The 91st Annual ACFAS Conference

The conference offered reflections on the context of research in French, addressing the future of universities, the evaluation of research excellence, French-language scientific publications, science diplomacy and the place of francophone women in the scientific community.

The symposiums and online presentations sparked enriching discussions, exploring fields such as artificial intelligence, nutrition, francophone minority communities, health, gender issues, pedagogical innovations, migration dynamics and the environmental challenges of Indigenous education.

Read: Unshakeable commitment to research in French

An enlightening conversation with Martine Lagacé, Associate Vice-President, Research Promotion and Development, and the Honourable Michelle O’Bonsawin, Supreme Court Justice of Canada and Honorary President of the 91^st ACFAS Conference. She discussed her career path, her passion for mental health research and the state of forensic psychiatry in Canada.

As part of an enriching opportunity to meet and network, the breakfast provided a vibrant platform to discuss the week’s symposiums. Participants passionately explored the issues facing Francophone minority communities and, more broadly, the invaluable contribution of research to the development of the Canadian Francophonie.

A round table discussion moderated by Virginie Hotte-Dupuis of the L'Oréal Foundation, bringing together four francophone women scientists from different disciplines. With varying research interests, training experiences and career stages, the panelists descibed the challenges and opportunities they had as women and francophones, two minority groups in the scientific field.    

Highlights from the conversation included the challenges of working in a minority language setting, both nationally and internationally, administrative overload, managing emotions in heated scientific debates, and balancing work and family life.