Kick-off for the 17th edition of Pasteurdon! Research is part of us!

Lots of you came along on Wednesday October 4 to launch the 17th edition of Pasteurdon together. The Institut Pasteur community and all those involved in the campaign came together on campus for a spectacular kick-off event!

With the lights dimmed, an animated Louis Pasteur, who even after all these years is still able to galvanize an entire institute and drive research forward, gave way to a lively introductory video with on-the-spot reactions from Institut Pasteur staff and moving testimonies from patients to shine a light on why research is so important for them personally. The Pasteurdon sponsors also spoke about why they are so committed to the Institut Pasteur, and the final word was given to a cheerful and positive Erik Orsenna, Ambassador for the Institut Pasteur and patron of the 2023 edition of Pasteurdon.

As the lights came back on, Erik Orsenna himself, as if stepping out from the screen, spoke to the audience in person about his commitment to research and to the Institut Pasteur's scientists, many of whom he has got to know over the past few years.

 

In the capable hands of presenting duo Henri Pitron, Vice-President Communications, and Antoine Bogaerts, Director of Philanthropy, the event then continued with a series of speakers who took to the floor to share their personal stories about research and its importance for health.

 

 

Stewart Cole, President of the Institut Pasteur – just back from a trip to Japan –, France Inter and France 2 journalist Léa Salamé, a key supporter of this year's Pasteurdon who is particularly committed to supporting female scientists, Anne Barrère, producer and head of the media partner initiative, alongside several presenters and journalists attending the event (Bernard Montiel – C8, Marie-Aline Méliyi – LCI, Maxime Switek – BFMTV, Alexia Elizabeth – BFM Paris Ile-de-France, François Allain – RMC, Tiffany Bonvoisin et Alexandre Devoise – Chérie FM), the authors, composers and artists Ycare and Gauvain Sers, and the Pasteurdon sponsors (Marie-Thérèse Le Roch and Christophe Paumard for the Le Roch-Les Mousquetaires Foundation, Éric Sanchez for AG2R LA MONDIALE and Élisabeth Truong-Romeira for ASSU 2000) spoke in turn to explain why they are passionate about research and determined to support Pasteurdon, each in their own way, through their words and actions. Their personal testimonies all illustrated the need to continue advancing knowledge produced in research laboratories for the benefit of human health.

The next part, again presented by Henri Pitron and Antoine Bogaerts, showcased the multichannel campaign organized by Pasteurdon: the main visual and the three separate visuals focusing on cancer, infectious diseases and neurodegenerative diseases; the media partners, short films and radio spots; the initiatives organized by sponsors; pasteurdon.fr, pasteur.fr, social media, Brut videos and videos on Julien Ménielle's "Dans ton corps" YouTube channel; and initiatives involving sport – all major boosts for Pasteurdon 2023 and the campaign to support committed, proactive research.

Henri Pitron and Antoine Bogaerts went on to thank all those who invest their time and energy to make Pasteurdon a success, year after year. They then invited everyone attending the event to take part in an activity named "Who dares take on the microscope?", in which they were asked to answer a series of light-hearted questions related to all aspects of research. Lots of you got together in teams to press the buzzer and try your hand at the challenge – a big thank you to you all! A highlights video is available to download. Check it out now!

Video of the quiz (coming soon)

Watch the Pasteurdon 2023 launch event

Behind-the-scenes video of the launch

 

 

Photos : François Gardy/Institut Pasteur