Back-to-School 2022: Schedule of Inaugural Lectures

Welcome new and welcome back, Sciences Po students! As part of celebrations for the 150 th anniversary of Sciences Po, our 2022 back-to-school programme of inaugural lectures will be as inspiring as fulfilling. We will have the honour of welcoming prestigious guests such as Beate Klarsfeld, who has devoted her life to tracking down former Nazis, denouncing their crimes and remembering the Holocaust; French Minister for Culture, Rima Abdul-Malak; anthropologist Philippe Descola; architect and designer Jean-Michel Wilmotte; Laurent Fabius, President of the Constitutional Council and former Prime Minister of France; Mohamed Mbougar Sarr , writer and winner of the Prix Goncourt 2021; Delphine Horvilleur, rabbi and philosopher; Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados…

Most of the inaugural lessons, in the presence of Mathias Vicherat, President of Sciences Po, will be open to the public in livestream. Also follow on social networks with #RentréeScPo.

SCHEDULE OF INAUGURAL LECTURES

24 AUGUST

In the framework of celebrations for Sciences Po’s 150 th anniversary, the Inaugural Lecture given by Beate Klarsfeld is open to all Sciences Po students. Ms Klarsfeld was born in Berlin on 13 February 1939 and has devoted her life to tracking down former Nazis, denouncing their crimes and remembering the Holocaust. Her lecture has particular significance this year, in the context of France’s efforts to commemorate the atrocity of the 80 th anniversary of the Vel' d'Hiv' Roundup. It is a great opportunity to share an experience of history to young people across the world.
Also in attendance will be Mathias Vicherat, President of Sciences Po; Jacques Sémelin, Senior Researcher Emeritus (CERI) and Olivier Rozenberg, Associate Professor at Sciences Po’s Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics.

Watch the replay (in French with subtitles in English) and read the article: Beate Klarsfeld : “Je veux vous faire aveuglément confiance” (FR)

GRADUATE SCHOOLS

25 AUGUST

Inaugural lecture of the School of Research by anthropologist Philippe Descola on the theme “Worlds to come”. Professor of the Anthropology of Nature at the Collège de France and director of the Social Anthropology Laboratory (ENS/EHESS), he is also a renowned author.
With Pierre François, Dean of the School of Research. Read more and watch the replay (FR).

26 AUGUST

Inaugural lecture of the School of Management and Innovation by Bruno Roche, Founder and Director of Economics of Mutuality.
With Natacha Valla, Dean of the School of Management and Innovation. Read more.

31 AUGUST

Inaugural lecture of the Urban School by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte. With Tommaso Vitale, Dean of the Urban School. Read more (FR).

5 SEPTEMBER

Inaugural lecture of the Journalism School by Christo Grozev, Executive Director and lead Russia investigator for Bellingcat, on the theme “Investigating Russia”.
With Sergei Guriev, Provost and Professor of Economics at the Department of Economics and Marie Mawad, Dean of the Journalism School. Watch the replay and read the article “Have the courage to write your own ethical rules”.

8 SEPTEMBER

Inaugural lecture of the School of Public Affairs by Rima Abdul-Malak, French Minister of Culture. With Philippe Martin, Dean of the School of Public Affairs. Read more.

12 SEPTEMBER

Inaugural lecture of the Paris School of Public Affairs (PSIA) by Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados. With Arancha González, Dean of PSIA. Watch the replay.

28 SEPTEMBER

Inaugural lecture of the Law School by Laurent Fabius, President of the Constitutional Council and former Prime Minister of France. With Sébastien Pimont, Dean of the Law School. Read more.

UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGE

25 AUGUST

Inaugural lecture of the Reims campus with Mohamed Mbougar Sarr, Senegalese writer and winner of the Prix Goncourt 2021 for his book “La plus secrète mémoire des hommes”. For students of the campus only.

Watch the interview of Mohamed Mbougar Sarr (FR)

26 AUGUST

Inaugural lecture of the Paris campus with Delphine Horvilleur, Rabbi, philosopher, author and editor of Tenou'a, a quaterly magazine of Jewish art, thought and creativity. For students of the campus only.

• Watch the replay of the inaugural lecture (FR)
• Watch her interview on inter-generational dialogue (FR)

27 AUGUST

Inaugural lecture of the Nancy campus with alumni Michael Schmidmayr, German Diplomat and Cornélia Schmidmayr, creator of a gallery hosting Ukrainian artists. Also in the presence of Emeric Lhuisset, war photographer and teacher of artistic workshops on the representation of conflicts. For students of the campus only.

30 AUGUST

Inaugural lecture of the Le Havre campus with David Camroux, Honorary Research Fellow at CERI-Sciences Po. For students of the campus only.

5 SEPTEMBRE

Inaugural lecture of the Menton campus with Myriam Belkaid, alumna and Assistant Professor at Bowdoin College. For students of the campus only.

9 SEPTEMBRE

Inaugural lecture of the Poitiers campus with Florian Bercault, Mayor of Laval. For students of the campus only.

30 SEPTEMBRE

Inaugural lecture of the Dijon campus with a roundtable on journalism and a focus on current events in Central and Eastern Europe, in the presence of three alumnae: Madeleine Leroyer, director, journalist and author, correspondent in Russia from 2008 to 2014 for many French and French-speaking editorial offices; Hélène Bienvenu, journalist, specialising in Central Europe, correspondent for several media in Budapest and Warsaw; and Clara Marchaud, journalist, correspondent in Ukraine for several media, notably Le Figaro, Médiapart and l'Express. For students of the campus only.

More information

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