Vol. 13.04 News From May 2013 A free monthly review of French news & trends

On World Tour, Cutting-Edge French Warship Aquitaine Stops on Virginia Coast © SIRPA Marine © SIRPA

In a display of French-American military cooperation, the French multi-mission frigate Aquitaine arrived in Norfolk, Va., on April 5. Officials there to welcome the ship’s landfall included Ambassador François Delattre and General Jean-Paul Paloméros, who heads NATO’s Norfolk-based Allied Command Transformation. Interview, p. 3

From the Ambassador’s Desk: A Monthly Message From François Delattre

I wish first of all to express my most sincere con- a joint press conference at the Embassy of the United dolences to and solidarity for the victims of the bomb States, where they discussed a number of issues of com- attacks in Boston. To the citizens of that city and to all mon concern to our two countries, such as proposed inside our American friends, please know that France stands plans for a free-trade agreement between the European beside you. Union and the United States. Current Events 2 April has been a typically active month in French- On April 18, Minister Moscovici and Deputy Minister Airbus Breaks Ground in Alabama American relations, with leaders from our for Development Pascal Canfin traveled Interview with the Expert 3 two countries criss-crossing the Atlantic to Washington to meet with economic General Jean-Paul Paloméros to drive productive cooperation in a vari- officials, development advocates and ety of fields. other civil society representatives dur- Special Report: Education 4 On April 4, I helped welcome Benja- ing a four-day visit as part of the Spring Bilingual Education on the Rise min Mouton, Chief Architect of Historic Meetings at the International Monetary Business & Research 6 Monuments of France, to the National Fund (IMF). Polytechnique, Stanford in New Program Building Museum, where he gave a lec- Finally, I made a three-city trip through ture called “Notre Dame: The 21st Cen- Florida on April 25 and 26. In Jacksonville Culture & Society 7 tury Restoration of an Architectural Icon.” I was able to support local investments Notre Dame Celebrates 850 Years As head architect tasked with restoring by two great French businesses, Saft and France & America 8 some of France’s most prized architec- the Buffet Group. I later traveled to the U.S. Justice Honored in Paris tural gems, Mr. Mouton and his work state house in Tallahassee to celebrate © SdG remind us of France’s rich history and its the launch of the Floridian French Cau- deep commitment to creativity and innovation. cus. There I also bestowed the Legion of Honor on six In an event which I had the honor of attending along- American veterans of World War II. In Gainesville the fol- side French and U.S. officials from public, diplomatic, and lowing day, I had the great pleasure of speaking at the News From France military spheres, the French multi-mission frigate Aquita- University of Florida’s commencement ceremony for A free monthly review of French news & trends ine dropped anchor in Norfolk, Va., on April 5. The ship’s doctoral graduates. arrival was a great occasion, demonstrating the exten- From cooperation in economic to military spheres, sive partnership between French and American forces. for achievements in culture and society, France re- NFF is also available online at: www.ambafrance-us.org French Minister of Economy and Finance Pierre mains more committed than ever to strengthening its www.facebook.com/FranceInTheUS Moscovici welcomed the newly appointed U.S. Secretary relations with its American partners in the months and @franceintheus of the Treasury, Jack Lew, to Paris on April 9. The two held years to come. NFF current events en bref

