Aurélie Bayen-Poisson

Aurélie Bayen-Poisson is a tenured Professor and researcher in sociology and sinology at the Catholic University of the West (UCO), based in French Polynesia. She holds dual affiliations with UCO’s Research Laboratory on Psychological and Social Processes (2PS) and the China, Korea, Japan laboratory (CCJ/UMR 8173/EHESS Paris). Her roles include academic leadership as an educational manager for social sciences programs and international educational coordination on UCO’s Papeete campus.

Her research focuses on Chinese political history, digital governance, Pacific geopolitics, and sociolinguistics of minority languages in French Polynesia. Key projects include analyzing China’s strategic influence in Oceania, the evolution of Mandarin/Hakka language dynamics, and sustainable governance frameworks for marine resources. She actively collaborates on transnational initiatives like the Coastwatchers 2.0 project studying Chinese interference in the Pacific.

Recent publications examine sharp power tactics in Palau, Taiwan’s civic tech models, and French Polynesia’s role in the Indo-Pacific strategic landscape. Her work bridges academic research with policy impact through projects like the Loï Kong Hakka Vah language manual and the Encyclopedia of the Anthropocene as associate editor.