.png "The 3rd Great African Rift Colloquium (Narok, Kenya, 2024)")
The GDR Rift is pleased to propose its 3rd Colloquium to be
held in the East African Rift itself, in Narok, Kenya, from the 13th to the
17th of May 2024, hosted by the Maasaï Mara University. The colloquium is open
to all researchers, students, and staff who wish to address issues related to
the Great Rift in an interdisciplinary approach. The symposium will focus on
four main themes, but any other theme will be considered if relevant. For each
theme, topics from the natural and social sciences are welcome.
Main scientific thematics
1.
Cultural heritage, human and wildlife
evolution as a contributor to biodiversity conservation in the Rift
The Rift is arguably a paleontological and archeological
epicenter. There exists a strong cultural integration of humans within wildlife
ecosystems and biodiversity in the Rift that worth understanding, replicating
and expanding. The adaptability of indigenous communities in a dynamic Rift has
already been noted, from prehistory to the present day. What innovative approaches
exist to conserve biodiversity in the Rift ? In particular, what can we learn
from the anthropology and biodiversity conservation nexus with a focus on
environmental anthropology, osteological and archaeobotanical trends in the
Rift? These sessions host study cases that describe repertories of adaptation,
from environmental constraints to political, colonial ones, and how human
activities shape the environment.
2.
Modeling and AI trends towards conservation
of the Rift
The session will report technological advances as an
essential transverse tool to further understand and mitigate the challenges in
the Rift. This includes new methods of exploring the interior and surface of
the Rift, i-e mathematical as well as computer programs employed in studying
the Rift. Artificial intelligence (AI) has seen immense development over the
past few years in several disciplines (geophysics, paleontology, archeology)
and we would be excited to see its contextualization in forthcoming challenges
of the Rift.
3.
Energy and resources paradigm in the Rift
The Rift present vast supplies of geothermal, solar, wind,
hydro and biomass energy. How can we balance clean energy extraction with other
resources and humanity in the wake of climate change? What new technologies
will be at play which are affordable, accessible, efficient, easy to use and
climate-friendly? From production to consumption, energies and more generally
natural resources are the subject of a large spectrum of studies, applied or
not, and certainly deserve an interdisciplinary approach.
4.
Emerging challenges in human and other animal
health in the Rift
Climate change has fueled outbreaks and transmission of
various human and other animal diseases in the Rift, such as cholera, yellow
fever and Rift Valley fever. What lessons have been learnt from covid-19 that
are worth implementing in the Rift for zoonotic and viral diseases to humans
and other animals? Studies of these current threats can be compared to studies
of the past, concerning both zoonose and the original condition, namely
domestication.
II- Workshop training areas.
In addition to the thematic sessions, oral presentations and
posters that form the core of the colloquium, other sessions will be organised
for the exchange of ideas and scientific collaboration:
-
Pedagogical/teaching sessions on specific
methods and technologies.
-
Networking in an interdisciplinary approach.
-
Developing research proposals and managing
grants.
III- Field visits.
The first three days of the symposium will be devoted to
scientific presentations. The following two days will be devoted to two site
visits, giving participants the opportunity to discover different places that
could be the subject of multidisciplinary research: remarkable rift geography
and human and animal occupation of a territory.
IV- Application
Please complete the application form below (or download it
from the GDR Rift website) and send it to: rift.colloquium2024@gmail.com
You will receive a confirmation email as soon as your
application has been submitted.
Submission: until January, 12th.
Selection of proposals: January, 26th.
V- Funding
This colloquium is free of charge, but registration is
mandatory.
The field trips will be financed by the GDR Rift in
collaboration with the University of Maasaï Mara.
Flights and accommodation are to be financed by each
participant. However, in line with our policy of encouraging scientific
collaboration, we will provide funding for a number of participants. Priority
will be given to students and young researchers from the Rift countries.
Scientific committee :
Pr. Justus Simiyu – Maasai Mara
University
Pr. Romulus Abila – Maasai Mara
University
Dr. Aloys Osano – Maasai Mara
University
Dr. Jean-Baptiste Eczet – EHESS
Pr Olga Otero – Université de
Poitiers
Dr Antoine Souron – Université de
Bordeaux
Mr. Reson Lankeu – Maasai Mara
University
Dr. Charity Konana – Maasai Mara
University
Dr. Christel Tiberi – CNRS
Mr. Bakari Chaka –
Maasai Mara University (Secretariat of the Team)
Director of the GDR Rift :
Pr. Christel Tiberi – CNRS
Websites: https://rift-cnrs.fr/ https://www.mmarau.ac.ke/
(You will receive a confirmation email as soon as your
application has been submitted)
Submission: until January,
12th
Selection of proposals: January,
26th