During the inaugural session of the WFSF XXV conference, an official photographer will be introduced to ensure that all attendees are aware of their presence and have the option to decline being included in photographic records if they choose to do so. This approach underscores our commitment to respecting the preferences and privacy of all participants while capturing the essence of this remarkable event.

The main question we have been getting over the last couple of weeks, other than about bedbugs is on the Online Program. Is it really going to happen and if so where can I find it.

Well, as always, your questions are answered, yes there is one and here is the link on the Website.

[The Program starts at a minute after midnight in the early morning of 25th October and goes through till the end of Friday 28th October 2023. A fine and full program, curated by the tireless Board Member, Alethia (and the support of the programming team).

The program consists of over 100 speakers and 50 sessions (including those being streamed from the Inspire Auditorium in Paris). Themes include exploring anti-futures, to VR for teaching futures studies and young futurists, the future of agriculture, urban development, and new techniques and technologies for practicing future studies.

Speakers are from across the globe, Australia to across Latin America, as well as the USA, and from Korea to Europe and back through Georgia, Saudi Arabia and China.

With a large number of virtual attendees already signed up, we look forward to a marvelous online edition of the WFSF XXV World Conference.

We are sure that most of you will make your own fun in Paris, with colleagues and old friends and new acquaintances, but we thought a recap on the official happenings and a few other tips maybe helpful.

So let’s go official first. You know, the ones where the reception is free.

Tuesday 24th from 19.00 there is the welcome gathering at Insign Consulting Group (https://www.insign.fr/) who as friends of our host at the Ecole, have made their location (a one large room gathering space) available to us.

Apparently, it is the coolest place in the neighbourhood. In fact, so cool you can go Gautier casual, given that the place that belonged to Jean-Paul Gautier, the designer.
On Wednesday evening, 25th October, its Gala Dinner time (at least for those who managed to sign up in time). More details about the Gala Dinner.

The gala dinner will be held at Bofinger Restaurant. (https://www.bofingerparis.com/en/). The restaurant is located at 5-7, rue de la Bastille 75004 Paris, which is a 20-25 mins walk from Ecole des Pont Business School. Clearly, we shouldn’t all walk together as we may constitute a demonstration, currently banned in France. However, if you feel like you are in the 60s mood, let’s meet in front of the school at 19:30. Don’t forget to give a big shout to the China Society for Futures Studies who are kindly sponsoring the Gala Dinner. The required attire for the event is “dressy causal”, which means you can continue to wear your Gautier.

Regarding Thursday night or free time. You might like some of the following:
Best underground art: https://blog.artsper.com/en/lifestyle/paris-underground-alternative-addresses-can-see-art/
Montmartre, Dali and restaurants in the Montmartre district.
For the surrealists amongst you: Dalí Paris, 11 Rue Poulbot, 75018 Paris is worth a visit, but it closes at 18.30 pm, however, it is located in Montmartre and that is worth the evening walking around and eating at
Chez Dylan (https://www.thefork.com/restaurant/chez-dylan-r744953
Or a light meal at Loulou
Le Cabanon de la Butte https://www.lecabanondelabutte.fr/
Or le Poulbot https://lepoulbot.com/

Cafes and Bars: This Urbanside list is solid. If you’re looking for a great place to sit with aglass and watch the world, go by, look no further than Le Dada in the 17th Arrondissement. 12 Avenue des Ternes, 75017 Paris
On the corner of the shopping street Avenue des Ternes and the market street Rue Poncelet, this is a hopping little coffee shop and you’d be advised to come early to get a good spot. Inside, it’s all lovely, tiled floors and marble countertops, accented with a red sci-fi ceiling, but outside, it’s mayhem.
Jazz
We all have our favourites, but you can’t beat Le Caveau de la Huchette (http://www.caveaudelahuchette.fr/) even if the Duc de Lombards (https://ducdeslombards.com/) is probably more famous for Miles Davis and just about everyone else. Then there is L’Etoile (https://www.jazzclubetoile.com/) and La Cave de 38Riv’ (https://www.38riv.com/)if you don’t want to just follow the tourists. New Morning is also good, which is about the time you will exit.

An augmented virtual tour (in English) of Paris and of France (22 min., interactive) within a futuristic space in the heart of Paris. You can check the FlyView here. If more than 12 people are interested to attend, Saturday morning from 10 to 12, we can book the places in advance for a special rate of 35 euros per person (instead of 40€). Please send confirmation to us in case you are interested.

Obviously, there are numerous alternatives, so ask your Parisian colleagues for recommendations.

We are sharing a SLACK channel with all participants, where meetups and more social events can be organised!

Not just in Paris, but we are proud to say that the location of the conference is the École des Ponts Business School, in the center of Paris, France (6 Pl. du Colonel Bourgoin, 75012 Paris, France). École des Ponts Business School finds its roots in a 270-year history of illustrious researchers and inventors. More details.

We will be using 5 rooms, the main hall called Inspired which holds 150 attendees, Cowork, Imagine 2 and Imagine 3 hosting 20 attendees, and the Lab up to 75. Despite its long history, the university is now housed in a modern building, with a business oriented feel. The main hall is fully equipped with tech including for the streaming of the sessions on 25th and 26th October 2023 as part of the Online Program. The other rooms have a projector, screens and a HDMI connection. We are still ion the process of arranging a central computer for each room, but as you will have been advised by your Session Chairs, please send in your presentation to your Chair in advance and bring your own computer for back up. If you are using a MAC, we suggest you bring your own connectors.

There will be some tech support for the sessions and our volunteers will be on hand to help resolve any issues arising in this regard. Navigation to and between rooms will be well signed and colour-coded. Presenters should ensure they arrive well in advance so as to facilitate smooth and short changeovers between sessions.

Refreshments and snacks will be available during the coffee breaks on 25th and 26th October. Also lunch will be served on those days.

Inspire

Cowork

Imagine 2 and Imagine 3

Lab

Ready for a super dynamic and enthralling experience? Who better to MC this years’ WFSF Global Futures Conference than anticipation specialist and complexity researcher, Kwamou Eva Feukeu. Invested as a fellow at Max Planck Institute for Comparative Private International Law (Germany) for their decolonial comparative law, Kwamou has worked with UNESCO on building futures literacy in Africa and worldwide, the African Union on diaspora issues, and several NGOs in Niger, Uganda and Tanzania on minorities’ rights and the implementation of necessary training for the actual fulfillment of their rights.

International Master and Ph.D. students Futures Studies Conference at SKEMA, chaired by Dr Christophe BISSON.
Registry ends on 19th October. More info and registration

In the wake of the situation in the Middle East, France has again been struck by a terrorist attack and remains under threat of further attacks. In this context, the government has officially raised the security level to its highest level: “urgence attentat”. This means that security measures have been reinforced with the deployment of police and military forces throughout Paris, specifically around monuments or areas that are considered potential targets. Moreover, all perceived terrorist threats are being taken very seriously, as is illustrated by the decision to close the Louvre and Chateau de Versailles on Saturday upon receiving written threats, although they turned out to be hoaxes (thankfully!).

In spite of the high level of security, however, life in Paris continues more or less as usual. Schools are still open. People go to work. Tourists and Parisians still fill the streets. And public events have not been banned, cancelled or postponed.

As an additional measure of reassurance, the conference will take place in an area of Paris that is not considered a potential target. Furthermore, the building itself is secured and not accessible to the general public.

In this context, we believe there is no reason to cancel the conference and hope to welcome you here next week, as planned. All travellers have to take account for more security measures on airports and similar.

Please see our first conference newsletter as an attachment.
WFSF XXV Conference Paris – NEWSLETTER 1