Tribute to Professor Yves Coppens at UNESCO

De gauche à droite : M. Abdeljalil Bouzouggar, Directeur de l’Institut National des Sciences de l’Archéologie et du Patrimoine et directeur par intérim du patrimoine culturel au Ministère de la Jeunesse de la Culture et de la Communication ; Mme Elena Rossoni-Notter Directeur du Musée d’Anthropologie préhistorique de Monaco ; Henry de Lumley, Professeur, Président de l’Institut de Paléontologie Humaine ; S.E. Mme Anne-Marie Boisbouvier, Ambassadeur, Délégué permanent de Monaco auprès de l’UNESCO ; M. Xing Qu, Directeur général Adjoint de l’UNESCO ; S.A.S. le Prince Albert II de Monaco ; Mme Martine Coppens ; M. Quentin Coppens ; M. Jean-Jacques Hublin, Chaire de Paléoanthropologie, Collège de France, Paris - Professeur émérite de l’Institut Max Planck d’Anthropologie Évolutionnaire de Leipzig ; Mme Sonia Harmand, Archaeologist and director of the West Turkana Archaeological Project ; Mme Marta Pappalardo, Full Professor of Physical Geography and Geomorphology ; Mme Nuria Sanz, Directrice Science du Bureau régional de l’UNESCO au Caire - Coopération multilatérale sur l'évolution humaine à l'UNESCO - Programme HEADS de l’UNESCO ; Mme Hélène Roche, Directeur de Recherche Emérite au CNRS ; Monsieur Jacques Malaterre – Réalisateur du film « L’homme de Pékin. Les derniers secrets de l’humanité » ; M. Jeffrey T. Laitman, Professor and Director of Anatomy and Functional Morphology, Professor of Medical Education, Professor of Otolaryngology. Ph.D., D. Med. Sc et Mme Amal Kasry, Chef de la Section des sciences fondamentales et de l'ingénierie à l'UNESCO - synchrotron SESAME.

On 12 December at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, in the presence of H.S.H. Prince Albert II and the Deputy Director-General of UNESCO, Mr Xing Qu, a tribute was paid to Professor Yves Coppens, former Chair of the International Scientific Committee of the Monaco Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology, who passed away on 22 June 2022.

Organised jointly by the Permanent Delegation of the Principality of Monaco, the Monaco Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology and UNESCO, the symposium brought together numerous public figures, who spoke of their research and gave touching accounts about Professor Coppens to a captivated audience of scientists, diplomats and the general public.

The scientific achievements made possible by the work of Professor Coppens were honoured by members of the International Scientific Committee of the Monaco Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology and by UNESCO through two round table discussions on: “Heritage and Climate Change” and “Science and Innovation”

The event was the occasion to:

• Highlight the contributions of Professeur Yves Coppens to our understanding of humanity;

• Promote and disseminate science;

• Offer delegates of UNESCO Member States new insight into international archaeological research currently underway and led by UNESCO through the HEADS programme and the Sesame Centre, and the role played by Monaco in international scientific cooperation.

Passionate about Africa, Professor Coppens travelled the globe to share the results of his research and to learn from others, with the deep and genuine sense of being a citizen of the world. His contribution to science, his intellectual legacy and his curiosity influenced generations of researchers in the global scientific community.

In relation to the symposium, the Monaco Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology published a special issue of its scientific journal (No. 10) containing texts by the 17 members of the International Scientific Committee.

Useful links: https://map-mc.org/bulletin/

https://www.unesco.org/fr/natural-sciences/about