Elysée Treaty Debates Puts Airbus Breaks Ground for $600 Million Plant in Mobile, Ala. Spotlight on Future Leaders In a groundbreaking ceremony on April 8, execu- these efficient aircraft,” he said. The weekend of April 13 and 14 saw tives, dignitaries, and community leaders gathered to Mr. Brégier also touched on the unique opportunities some of the country’s best college de- mark the start of construction on the Airbus aerospace that having a North American factory will offer. “When bate teams convene in Washington for company’s new $600 million manufacturing plant in Mo- this assembly line opens, we will be the only [company] the “Elysée Treaty Debates,” a tourna- bile, Ala. to assemble aircraft in Asia, the Americas and Europe.” ment of competitive dialogue on Eu- Named the A320 Family Assembly Line, the plant, set The plant will reach full productivity in 2016 when it rope’s recent history and record of peace. to open for production in 2015, will build the company’s will produce four aircraft per month. Some 1,000 jobs will The event’s central theme was simple, flagship A320 airplane and similar models. The new site be created directly through the site, and that capital will with teams asked to build arguments will expand Mobile’s Brookley Aeroplex, a hub for the boost the local economy indirectly. The new plans will for this prompt: “Resolved: The Élysée aviation industry. The site will act as the company’s first enhance Airbus’s existing presence at the hub, where its Treaty proves concerted engagement U.S.-based production facility. Engineering Center now employs a staff of 200. can render war between two former en- During a speech made on the new factory’s grounds, In addition to its presence in Alabama, Airbus Ameri- emies unthinkable.” Airbus President and CEO Fabrice Brégier elaborated on cas operates in Florida, Kansas, Virginia, and Washington, Following the 1963 signing of the the reasons for his company’s expansion. “Our customers D.C. Its headquarters are located in Herndon, Va. Elysée Treaty, through which France need more aircraft that cut fuel burn, emissions, and oper- With a current U.S. workforce of over 1,000 employees, and Germany committed to lasting and ating costs. With this assembly line we will be able to meet the Alabama production center will effectively double regular efforts for peace, Europe’s post- our customers’ needs [as well as] worldwide demand for the company’s American jobs. war period was marked by reconcilia- tion and long-term stability. In 2012, the Nobel Prize Committee awarded France and Germany a joint Nobel Peace Prize for their lasting resolution of conflict. Conducted in several rounds of elimi- nation, the debate’s eight best teams will win an all-expenses-paid study tour to France, Germany, and Belgium, slated for this spring. The embassies of France and Ger- many, together with George Washing- ton University and American Univer- sity, co-organized the debate. The year 2013 marks the “Franco-German Year,” a celebration between both countries’ governments in recognition of 50 years of peace since the Elysée Treaty’s went into effect.

Promoting Innovation, Ambassador Visits Florida © T. Denson / Airbus SAS 2013 Denson / Airbus T. ©

