Café des Idées - Science in conversation
Scientific ventures in the Pacific: 200 years since La Coquille explored Aotearoa
Join the conversation with this new edition of the Café des Idées, as we receive Michael Lee. He will present his research
on Dumont d’Urville’s first visit to New Zealand in April 1824.
Conservation biologist, historian, regional politician, living on Waiheke Island, Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand. The former marine radio officer
first encountered the journals of Dumont d’Urville’s 1827
Astrolabe visit to New Zealand in 1996, when writing a thesis
for a MSc in Biological sciences from the University of Auckland.
This sparked his interest in the largely
unappreciated role of French navigators and naturalists in the scientific discovery of
New Zealand and Oceania.
He has been researching and writing about New Zealand natural history, especially the French role in it, ever since. This research
culminated in publication of his first book ‘
Navigators & Naturalists – French Exploration of New Zealand and the South Seas
(1769-1824)’
which was re-edited and reprinted in 2020.
The book concludes with the highly successful world voyage of
La Coquille (1822-1825),
the 200th anniversary
of its visit to New Zealand we are now celebrating. A
sequel, provisionally entitled: ‘
Te Atoramo – D’Urville returns: Voyage of the
Astrolabe – Nouvelle
Zélande 1827’, is approaching completion.
Join us to learn more about this fascinating journey -
RSVP essential!
This event will include the possibility to connect online or to come at the premices of Alliance Française in Wellington. A link will be
send a few days before the event on the email you filled on the registration form.
📅 19 April 2024 - 5.30pm to 7pm
📍 Alliance Française Wellington
💬 In English
🎟️ FREE EVENT (koha donation)
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🎬 Dounia and the Princess of Aleppo - Screening
🎬 Family, friends... Join us for a special screening of the animation film
"Dounia and the Princess of Aleppo",
organised with the help of the High Commission of Canada in New Zealand, that sponsors this event.
Synopsis: "A few nigella seeds tucked in the palm of her hand, 6-year-old Dounia leaves Aleppo with the
Princess of Aleppo’s help and travels towards a new world."
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS47t7qjxtU&ab_channel=CinemagicTV
The director of the film, Marya Zarif, was inspired by her own experience. An oriental tale, a wonderful tribute to Levantine culture (its multiculturalism, its gastronomy, its language). It is also a story that addresses subtely the painful experiences of mourning and exile,
but with hope.
Come and discover this wonderful tale -
RSVP essential!
📅 Saturday, 06 April, 1pm
📍 Alliance Française, 78 Victoria Street, Wellington
🎥 French VO with English Subtitles
🎟️ FREE EVENT (koha donation)
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