The Doctoriales 2022 - Research and Innovation at the Heart of Development : An international opening of the University of Antananarivo with the participation of about thirty PhD students in competition

The eighth edition of the Doctoriales was held at the University of Antananarivo from 06 to 09 December 2022. The opening ceremony took place at the University Library and Archives (BAU). The event brings together researchers, professionals, as well as the 30 participating doctoral students, in this case 22 for the University of Antananarivo, 07 from sister universities in Madagascar, 2 for the University of Douala in Cameroon. Thus, the Directorate of Doctoral Research of the University of Antananarivo through the Support Unit for Training and Research (CSFR) and the support of its two other departments, organized this eighth edition around the theme "Research and innovation at the heart of development".

These PhD students belong to disparate Doctoral Schools ranging from Human and Social Sciences, to Earth and Environmental Sciences, to Geochemistry and Medicinal Chemistry, etc. This edition gathered about thirty research topics, including the interaction of plants in rainfed rice varietal mixtures as a way to optimize the agronomic performance of rice, the exposure factors of the Malagasy population to Hantaviruses and the genetic study of Hantavirus strains circulating in Madagascar, or the chemical study and evaluation of the biological activities of secondary metabolites from two plants endemic to Madagascar : Emilia Citrina and Cussonia bojeri.

The Doctoriales, in its eighth year of existence, has already traveled throughout Madagascar, as pointed out by Professor Lala Ravaomanarivo, Vice President in charge of Human Resources and Academic Affairs. This time, the event returns to Antananarivo. She thanked the technical and financial partners, in particular the Academy of Research and Higher Education of Belgium which has supported it since its establishment at the University of Antananarivo. The Doctoriales now extends to the international level thanks to the participation of two Cameroonians supported by the AFRIDI project. The Doctoriales is also a competition in terms of poster communication, oral communication in English, and interdisciplinary project.

Professor Igor Eckhaut, Belgian Coordinator of the Institutional Support Project - ARES CCD recalled that ARES has supported the University of Antananarivo since 2013. One of the activities supported is these Doctoriales. The Belgian delegation took the opportunity to honor their presence following the new mission to formulate the needs for the next five-year support 2022-2027. These retrospectives and perspectives encouraged the young doctoral students to dig into the problems of the country focused on several areas such as the environment, engineering, health, etc. Indeed, Madagascar is not exempt from various environmental and socio-economic problems as encountered in the world.

According to Professor Mamy Raoul Ravelomanana, President of the University of Antananarivo, doctoral research deserves to be valued, just like scientific research in general. Great recognition is brought to the Ministry of supervision. The Doctoral of the previous year was held in Fianarantsoa with great success. The University of Antananarivo considers research as its priority, as it allows the development of the country with companies and civil society. The presence of the Belgian delegation is timely as the next support will be accessible on research, while the previous one was on teaching. It remains for the doctoral students to show their knowledge, their know-how, and their know-how. The future of their research remains a potential. Professor Heriniaina Ramanankerana, Director General of Scientific Research at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research congratulated the collaborative efforts between the University of Antananarivo, ARES, the French Embassy, the Institute of Research for Development, the Center for International Cooperation in Agricultural Research for Development, TELMA. Apart from the Doctoriales, the transversal skills of doctoral students are always an asset for their professional insertion and their academic activities.

Poster presentations (Posters)

Regarding the result of the poster communications, the first prize was awarded to Nalinirina Rindra Rasoanaivo for her subject "Analysis of the spatio-temporal evolution of the Sambirano River by remote sensing". She is from the Doctoral School of Earth and Evolution Sciences (STE) of the University of Antananarivo. The second prize is awarded to Judicael Boris Tsazeu Nafack with the topic "Formulation of a plantain-based food supplement to prevent protein-energy malnutrition in children aged 6-24 months in Madagascar". He is from the Doctoral School : Life and Environmental Sciences (SVE) of the University of Antananarivo

Oral Communications in English

For the oral communications in English, the sessions were held in parallel in 02 rooms.

For the CSFR Room (Direction of Doctoral Research), Nalinirina Rindra Rasoanaivo won again the first prize with her presentation "Evolution analysis of Sambirano river (1985-2022), from the Doctoral School : Earth Sciences and Evolution - University of Antananarivo". The second prize was awarded to Mirana Rakotozafy for her topic "Isolation and identification of active substances from Emilia citrine extracts". She is from the Doctoral School Valorization of Renewable Natural Resources (VRNR) of the University of Antananarivo.

In the Xylotheque room (Faculty of Science), Franck Cloreil Eboa Mbonjo won the first prize for his paper entitled "Drinking water and risks of water-borne diseases in sub-Saharan Africa : Towards a Local-scale Solution". He is from the Ecole Doctorale Sciences de la Vie et de l’Environnement (SVE) of the University of Antananarivo

Guyno Chrisant Rasolonomenjanahary received the second prize for his thesis on "MGK, Data Analysis tools extended for health use, used as math usefull proof". He is from the Doctoral School : Sciences, Cultures, Societies and Development (SCSD) of the University of Toamasina.

Multi-disciplinary projects

Regarding the multidisciplinary projects, the theme : "Biotechnological progress and health" won the first prize with the project of GROUP II with the title MORIPLANT . It is a "Production of a banana-based infant flour and banana plantin enriched with Moringa for the South East region of Madagascar, to fight against malnutrition".

Coaches include Professor Toky Randriamahazo and Dr. Jean Robertin Rasolohariniaina

The second prize is awarded to the theme : Energy, environment and sustainable development of GROUP III. It is a project for the valorization of household waste (pvdm) _ Rural Commune of Ampitatafika

Coaches include Professor Toky Randriamahazo and Dr. Jean Robertin Rasolohariniaina