From April 25 to 26, Ambassador Fran- Alongside community and business leaders, Airbus began construction for its factory in Mobile, Ala., set to open in çois Delattre traveled to northern Florida 2015. Celebrants included Victoria Corob, a local 8th-grade resident, and Fabrice Brégier, Airbus CEO, fifth from left. in a three-city visit for events honoring French-American partnership in the field of innovation. Amb. Delattre first toured the Jack- France, Louisiana Focus on Community in French Week sonville offices of the French-owned musical instrument maker Buffet Cram- In a celebration of French, Cajun, and Créole cul- siana Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne, where he discussed his pon on April 25, before visiting the tures, La Semaine Française d’Arnaudville, or the Arn- Culture Connection initiative; volunteer projects with $200-million manufacturing plant of the audville French Week, brought individuals and orga- local high schools; and participation in Arts Advocacy French battery producer Saft. Opened in nizations to Louisiana from around the world. Day, an annual function of the Louisiana Citizens for 2011, the site produces lithium-ion bat- Held in Arnaudville, La., from April 19 to 24, La the Arts organization. The conference also hosted a teries common in electronics of all kinds, Semaine Française emphasized the idea of “creative Soirée Bretonne, a dinner event featuring music and and has created hundreds of local jobs. placemaking,” or shaping a region and its economy dance from the French region of Brittany, as well as The next day, Amb. Delattre traveled by means of culture and creativity. The week’s events Cajun and Créole parties. to the University of Florida in Gainesville, focused on creative placemaking not only in Arn- Throughout the week, participants also had the where he gave a speech about France’s audville and its French partner city, Redon, but also opportunity to attend sessions of French-language long history of commitment to innova- around the world, through speeches, panel discus- conversation. Each group had a facilitator, who led tion, especially through its cooperation sions, workshops, and cultural activities. discussions on a variety of topics such as medicinal with American companies and schools. Anne Gadwa Nicodemus, principal at Metris Arts plants native to Arnaudville, Cajun Mardi Gras tra- He also toured the University of Flor- Consulting and co-author of the Creative Placemak- ditions in Louisiana, and the history of the region’s ida’s nanotechnology research center ing Report, introduced the idea of creative placemak- breweries. and its France-Florida Research Institute, ing during a presentation in which she also explored The conference was sponsored by the Consulate which is dedicated to promoting cultural several related projects taking place around the Unit- General of France in New Orleans; the NUNU Arts and exchanges and academic partnerships ed States. Culture Collective in Arnaudville; and Les Articulteurs, between French and U.S. institutions. Among the week’s many activities were a speech a company based in Redon, promoting cultural and at the state house in Baton Rouge, La., given by Loui- economic development.

