This text is part of the special Acfas Congress notebook
The central theme of the Acfas Congress this year will be the mobilization of knowledge in French. The subject is essential because of the hegemony of the English language in the sciences, particularly in Canada.
Canada has approximately 65,000 French-speaking researchers, or 21% of the Canadian total, including a little less than half outside Quebec. However, the French-speaking research community faces major obstacles in producing and disseminating scientific knowledge in its language, especially in minority settings. Barely 8% of scientific journals created in the country since the 1960s and between 5 to 12% of funding applications are written in French. “Research activities in French have been decreasing for several years in Canada,” recalls the new president of Acfas, Martin Maltais. The Government of Canada recognized this when modernizing the Official Languages Act in 2023.”
A pillar of the survival of French-speaking communities
Acfas intervened in the debates which preceded the adoption of Bill C-13 which amended the Official Languages Act, with some success, it seems. The Action Plan for Official Languages 2023-2028 explicitly mentions the promotion of research in French. It provides $8.5 million over five years to support the implementation of measures aimed at improving the French-language research ecosystem in the country. It plans several initiatives, including the creation of a new research assistance service in the language of Hubert Reeves.
Acfas is also interested in the discoverability of scientific content in French. She’s not the only one. This theme was discussed on April 12 as part of a meeting between the French and Quebec prime ministers, who particularly wish to mobilize the members of the International Organization of La Francophonie and UNESCO on this subject. “There is a fight to be waged to preserve linguistic diversity in sciences throughout the world,” says Martin Maltais.
He sees a direct link between the destiny of the French language in Canada and science. “It’s very important to be able to have a scientific life in Canada in French that is at least as interesting as in English,” he believes. It is thus in line with the vision of the founders of Acfas more than 100 years ago, including Brother Marie-Victorin and Léo Pariseau. The latter also affirmed in 1924, during the inauguration of Acfas, that “the intensive culture of sciences appears to us, French Canadians, as one of the most essential conditions for our survival”.
More than 220 conferences
The Acfas Congress is being held this year at the University of Ottawa. This will be the fourteenth time that it will take place outside Quebec, and the twelfth edition in this establishment. The honorary presidency was awarded to the Honorable Michelle O’Bonsawin. This Franco-Ontarian is an Abenaki member of the Odanak First Nation. In September 2022, she became the first indigenous person to sit on the country’s highest court. She had previously taught Aboriginal law at the University of Ottawa, in addition to serving on the Board of Governors and the executive committee.
“This woman embodies an ideal for researchers across the country, particularly for those who operate in a minority context,” says Martin Maltais.
More than 220 scientific conferences and on research issues will be accessible online and on site during the congress. Like every year, several general public activities will also take place, including the ever-popular Proof by Image competition, which presents images from scientific research. On Sunday, May 12, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., scientists based in the city will talk about their research and interact with the public as part of the Loudspeakers event.
Finally, 13 special activities will crown it all, including the presentation of the Relève prizes and the Acfas Research Popularization Competition. There will also be debates on support for French-speaking scholarly journals and on scientific diplomacy in French. “Our congress remains the largest multidisciplinary scientific gathering in the world Francophonie,” underlines Martin Maltais. It is an unmissable event to disseminate knowledge in French and discuss the challenges of French-speaking science. »
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