Science and Technology Council, the Industry Innovation and Science Australia board, or publicly-funded research agencies. Evaluation and study mechanisms provide a framework for public policy: the mission of the Australian Centre for Evaluation is to ensure that policies and decision-making are evidence-based, and the Behavioural Economics Team Australia conducts studies in behavioural and social sciences. In this context, the Australian government sets out the general directions of its science policy with the National Science Statement which gives research priorities (net zero future, supporting healthy communities, elevating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders knowledge systems, protecting and restoring Australia’s environment, building a secure and resilient nation). These priorities are supported by investment and financial incentive mechanisms such as those administered by research funding agencies, collaborative research structures, R&D incentives, or innovation acceleration incentives.
The panel discussion focused on the difference in cultures between policy and science. Politicians need narrative, credibility/belief and play on emotion, while scientists rely on data and facts, scientific doubt and rationality. Time is different too, with short political mandates, political staff working in the rush, and scientific research that can, and often must, spread out over time. With the need for politicians to be supported by public opinion, there is a need to educate both policy-makers and the general public so that scientific recommendations are implemented and accepted. This education will also have to address the dangers of social media and fake news, which provide short, powerful messages, but without evidence or arguments. To counter them, we need to train people (and politicians) on checking their sources of information, looking for evidence, and developing critical thinking.
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d. The panel on “Research, Innovation and Public Opinion” discussed the importance of science-society linkages. The multiple roles of the scientific communicator were reminded: role of learner, interpret, creator of content, strategist, contact maker, listener, catalyser, negotiator, advocate, counsellor... The most important is the listening role that allows for adaptation to the target audience and ensures that the message is accessible.
The panel’s discussions focused on public trust in science and how to build that trust. The example of the Environmental Observatory in New Caledonia was discussed again, since it arose from the lack of trust of civil society towards public authorities and industries, particularly mining industries. Trust was built by this Observatory through its governance that brings together all relevant stakeholders in a fair and democratic way, including an independent scientific council; and through transparency on the data, methods and information used or produced. However, problems remain to be solved: data on the environmental impact of mining industries are provided by the industries themselves, it is necessary to establish an ethical charter of practices and manage possible conflicts of interest within the structure.
The issue of knowledge inclusiveness was also discussed with the issue of indigenous traditional knowledge. Establish a dialogue with indigenous peoples to ensure them of our respect for traditional knowledge and to emphasise their complementarity with modern science, combat scepticism by demonstrating with practical examples, how modern science can help, are the recommendations that have emerged on this issue.
The inclusiveness issues of access to public debate, especially for women and youth within communities, have led to discussions on decision-making procedures, which must be inclusive and democratic, but also on ways of involving all sections of the population in these debates and decisions, with forums, messages and media adapted to the specific cultural characteristics of the populations, and an important place in the exchanges reserved for the communities.
Finally, the concept of responsible innovation was discussed. Its definition was explained (it must achieve socially acceptable research and innovation outcomes), and its implementation (which implies an anticipation of what can go wrong, and a reactivity to adapt or even abandon a research field, a project, a prototype...). Then there is the necessary connection with communities, which must be involved and trained for the adoption of these innovations, and to whom the ethical standards of innovations must be adapted.
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Speeches and special interventions
The Forum was opened with a welcome from Prof Ann Evans, Pro Vice Chancellor for Academic Research at the Australian National University, who hosted the event. Then, the importance of the theme developed this year was put into context with a series of statements by Mr Pierre-André Imbert, Ambassador of France to Australia, Prof Katherine Daniell, President of AFRAN, and Dr Rebecca Doolan, Acting General Manager for International Science and Resources, Department of Industry, Science and Resources. In addition, keynote speeches by Prof Pascale Quester, Vice Chancellor and President of Swinburne University of Technology, and Prof Mark Howden, Director of the Institute for Climate, Energy and Natural Disasters, have clarified the role of science and research, and their integration into decision-making, formation of future generations, and society in general. Massive amounts of scientific data are available, peer-reviewed and translated into understandable terms to inform society and its decision makers. But while it is already difficult to coordinate action at the country level (for example, to reduce climate change), internationally and with the specific interests of each country, governments can ignore or circumvent these data. The scientific community’s position remains in the dark between informative and prescriptive, and it is sometimes too much expected to provide immediate technological solutions to our global challenges. These complex challenges increasingly require transdisciplinary and sustainable funding, to allow the participation and involvement of civil society in the technological or social innovations or solutions proposed. Science is sometimes seen only as a means, and reducing it to this role carries the risk for it to become short-term, beholden to specific interests, unduly constrained, risk averse, which would lead to less innovation, less strategic value and fewer opportunities for science diplomacy...
