In his remarks, Philippe Lambert wants above all to convince “The fundamental importance” of this impact. And through the congress-festival, he wishes “attract the attention of specialists, populations, donors”. One of the major objectives of this event, which is intended ” recurrent “ and which mixes indifferently conferences, shows and even a traditional ball, is moreover to promote the inclusion of the nature reserve of the site of the impact in the immaterial heritage of Unesco.
Four conference sessions
As for the invited specialists, Philippe Lambert did not do half measures either. The world’s most eminent specialists in astrogeology will confront their research, question each other in order to advance knowledge in a field that the general public has only been able to touch upon through catastrophic films such asArmageddon or, more recently, Don’t look up. “The general public knows the negative side of the impacts on Lifespecifies the astrogeologist Philippe Lambert, director of the Cirir and great organizer of the congress-festival, but there is a positive, universal, fundamental and permanent side. It relates to the origin of the objects of the Solar System, including the Earth, and also to the environmental effects associated with it, including in particular the habitability of the planets and the emergence of Life. »
Rochechouart is the best place on Earth, in the Solar System, in the Universe, to allow man to explore and shed light on the mystery of the origins of Life.
Four conference sessions, one per day, are scheduled in a dedicated room in the village of Cruzeau, where the scientists will be accommodated. “It will be technical, in a vacuum, with timed interventions, every 15 minutes, like in a classic scientific congress”, admits Philippe Lambert. The audience will consist “of students, teachers, funders and scientists, who will come to meet the standard of international research”. They will find the elite there: Patrick Michel “who leads the European mission of defense of the planet”Jean-Pierre Lebreton “who designed the lander for Titan and who has long been the kingpin of the European space agency”the American Sean Gulik, “Mister Chixculub”named after the meteorite that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs…
With other specialists invited to speak, they will come back to the mysteries of the impact of Rochechouart-Chassenon: “The first, the most immediate, is that of its initial size with estimates that vary from 12 to 80 km… There are bound to be things that do not fit our criteriaexplains Philippe Lambert. The second is its environment. The work on the Chassenon borehole suggests that Rochechouart was under water at the time of the impact, but this does not seem compatible with the idea that we have of the paleogeography of the time. »
(1) International Center for Research and Restitution on the Impacts and on Rochechouart.
Asteroid Day and Ceres Days
The 1st Cirir congress-festival will take place in four locations located in the impact zone of the Rochechouart-Chassenon meteorite, including two in Charente. Thus Asteroid Day in Confolens and Ceres Days in Cassinomagus include their usual events within the framework of this premiere.
Asteroid Day. June 30 at Square Jules Halgand in Confolens. From 2 p.m., Daytime astronomy, observation of the sun’s activity, exhibitions of meteorites, impactites and minerals, stand “The impact crater, the astrobleme and the pebbles in Charente and Haute-Vienne”. At 6.30 p.m., convivial round table in interaction with the public. At 9:30 p.m., contemporary dance and music show “Fusion” in world premiere on the theme “Impact” with Carine Desset dancer and choreographer and BreZ BeatBox. From 11 p.m., night astronomy, stargazing and discovery of summer constellations. Catering on site.
Days of Ceres. July 2 and 3 at Cassinomagus (Chassenon). On Saturday, beer festival with 7 brewers (10 a.m. to midnight), ancient music with Gallia Musica, ancient games, storytelling (3 p.m. and 6 p.m.), musical ode (4 p.m.), costumed guided tours (11 a.m. and 2 p.m. by reservation), exhibition of meteorites and impactites (from 2 p.m.), convivial round table (7 p.m.) and traditional ball (9 p.m.). On Sundays, no trad’ ball, no storytelling at 6 p.m., no congress but a farmers’ market at the entrance to the site. Information: 05 45 89 32 21.