Representation in Vietnam

Representative of IRD in Vietnam and the Philippines

Sylvain Ouillon joined the IRD in 2005, after being a visiting researcher in Noumea. His research focuses on sediment transport in watersheds, estuaries, river plumes and coastal zones, analysing the processes, studying the transformation and fate of particulate matter, understanding the variability of flows in relation to human activities and climate, and participating in methodological development. Its main projects related to New Caledonia, Vietnam and Algeria, based on long-term partnerships. At the Hanoi University of Science and Technology, he has set up a master's degree in Applied Environmental Sciences, which he co-leaded from 2011 to 2024.

Sylvain Ouillon was a member of the IRD's Scientific Council from 2008 to 2012. He was based in Noumea for 7 years and Hanoi for 9 years.

Tel : +84 24 37 34 66 56

Mail : sylvain.ouillon@ird.fr

Executive secretary

Tel : +8424 37 34 66 56

Mail : thi-tham.nguyen@ird.fr

Communication officer

Tel : +8424 37 34 66 56

Mail : phuong.nguyen@ird.fr

Driver and photographer

Tel : +84 912 13 86 69

Mail : van-quan.nguyen@ird.fr

Chief accountant

Tel : + 8424 37 34 66 56

Mail : regie.vietnam@ird.fr

Accounting Assistant

Tel : + 8424 37 34 66 56

Mail : regie.vietnam@ird.fr

The 3rd SSAC of IRD held in Hanoi on Thursday 27th April 2023, was an opportunity to reflect with IRD's main partners on the multiple issues  economic, political, cultural, environmental which is prioritized in IRD's research actions for a healthy and sustainably produced food. The meeting considered all the drivers acting on the food system (climate change; globalization and trade; income; distribution; urbanization; demographics; migration; governance and policy choices; socio-cultural context), the food environment (availability ; accessibility; properties; communication and marketing), individual consumer factors (according to their economic, geographical and behavioral situations) and the issues at stake in the area under consideration (environmental impact; food insecurity; child nutrition; food intake; nutritional status; associated non-communicable diseases). It gathered 44 participants on site and online, representing 26 Vietnamese, French and international organizations.

The second edition of the IRD Vietnam’s Strategic and Scientific Advisory Committee (SSAC) was organized on October 20-21, 2020 at the ICISE Center, Quy Nhon. It brought together 40 participants in person and 25 others online, representing 24 Vietnamese, French and international organizations and showing the diversity of partners whom IRD has been working with for 25 years: scientific partners, civil society, economic world, institutional actors, etc.. Following cross presentations to break the ice between the guests, IRD's general scientific strategy was detailed, with the contribution of representatives from IRD’s governance present online. The regional roadmap and the activities carried out in Vietnam were also introduced. Group work on the definition of IRD Vietnam’s research priorities was at the heart of the event. From the participants' point of view, the institute needs to strengthen its positioning on the definition of priorities for an applied research towards sustainable development and capacity building. The group work highlighted a strong consensus on the research themes to focus on, namely food security and ecosystems’ sustainability in a context of strong anthropogenic pressures. Finally, to simplify exchanges within its network, IRD Vietnam will set up a newsletter, facilitate access to its resources and organize Scientific Cafés in different cities (always with the option of joining online).  

Report of the SSAC

Ahead of its Strategic and Scientific Advisory Committee (SSAC), IRD Vietnam organized its General Assembly on 19th October 2020 at the ICISE Center in Quy Nhon. The event brought together the permanent and temporary staff of the representation, as well as all the researchers present in Vietnam and some remotely connected from France. This gathering was an opportunity to take stock of the achievements of the years 2019 and 2020 in terms of projects, scientific events, training, and communication. Three key moments fed the SSAC’s discussions, over the two following days: (1) a group reflection on the strategies to adopt in order to mitigate the environmental impact of research; (2) an online exchange with Corinne Brunon-Meunier, IRD Deputy Director General (3) a presentation of the different activities held in Vietnam. By general request, a training session on how to implement sustainable research will soon be set up, in relation with IRD’s headquarters and open to some of its key partners in Vietnam. Researchers also insisted on the need for a continuous research with their partners, which would imply more flexibility in terms of expatriation.

In 2019, the General Assembly of IRD in Vietnam took place on October 15 in Hanoi with the presence of 29 people (researchers on assignment and on mission, VIA and staff of the representation).

During the meeting, after the presentation of representation services, the participants were able to present their Interdisciplinary structuring projects and share experiences each other (the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources, the research data warehouse on DataSuds...).

The General Assembly of IRD in Vietnam took place from 06 to 07 December 2018 in Tam Coc, Ninh Binh, Vietnam with the participation of 30 people (researchers on assignment and in LMD, VIA and Vietnamese partners).

The first session of the CPSS (Scientific and Strategic Steering Committee of IRD in Vietnam) took place on May 8, 2018 at ICISE Center, Quy Nhon with the participation of 28 French and Vietnamese researchers, coming from IRD and partner institutions. The purpose of this committee is to advise the representation in the definition of its scientific policy and in the improvement of its partnership instruments. After an introduction to IRD's activities in Vietnam and a session devoted to the mutual presentations of the participants, a group work allowed to highlight a set of shared scientific priorities, which will be formalized in research proposals for the next CPSS scheduled for the fall in Hanoi. The one-day meeting concluded with the inauguration of the exhibition "Plastic Matters: Wild Lives" in the presence of the IRD Director General, Ms Elisabeth Barbier, and the French Ambassador to Vietnam, Mr Bertrand Lortholary.

Report of the CPSS

The General Assembly of IRD in Vietnam took place from November 30 to December 1, 2017 in Tam Coc, Ninh Binh, Vietnam.

29 participants, including assignment and MLD researchers, VIAs in North and South Vietnam, and local staff met for the first time to discuss together the orientations of the representation in terms of scientific animation and to present the different partnership instruments in activity in Vietnam (LMI, UMI and JPOI). 

OBJECTIVES :

• To get to know each other better, to meet, to exchange, to present the different projects in progress.
• To understand the role of representation: as a support for research activity, the role of representation evolves from simple support to scientific animation, scientific policy, etc.
• Defining a framework together
• Developing a draft science policy in Vietnam and Southeast Asia
• Asking others for information
• Formulate and discuss suggestions for improvement

On the 14th and 15th of December, the permanent office of IRD in Vietnam retreated in Son Tay to conduct its annual IRD Vietnam General Assembly. The event brought together 22 researchers and officers, fostering a collaborative environment to share accomplishments, discuss activities undertaken in the year 2023, and unveil new projects and plans for 2024.

These two days were marked by conviviality and meaningful exchanges, providing participants with valuable insights into their colleagues' work. The assembly served as a platform to encourage synergies and constructive dialogues among diverse disciplines.