2 interview with the expert NFF en bref

General Jean-Paul Paloméros, Georgetown French Market Supreme Allied Commander Transformation Celebrates 10th Anniversary Washington, D.C., got a taste of France Who knew that Norfolk, last month, when the Alliance Française Va., would have attracted and the Georgetown Business Improve- not one, but both of the ment District hosted the 10th annual first non-Americans to Georgetown French Market. lead a NATO command? Held in the capital’s Georgetown French Air Force General neighborhood on April 19-20, the out- Jean-Paul Paloméros door market experience celebrated has made his home there French culture with food, music, and since September 2012, shopping. Mimes, stilt walkers, and when he was made head unicyclists performed on the streets of of the Allied Command Georgetown, where the Alliance Fran- Transformation (ACT) of çaise hosted craft tables, providing fun the North Atlantic Treaty for all ages. Organization (NATO). Entertainment also included a live With combat experi- art demonstration by Art Soirée, a com- ence in Chad, the Balkans, pany promoting emerging artistic tal- and Libya, Gen. Paloméros ent, and musical performances by New brings a lifetime of experi- Orleans quartet Laissez Foure and ence stateside. During a re- Martinique-born pop artist Jeremy the cent visit to the French em- Musicador. bassy, News From France Some 35 Georgetown businesses asked him about his work participated in the event, featuring in NATO today. de Gelder © Sylvain French items and offering discounts on their products. Additionally, many res- taurants offered a taste of dishes that What is your role as head of the Allied Command environment and constraints. It’s a difficult time. So, we’re made French cuisine famous. Guests en- Transformation, or ACT, of NATO? focusing on how to find the most efficient and most pro- joyed French pastries, crêpes, and crois- My role is to prepare the future of NATO with the 28 ductive projects. We also need to know our limits. If the sant sandwiches, among other delights. member countries and to determine what might be to- budget constraints are such that we cannot meet our morrow’s challenges, in order to adapt the alliance to this capability goals, we will need to have major discussions Museum, Alliance Française new environment. There are many different challenges with the politicians. We are responsible for the future of Co-Host Lecture in Mississippi in terms of military capabilities, as well as maintaining the Alliance, after all. credibility and a coherent alliance of NATO military forc- In a display of French music, art, and es. Another aim is to increase interoperability between Does France have a greater involvement in NATO culture, “A View of France: Looking the different forces, as demonstrated in the crises in today than in the past? Into the French Landscape” offered Libya and Afghanistan, or at sea around the Horn of Af- France has been part of NATO since its founding in Mississippians a new perspective on rica and in the Mediterranean. 1949. What was at stake in 2009 was the full reintegration some of France’s finest works of art on of France into the military command structure. France April 16. Tell us more about these challenges. has always been part of the political arena, but since the Hosted by the Alliance Française There are three main challenges as I see them: The first 1960s, it was not integrated in the military structure. In in Jackson, Miss., and the Missis- is the rapid evolution of the environment with many risks 2009, France decided to rejoin the full military structure sippi Museum of Art, the event con- and threats. But there are a lot of opportunities to work and, in my perspective, did very well. It was thus decided sisted of a musical performance and together to find more multinational and innovative solu- that the first ACT non-U.S. commander would be a French a lecture on the museum’s current tions, which we call “smart defense.” general. It was my friend, General Stéphane Abrial. exhibit spanning three centuries of Another challenge is the reduction of NATO’s defense I’ve now held the position for six months. It is a very French painting, called “Old Masters budget, which pushes us to cooperate more and more good opportunity to show the clear interaction and bal- to Monet: Three Centuries of French and to be even more efficient than we are today. We ance between both sides of the Atlantic, with a U.S. gen- Painting.” need to share the responsibility on both sides of the At- eral in charge of operations, and a European general in Featuring more than 50 works lantic, and maintain a coherent alliance. charge of the transformation of the Alliance. This is what from the Wadsworth Atheneum in The third challenge is the question of interoperabil- I would call the future of a balanced alliance. What I see Hartford, Conn., the exhibit includes ity: how do we keep our forces working together and in my command is that the French officers and person- paintings by some of France’s greatest performing our best? We are fostering collective train- nel are fully integrated and doing a great job alongside artists, including Edgar Degas, Pierre- ing and exercises, for which my command is primarily their colleagues. They bring new ideas and perceptions, Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, and responsible. We are also putting together a new training as well as a deep operational experience, including the Claude Monet. concept, which will take into account the lessons learned recent experience in Mali. Mississippi College professor Ste- from different countries and the future environment. phen D. Cook gave the lecture, draw- Likewise, we are planning a major development in 2015 How would you describe your first six months here ing on pieces in the exhibit to discuss to show the commitment of the member countries to in the United States—the American way of life? the relationship between landscape continue building credible military capabilities together. It’s a wonderful place to live, and it’s a new world for and French art and how they have my family and me. We feel at home already. The commu- influenced each other. Musician and How have the ACT and NATO responded to recent nity in Hampton Roads, Va., and especially in Norfolk, is French teacher Max Garriott delight- budget cuts, whether in relation to the sequester in extremely supportive. The local community is very aware ed the crowd with his performance of Washington, or in Europe? of the presence of NATO and its 28 member countries. I French music from the 17th to 20th We must face reality. As we work to build solid military hope we continue to promote NATO’s work all over the centuries. capabilities, we have to take into account the financial U.S. together.

