On January 30, the French Embassy and the French Institute in Azerbaijan, in partnership with the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences and the French-Azerbaijani University (UFAZ), organized the 2020 edition of the "Night of Ideas” (joint initiative of the French cultural network abroad) at UFAZ. This year’s theme is "Being alive" (Être vivant) in Baku, this issue is addressed by the following question: “Is the Planet a Living Organism?”

Organized by the French cultural network abroad concomitantly with some 200 other "Night of Ideas" on the same day, this night sparked an interactive discussion on global warming and its impact on the planet.

Mr. Dominique Gentils, First Counsellor and Chargé d'affaires at the Embassy of France to Azerbaijan, and Mr. Ilham Mammadzada, Director of the Institute of Philosophy at the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) introduced the event to the large audience of about 200 people.

Three panelists articulated the discussion on the following topics:

● Jean-François Crétaux, Researcher at CNES (The National Centre for Space Studies)

“Modern space technologies with an objective to understand the effects of climate change on the planetary living organisms”

● Ramiz Mammadov, Director of the Institute of Geography at ANAS

“The Caspian Sea - a unique geographic symbol and an ‘artifact’ of the planet”

● Zaur Rashidov, Researcher at the Institute of Philosophy at ANAS

“Esoteric approach to the Universe in the Sufi tradition of Tasawwuf”

Discussions revolved around the following topics: the scope and extent of global warming, its effects on hydraulic environments (seas, rivers, lakes, etc.) and in particular on the Caspian Sea - the philosophical and religious approach to relationship of mankind with the world, the Universe, and nature - the opportunity to encourage environmentally responsible societal behavior, etc.

The evening was organized with the support of Tovuz-Baltiya company.

Source: https://az.ambafrance.org/Nuits-des-Idees-a-Bakou-la-planete-est-elle-un-etre-vivant