The Statistics and Population Studies Department of the University of the Western Cape (UWC) was proud to organize a demographic conference with the famous French National Institute of Demographic Studies (INED). This conference was part of a scientific and cultural project in the frame work of the French/South-AFrica criss-crossed seasons 2012/2013, which has been signed at the highest level of the two respective governments.

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Four researchers from the famous National Institute of Demographic Studies, Paris France, gave presentations at the conference on essential populations problematic. These researchers are; William Molmy, the Director of the International Affairs Department,Giles Pison, senior researcher at the French National Institute for Demographic Studies,  France Mesle, researcher that specialises in mortality in the world and other topics, and Jacques Valin who is one of the worlds leading demographers and, according to international surveys of demographers, the most known living French demographer.

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"It was quite rare to have had researchers from the famous INED institute coming to Cape Town, so our Department was really priviledged to have these presentations designed and open to a large public to better understand the demographic stakes of our society" says Nancy Stiegler, the Head of the Statistics and Population Studies department, UWC.

The conference was in the framework of the France-South Africa Seasons 2012/2013. The France-South Africa Seasons is a multifaceted bilateral collaboration between France and South Africa, intended to improve mutual understanding by emphasising the modernity and values that the two countries share. The French Season in South Africa runs until November this year, while the South African Season will run in France from May to December 2013.

We are proud to be the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to participate in such a wide-ranging collaboration with France. The reciprocal national Seasons, which will be jointly organised by our countries, concentrate on culture and the arts but they also include sport, trade and novel approaches in the fields of education, the sciences and business,says South African Minister of Arts and Culture Paul Mashatile.

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The highest authorities in the two countries requested that this edition of the Season be organised to reinforce the strong, deep bonds that unite us in the field of culture, to discover new facets of the relationship, and to forge long-term ties. These Seasons also represent an opportunity to develop our relations in many areas beyond the arts, and to shape a future in which solidarity and a better understanding of one another guide the relationship between our people, says Xavier Darcos President of the Institut francais.
 
Laurent Clavel, French Commissioner-General for the Seasons, says:The French Season will offer South Africans a glimpse of the cultural scene in modern day France, which is contemporary and dynamic, and embraces the diversity of our society. In the areas of science, education and trade we will focus on areas of mutual interest and once again bring some of our most innovative work to the fore.

The conference took place in Cape Town at the French Alliance, and in Bellville at the UWC campus.