3 special report: education

Bilingual Education: A French Tide Rises in the U.S.

Everyone has heard of French class, but what already in place, getting such a program off the exactly is “bilingual education”? The idea of “French Revolution” ground can be a different challenge entirely. Sev- continuous instruction in two languages—as op- If the U.S. has any single center of Francophone eral families, some French, others American, have posed to a once-a-day foreign language course— cultural life in the U.S., New York City is arguably pushed successfully to establish French offerings is gaining traction among a growing number of it. With over 31,000 French citizens registered as part of their local public schools. French dad Vir- education experts. The term “immersion” is often at the French Consulate and more than 120,000 gil de Voldère helped organize a bilingual program used to describe the same idea of an intensive, French speakers from the world at large accord- at the public school PS 84 in Manhattan’s Upper dual-language learning environment. ing to the American Community Survey, the Big West Side. French is a natural choice for many Americans, Apple has seen its Francophone community blos- After endless phone calls and the help of Educa- who want their children to benefit from a global som through a new crop of associations, interest tion Française de New York (EFNY), a civic organi- language in addition to English. Here’s a look at groups, and, of course, schools. zation founded in 2005, the three involved parents how French-and-English bilingual education is The rise of bilingual education is a phenom- were able to make French instruction part of their growing in the United States. enon seen by some experts as the new normal for local school’s offerings. language instruction. Fabrice Jaumont, educa- Short of trying to launch a full-blown pro- tion attaché of the French embassy, calls the idea gram, some recommend starting small, as Jean- Bilingual Benefits a “French bilingual revolution” and is convinced Cosme Delaloye did. The Swiss expat began an According to France’s Ministry of Foreign Af- that the practice of bilingual teaching will be- after-school program at PS 133, in Brooklyn, NY, fairs, some two million students in 53 countries come increasingly widespread in coming years. in 2011. Rather than starting the class for the are educated in French bilingual instruction. A Mr. Jaumont joined a panel discussion on the French-speaking families in the neighborhood, Mr. priority for France and the growing number of same theme on April 13, called “Living with Two Delaloye focused on building involvement from foreign partners with whom the country orga- Languages: The Advantages of Being Bilingual.” the school’s American families. nizes programs, bilingual education offers signifi- Held at the Lycée Français of New York, bilingual “You can’t segregate yourself from the rest cant socio-economic opportunities for students education advocates from fields as diverse as of the school,” he said, in an interview with the in developing countries, whose native language psychology and nutrition spoke to the mental community magazine France-Amérique. “The suc- may not be spoken elsewhere in the world. and cultural doors opened to students who can cess of the bilingual course also depends on the Another advantage of French-language edu- benefit from a native and learned language. support of the parent representatives” of a given cation comes in the form of “non-linguistic In a video shown at the conference, a six-year- school, he said. disciplines,” meaning that learners can absorb old student is interviewed in French about his ex- The will to develop French-language teaching subjects like math, science, and the arts—all in perience at the school. His French is halting and extends far beyond New York City. Communities in French. A student who understands a discipline at times accidentally endearing, such as when he places like California, Colorado, Georgia, and Utah in French can then go on to study at the univer- explains how the dual-language curriculum is have taken steps to found bilingual classes where sity level or beyond, and will have the language conducted day-to-day. they live. training needed to succeed in his or her chosen “Co-teaching, or binôme, is when we have two Utah has shown particular interest, says Jean- track. teachers, one American and one French, and... we Claude Duthion, Attaché for Educational Coop- Several U.S.