These interventions highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral dialogues such as those in the AFRAN forum, to share knowledge and experience, link existing activities and create momentum and interest for further cooperation, whether regional, bilateral or multilateral in terms of research and innovation but also public policies, education or societal practices.
Hackathon
A hackathon bringing together 20 PhD students from different regions of Australia (7 from Sydney, 5 from Melbourne and 3 from Canberra) and New Caledonia (5 from the University of New Caledonia) aimed to stimulate innovation around the themes of energy transition and climate change, while fostering interdisciplinary and intercultural collaboration. (Hackathon concept in annex 2).
Five groups of four PhD students were thus formed to work for two days on the creation of a business, promoting a rich and varied collective reflection, crossing scientific and cultural perspectives.
A structured and trainer-based programme
During these two intensive days, participants were given solid educational resources to carry out their mission of creating a business:
Practical workshops: Several speakers have given training on key skills such as the development of a business model, budget management or presentation techniques (pitch). These workshops were mainly delivered by the Australian start-up incubator Canberra Innovation Network (CBRIN).
Mentoring: Each group was guided by experienced mentors, who went from one group to another to help refine their ideas and structure their project.
The aim was to enable participants to turn an innovative idea into a concrete and convincing business proposal in 48 hours.
A collective success
At the end of the two days, each team presented its project to a jury of three experts. The final presentations demonstrated real creativity and practical application of lessons learned. Projects included:
Flexinergy, an intelligent energy management system for the mining industry;
AquaIQ, a spectral analysis detection system for micro-organisms and micro-plastics to monitor and clean marine ecosystems;
Bleef, marketing of proteins, sugars and carbons from agricultural wastes;
Pollymap, a participatory pollution monitoring network in the Pacific region;
AlgiBrick, commercialization of a zero-carbon brick made from seaweed, winning project because it was considered particularly innovative and relevant.
This event was unanimously welcomed by participants, mentors and partners. It has not only helped to develop promising projects in the field of energy transition, but also strengthened links between the various actors involved. Collaboration with CBRIN and the mentors was critical to the success of the initiative, providing a valuable learning framework and support.
In conclusion, this hackathon has perfectly fulfilled its objectives, both in terms of concrete results and the consolidation of relations between partners. It provides a solid basis for looking at similar events in the future, and continuing to stimulate international cooperation and innovation to address climate challenges.
Public event to promote women in science
The Embassy of France in Australia has also partnered with the Australian Alliance for Global Health and AFRAN to organise a public event to promote women in science. This event is organized every year with the same partners, and consists of a screening of a French film or documentary, followed by a panel discussion. This year, the screening of the documentary entitled “The Pandemic Factory” explored the links between biodiversity loss, human activity and the emergence of pandemics, highlighting the need for ecological balance to prevent future health crises.
This sequence was very popular, the audience, who came in large numbers (more than sixty), were able to enjoy a networking reception before the screening of the documentary. Opening remarks were given by Dr Lucas de Toca, Australian Ambassador for Global Health.
The panel discussion was moderated by D. Selina Namchee Lo, Director of the Australian Alliance for Global Health, who distributed the speech to three experts:
Dr Rosie Cooney, Senior Director, at Conservation Research branch, ACT Government Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate,
Dr Anne Sénéquier, Researcher and Co-Director, Global Health Observatory, Institute of International and Strategic Relations,
A/Prof Aparna Lal, Researcher at the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health of the Australian National University
Discussions and questions returned to the issues raised in the documentary, in particular to how researchers can interact with populations and governments to prevent future pandemics, the importance of integrating traditional cultures and knowledge, in order to enhance their value, but also for better adoption by populations of new practices.
Conclusion
The AFRAN 2024 Forum has achieved its goal of attracting interest and participation from research, innovation and policy communities on the issue of the role of science in our societies. The commitment of the Australian Department of Industry, Science and Resources to support this initiative is particularly noteworthy, as well as the involvement of many researchers and innovation actors. The organization of a hackathon this year was very appreciated, and the partnership with CBRIN very fruitful. New editions will probably be planned in the coming years.
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