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RSS SubscribeTuesday 29th August 2006
Farewell to Professor Robert Farhi
Professor Robert Farhi has been the Science and Technology Attaché at the Embassy of France in Australia since September 2004. He had previously been posted in Japan. During his presence in Australia, Robert worked energetically with the aim of developing French-Australian Cooperation in science. The following examples will prove his success during these two years.
One of his first actions in Australia was to restructure the FAST program and include it as part of the French national scheme. Thanks to this success, the call for proposals has gained clearer visibility among French and Australian research communities. The number of projects lodged every year has increased steadily, still keeping up with an outstanding quality of projects.
Robert’s aim was to target all fields of science across both countries. Indeed, over the past two years, grants, scholarships and funding have been given to a wide scope of scientists, so that cooperation in aquaculture, water management, social sciences, nanotechnologies, nuclear medicine, marine and earth sciences, transports, … has been deeply strengthened. The focus of the funding was mainly to seed emerging collaborative projects (rather than funding established projects). Many links which have been created under this policy have now moved on to other funding agencies which will support these ongoing collaborations.
Multilateral collaboration was also a priority: Robert has put a lot of energy in developing the Cotutelle program and promoting it among Australian universities and European countries, so that Australia now boasts 21 universities involved in this unique scheme. The program is now well known amongst students and academics. The simple proof of this huge progress is the steady increase in the number of the double doctoral degree projects: from 60 in 2004 to more than 90 Cotutelle PhDs currently under way!
Moreover, with the great help of FEAST, many projects have been set up to promote Europe-Australia cooperation. One such example is still to come: the FEAST conference which will be held in Canberra in November 2006.
FEAST-France has also highly benefited from Robert’s actions in Australia: with an average of 22 new members every month, more than 1150 members follow our activities and have shown a deep interest in French-Australian scientific cooperation.
We are very thankful to Robert for offering his experience and knowledge, which has enabled to strengthen and structure the heritage from his predecessors. The recent visits of several French research and educational institutes reflect the refreshed interest and appeal of Australian science in France.
Robert will now move on to another position in international scientific cooperation: from September 2006, he will be leading the Office of International Scientific Exchanges at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Paris. We wish him all the best for the future.
A few of Robert’s closest collaborators in Australia wished to give a short acknowledgement before he leaves:
The Department of Education Science and Training (DEST) would like to acknowledge and thank Professor Robert Farhi for his valuable efforts in contributing to the success of the science and technology relationship between the governments of Australia and France. His enthusiasm for encouraging research collaboration has benefited both countries. DEST is especially grateful for Robert’s efforts in ensuring the continued success of the France-Australia Science and Technology (FAST) Programme. We wish Robert all the best for his return to France.
David Morton, International Science Branch, Department of Education, Science and Training
On behalf of the Committee of Management of AFAS-Vic, I would like to thank Robert Farhi for the encouragement he has given AFAS-Vic for its activities, during his time as Science & Technology Attaché. As a non-profit, volunteer association, we appreciate the support we receive from the Embassy, through the Science & Technology Section.
In particular, we would like to mention his support for the AFAS FEAST-France Fellowships. Six Fellowships have been awarded and we plan that three more will be awarded in September.
We are pleased that he was able to attend a number of the AFAS-Vic Committee of Management meetings, where his contribution was always welcomed.
Our most recent seminar, “Managing Innovation & Technology”, held at RMIT and in collaboration with INSEAD Alumni Association was a great success. Robert’s initiative and talk, “Managing Innovation in France” were significant factors.
We will miss his drive and enthusiasm and wish Robert success in his next posting to Paris.
John Acton, President of AFAS-Vic
The Australian Academy of Science and the French Embassy have enjoyed fruitful relations over many years. In particular, the Embassy has been a great supporter of the program of scientific visits to Europe, managed by the Academy on behalf of the Department of Education, Science and Training, by providing funding for a number of Australian scientists to undertake research in France each year. The Academy would like to thank Professor Robert Farhi for his continued support of this program and for his contributions towards enhancing scientific relations between Australia and France. The Academy wishes him all the best in his new position in Paris.
Nancy Pritchard, Manager – International Programs, Australian Academy of Science
In April 2002 the French Government and the Academy of the Social Sciences agreed on a strategy to form stronger research relationships between scholars in Australia and France. As a result, a jointly funded program, with generous support from the French Embassy, was established from 2003 to initiate and/or enhance joint research activity. The Academy has been privileged during Robert’s two year posting in Australia to see this collaborative research program developed to high levels of intellectual engagement and mutual benefit to our two countries. Indeed the development and enhancement of this program has been so effective that the Academy now uses it as a model for all its international programs. It has been extremely rewarding working with Robert and his team. On his 'watch' we have seen 11 collaborative research projects funded and in the current round of applications being considered for funding in 2007, a probable short list of 5 projects. Like many others, we are sorry to see him go, but wish him Bon Voyage.
Dr John Robertson, Research Director, Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
For Christine and me it was a pleasure to have Robert Farhi as S&T Attache at the French Embassy. With him we were able to bring AFAS ACT back to life and to start to rebuild a vibrant association of scientist interested in France. Our laboratory has welcomed 3 co-tutelles from France during his reign and our relationship with France has never been closer. He has been a good personal friend and has assisted in a number of social activities at our place. We hope to be able to see him again in France and hope he will not too soon forget us.
Prof Rod Boswell,President, AFAS-ACT, and Prof. at the Plasma Research Laboratory, ANU
FEAST, France, and Farhi: A Natural Liaison!
The role of the French Science Attache has been intimately associated with FEAST since the days of Alain Moulet. This relationship has been nurtured and developed by Robert Farhi over the past few years to the extent that French researchers (in both Australia and France) constitute a substantial proportion of FEAST members. The FEAST-France network is the largest and most vibrant of all the European S&T networks in Australia. Robert has played a key role in guiding the activities of FEAST with respect to France, has opened doors into the French system, and has above all supported FEAST in all we have done during the important start up phase.
Robert’s imprint on cooperation in research between Australia and France is marked by his style building on a pragmatic approach of problem and opportunities.
Above all, he has supported French and Australian researchers, often under the FEAST-France or AFAS banners, to gather momentum and focus on results: the Australia-France co-operation fund in Astronomy (AFCOP), French-Oz Astrophysics, CEMAGREF and INRETS’s visits to Australia, the FEAST-France/Queensland Government Seminar in Brisbane, the Tasmanian Marine Sciences Fellowships, etc...
Such results constitute significant progress toward the FEAST mission to highlight, promote, and above all facilitate links between Australian and Europe’s R&D powerhouses, like France. But Robert’s involvement with FEAST went beyond a renewed commitment to support the activities of FEAST and its members. He is a friend and supporter of FEAST and its activities. We wish him well in the future!
Dr. Neil T. M. Hamilton, Executive Director, FEAST