-based associations have created do something with them. When we talk with the eration at the French embassy. Among Utah’s 10 opportunities to bring the benefits of bilingual French teacher, we speak French, and when we French-and-English programs, offerings at the ele- education stateside. The French Heritage Lan- speak English, we speak to the English teacher. mentary-school level will extend to middle school guage Program, part of the French-American Cul- We can tell stories and do other things, alternat- in 2014, while high school students previously left tural Exchange (FACE), works to help “hundreds ing French and English.” without options will, in coming years, enjoy great- of young Americans and new immigrants make In addition to its educational benefits, the er availability of college-level French courses they the most of their French” in the U.S., according to combination of two languages generates an can take before graduating from high school. its coordinator, Benoit Le Devedec. “ability to empathize, to put yourself in someone “It’s a pioneering system,” Mr. Duthion said in an And it’s not focused exclusively on France and else’s shoes,” said Marie Bouteillon, an educator interview with News From France. French culture, but a global palette of French- and founder of the French-and-English program The new programs join the ranks of others firm- speaking societies. Newcomers to the U.S. from at PS58 The Carroll School in Brooklyn, NY. The ly in place already. The first such program began Haiti, West Africa, Canada and elsewhere have same school was visited on March 22 by Minis- in southern Maryland, with another soon follow- rallied in support of the program, which allows ter Delegate for French Abroad, Hélène Conway- ing in northern Virginia. Similar programs exist in them to learn and share with other students in Mouret. Boston and Minneapolis. The longer the programs a culturally rich environment that serves the stu- Nor is a dual-language curriculum just about continue, it seems, the more popular they be- dents, schools, and communities involved. the language itself. “It’s the culture, it’s the litera- come. Several of the longtime French immersion Likewise, the Louisiana-based CODOFIL pro- ture... It’s about how I act” with the students, she programs have had to turn away interested fami- gram, or the Conseil pour le Développement du said. In other words, bilingual instruction prom- lies for lack of space. Français en Louisiane¸ seeks to celebrate and ises a language, yet delivers a world of cultural promote the legacy of the French language in its enrichment. Whether it’s a fledgling after-school group or an state. In particular, its Visiting Teachers program Mr. Jaumont agrees. “Bilingualism... touches on established model promising “revolution” in the recruits educators from France to live and work a person’s emotions, a person’s brain, [...] a per- classroom, bilingual education offers new hori- in Louisiana for between two and three years. son’s creativity... I think this has an impact on the zons. While wome maintain ties to their heritage Their placements include 30 schools and reach overall achievement” in a student’s life, he said, language, others develop new ones. Students en- some 4,000 students statewide. Students gain in an April interview with the News From France. joy learning new words and new cultures, while language skills while learning about the unique parents know that their children are benefitting French heritage of Louisiana. from the best of two languages and the oppor- This past March, CODOFIL announced its forth- A Community Effort tunities that come with them. French-language coming support toward hiring teachers at the Though the benefits of French-and-English teaching is on the rise, and local schools and edu- Lycée Français charter school in New Orleans. learning are clear to those familiar with programs cation boards are catching on.

