Concordia alum Kim Nguyen, director of the Oscar-nominated Rebelle (pictured), speaks on May 12.
From May 12 to 16, Concordia is hosting the 82nd Congress of l’Association francophone pour le savoir (Acfas), the largest multidisciplinary gathering of research and knowledge in the French-speaking world.
Over the course of the week, 5,000 researchers from across the globe will take part in colloquia exploring subjects as diverse as art therapy and the aging process.
Acfas also presents an opportunity for the general public to learn from pre-eminent academics — many whom are Concordians.
The congress is hosting a series of 16 “Activités grand public” that are open to the community at large. The idea is to showcase the caliber and breadth of Concordia’s research while highlighting its deep ties to the French-speaking community.
These free public events include everything from Quartier Concordia walking tours to conversations with two of Quebec’s foremost filmmakers.
Here’s a taste of six of the 16 Activités grand public at Acfas.
1. Les jeux vidéos
May 11, from 5 to 11 p.m.
In this golden age of gaming, indie offerings are becoming increasingly sophisticated.
The May 11 event promises a look at the cutting-edge video games that have been developed at and around Concordia.
Lynn Hughes — an associate professor in the Department of Studio Arts, and the Concordia University Research Chair in Interactive Design and Games Innovation — will discuss the changing nature of video games. Afterwards, members of Montreal’s Mount Royal Game Society will be on hand to demonstrate a cross-section of experimental titles.
2. Rencontre avec Kim Nguyen
May 12, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema graduate Kim Nguyen is the internationally renowned director, writer and producer of 2012’s critically acclaimed, Oscar-nominated Rebelle.
In a conversation with his fellow alum Dominic Poliquin, Nguyen will showcase his work and discuss the craft of filmmaking.
3. L'exposition 1+1 = 1 : au tour des artistes et des commissaires de converser
May 13, from 6 to 7 p.m.
During Acfas, Montreal’s Musée des beaux-arts and Musée d’art contemporain are co-presenting1+1=1, an exhibition of works by contemporary artists including Geneviève Cadieux, an associate professor of photography in the Department of Studio Arts.
On May 13, Martha Langford — professor in the Department of Art History and director of the Gail and Stephen A. Jarislowsky Institute for Studies in Canadian Art — is also leading a conversation between Cadieux; artist Pierre Dorion; Stéphane Aquin, contemporary art curator at the Musée des beaux-arts; and John Zeppetelli, director and curator at the Musée d’art contemporain.
4. Architecture et design urbain du Quartier Concordia
May 14, from 12 to 1 p.m.
Quartier Concordia, a four-square-kilometre area in downtown Montreal, takes centre stage at this event.
Led by a team that includes Clarence Epstein, the university’s director of Special Projects and Cultural Affairs, this walking tour will explore how the structures — some new, some old — on the Sir George Williams Campus are helping to revitalize one of the city’s most important neighbourhoods.
5. La cybercriminalité sous la loupe
May 14, from 7 to 9 p.m.
Cybercrime makes us all uneasy. Is our data really safe? What are our law enforcement services and governments doing to protect it?
Mourad Debbabi — a professor at the Concordia Institute for Information Systems Engineering and the Concordia Research Chair in Information Systems Security — will be joined by Francis Fortin of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission; Frédérick Gaudreau of the Sûreté du Québec; and Michael Haring of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for a revealing conversation about how our officials are fighting persistent cyber threats.
6. Bien vieillir, un objectif à portée de tous?
May 16, from from 12 to 1:30 p.m.
Aging is a fact of life. Can we do anything to prevent problems like cognitive decline? And what policies should our government put in place to accommodate a greying population?
Louis Bherer, a professor in the Department of Psychology and the director of Concordia’s PERFORM Centre, joins Patrik Marier, an associate professor in the Department of Political Science and the Canada Research Chair in Comparative Public Policy, and other experts to explore the issues raised by an aging demographic. Journalist Ariane Émond will moderate.