4 NFF © Jonas Cuénin © Jonas Cuénin © Lycée Français de New York de New Français © Lycée © Lycée Français de New York de New Français © Lycée © Jonas Cuénin © Jonas Cuénin

Middle row: Antonin Baudry, Cultural Counselor for France in the United States, speaks at the “Living with Two Languages” forum at New York’s Lycée Français on April 13. Top and bottom: Children in French-and-English school programs gain a global perspective while learning about the French language—and the world.

5 NFF en bref business & research

Conference Draws Lessons Polytechnique, Stanford Collaborate on Business Program From French, U.S. Businesses One of France’s most renowned grandes écoles, or For the third year in a row, the New selective higher education institutions, the Ecole Poly- England branch of the French-Ameri- technique has recently partnered with Stanford Univer- can Chamber of Commerce organized sity to welcome Stanford students to Paris this fall. a business forum allowing participants Part of the Stanford Graduate School of Business to sharpen their business acumen (GSB), located in Palo Alto, Calif., Stanford Ignite is a through a series of panels and net- part-time certificate program for graduate students working events. and professionals interested in business development This year’s forum, held in Boston on and innovation. In its newest program, Stanford Ignite- April 4, featured case studies of local Polytechnique, students will spend nine weeks in Paris New England firms that had success- taking classes from professors at both institutions. fully managed to expand their busi- Through their courses, all of which will be taught ness as well as discussions about the in English, students will engage in critical thinking, challenges companies often face in teamwork, and market strategy in order to learn fun- promoting innovation. damental business skills, supplemented by guest Among the event’s many promi- speakers, panels, and mentors. They will apply these nent speakers and panelists were Lips / Uolir © Cyrille skills throughout the term as they collaborate on team Marc Esteva, CFO of the biotechnology projects. company Genzyme, a subsidiary of “The program will be extremely attractive to young the French pharmaceutical company researchers, engineers, and other professionals,” said Sanofi; Lynne Wilson, CEO of the 3DVIA Bruno Rostand, director of innovation and entrepre- brand of the software company Das- neurship at École Polytechnique. “It will leverage the sault Systèmes; and Paresh Kitchloo, experience and international recognition of the Stan- senior scientist at Gentex Optics, a ford GSB in business education and the outstanding subsidiary of France’s Essilor Interna- research environment of Polytechnique.” tional, the world’s largest producer of The Stanford Ignite-Polytechnique program is part of eyeglass lenses. a larger Stanford Ignite series, to be offered in innova- Tasked with promoting economic tion hubs around the globe. The first part-time Ignite and commercial relations between program was introduced at Stanford in 2011. Other pro- France and the U.S., the branches of grams are set to take hold in Bangalore, India, in August the French-American Chamber of 2013, and Beijing in 2014. Commerce regularly organize events Since 2006, Paris and San Francisco have been linked aimed at developing the skills of busi- University © Stanford as “digital sister cities.” The partnership, in which the two ness professionals and creating trans- Two of the best schools in France and the U.S. now offer a cities will cooperate on digital development, further Atlantic commercial ties. joint nine-week business course in Paris, starting this year. strengthens Paris’s relationship with the San Francisco Bay Area, where Stanford is located. In Chicago, Wine Convention Links Europe, North America World-Renowned Mathematician Speaks at Georgia Tech From April 20 through 22, the city of Chicago welcomed wine producers French mathematician Cédric Villani traveled to the and merchants from around the world Georgia Institute of Technology on April 19 through 22 as © CNRS for the sixth edition of the annual the honored guest speaker of the university’s annual Stel- “World Wine Meetings America” con- son Lecture. First established in 1988 by Thomas E. Stelson, vention. then the Vice President for Research at Georgia Tech, the The event, which aims to create lecture series has since welcomed an influential thinker business connections in the wine in- from the mathematical world to campus each year. dustry, featured a wide range of North During his visit, Dr. Cédric Villani gave two lectures on American distributors as well as sales April 19 and April 22. The first talk, aimed at math experts, representatives from over 100 Euro- examined the unexpected results that solving an opti- pean wineries. mization problem has had for the field of Riemannian Over the course of the three-day geometry, named after Bernhard Riemann, a German convention, buyers were able to meet mathematician known for his work in complex and real one-on-one with wine producers from analysis, number theory, and differential geometry. France, Italy, and Spain to individually Known for his passion for sharing mathematics with sample wines for sale and discuss po- the public at large, Dr. Villani gave a second talk intended tential business opportunities. for a more general audience called “Riemann, Boltzmann, In addition to the many tasting exhi- and Kantorovich Go to a Party.” Dr. Villani described a hy- bitions, this year’s edition also featured pothetical meeting among three scientific fields normal- a dinner cruise on Lake Michigan fol- ly thought to be distinct: non-Euclidean geometry, gas lowed by wine and live jazz music. dynamics, and economics. The event was organized by the Dr. Villani was the 2010 recipient of the Fields Medal, Adhesion Group, one of Europe’s lead- nicknamed the “Nobel Prize of Mathematics” in recog- ing organizers of trade fairs, as well as nition of the award’s global clout. Currently, he teaches by Ubifrance, France’s trade comm- Cédric Villani, 2010’s recipient of the world-renowned math at France’s Université de Lyon and is the director of ission. Fields Medal, delivered two talks in Georgia this month. Paris’s Institut Henri Poincaré, and his extensive work has influenced research in plasma physics and fusion power.

6 culture & society en bref NFF

Notre Dame Celebrates 850th Birthday in D.C. Lecture French Comedian Regales Audiences During U.S. Tour A lecture series in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York, and Newport, R.I., led U.S. audiences on a Audiences around the U.S. were journey spanning nine centuries as architect Benjamin bursting with excitement this past Mouton discussed the architectural history of Paris’s month after French comedian Jamel famed Notre Dame Cathedral, now celebrating its Debbouze announced five perfor- 850th year of existence. mances in the U.S. as part of his re- In line with Mr. Mouton’s conservation work as one cent international tour. French speak- of the 44 Architects en Chef des Monuments Historiques ers in Boston, New York, Miami, San de France, the lectures put particular focus on the ca- Francisco, and Los Angeles were able thedral’s long history of restorations, as well as current to attend the rib-splitting comedy efforts to preserve the iconic structure using state-of- shows, which were Mr. Debbouze’s the-art technologies. Ambassador François Delattre, first in the U.S. who attended the lecture in Washington, emphasized Jamel Debbouze was born in Paris in a speech the significance of recent restorations, say- to parents of Moroccan origin and ing, “Tonight we embrace this vision of France: one that began his career in an award-winning respects a long and rich history while consistently look- improv group after a teacher and ing toward the future and embracing creativity and in- member of the local theater scene novation.” was struck by the high school stu- Throughout his career, Mr. Mouton has overseen dent’s talent. Since then, Mr. Deb- restoration work on some of the most prestigious land- bouze’s career has really taken off. marks of the Parisian skyline, including the 12th-centu- He has both acted in television series ry Basilique de Saint-Denis, the resting place of many of and starred in short and feature- France’s former kings, as well as the Hôtel des Invalides, length films to wide popular acclaim. conceived and built under the reign of Louis XIV for the Among his best-known roles is that of purpose of accommodating disabled war veterans. Lucien, the timid and charming gro- As part of the 850th anniversary celebrations in cer of the 2001 romantic comedy and France, the cathedral had fine-tuning done on some international box-office hit Amélie. of its key internal structures, including the installation He also played a switchboard opera- of new bells in the North Tower, the renovation of its tor in the French sitcom H, which took internal lighting, and the restoration of its famed grand place in a hospital. The show ran for orgue, or full organ. four seasons and was widely popular An iconic symbol of France that attracts an average in France. © Jérôme Dumonteil © Jérôme of 14 million visitors annually, the Notre Dame Cathe- dral of Paris dates back to 1163, when Pope Alexander An architecture lecture series toured the U.S. this spring, Memorial to French Victim III laid the first foundational stone in the presence of honoring Notre Dame Cathedral’s nine-century history. of Holocaust Opens in S.C. King Louis VII. In conjunction with national obser- vance of Holocaust Remembrance DJ Collective Takes a Spin Through Chicago & California Day on April 8, a traveling exhibit honoring French Holocaust victim Chicago’s Metro music club got a first-time taste of and diarist Hélène Berr made its way the French DJ group , when the electronic music col- to South Carolina earlier this month. lective played on April 9. The exhibition, titled “A Stolen Life: Made up of four DJs—or “turntablists,” as they call Hélène Berr,” centers on the journals themselves—the group spun vinyl records and created that Ms. Berr kept as a young, Jewish huge soundscapes that spanned the genres of , hip- woman living in Paris under Nazi oc- hop, and multiple sub-categories of European dance cupation. At the age of 21, she began music. The show was the second of a 15-date spring tour, writing a poetic testimony, oscillat- six of which are set for the U.S., to promote their new al- ing between hope and despair, and bum, TETRA, released last year. continued doing so until her even- Though each member of the DJ quartet can boast an tual arrest and deportation to Aus- impressive career, C2C’s synergy may stem from its team chwitz in 1944. spirit. The group prefers its collective moniker rather than Working through the framework individual identities. They go by their stage names only: of Ms. Berr’s journal, the exhibition , Atom, Pfel, and Greem. 20Syl and Greem founded also more broadly examines perse- , a national hip-hop presence in France, with cution of Jews in France through a an album released on the legendary American label Mo- series of films, photographs, maps, town Records and over 500,000 copies sold. Atom and and archives. Pfel are the duo behind Beat Torrent, an act widely popu- The poignant tribute was cre- lar throughout Europe. All members are based in the ated and circulated by Paris’s Shoah western town of , France. Memorial, the French term used to The group is fresh off of a victory at the European Bor- signify the Holocaust. The center der Breakers Awards (EBBA), a four-day showcase in Jan- houses Europe’s foremost collection © B2tB uary that was organized by European Union institutions of archives related to the period. to celebrate new acts that have succeeded in “highlight Comprised of four DJs, C2C came to the U.S. in April to The South Carolina exhibit runs Europe’s great musical diversity,” according to the EBBA promote a new album and play to audiences nationwide. through May 13. official website. The program is now in its 10th year.

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