National Conference on Research Data

On November 9 and 10, 2026, the University of Montpellier will host the National Conference on Research Data (ANDOR), organized by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research , and Space—two days of discussions dedicated to issues related to the production, sharing, and use of scientific data.

Researchers, scientific information professionals, institutional representatives, and data specialists will gather in Montpellier to exchange perspectives, share their experiences, and explore the role of data in both knowledge production and decision-making.

The program will focus on using research data to inform public policy, participatory science and research, global health, and natural resource management, addressing issues that align with several major research areas at the Montpellier site: water, soil, forests, climate, and biodiversity.

The first day will feature a presentation by Éric Servat, honorary director of the UNESCO ICIREWARD International Center—hosted by the University of Montpellier—and chair of the French Committee of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Program. He will speak on the strategic role of data in water sciences. A roundtable discussion will then focus on how research data supports public policy, followed by the presentation of the Open Science Awards.

On November 10, discussions will continue on citizen science data in participatory science and global health research data. The afternoon session will focus on data sharing and observation infrastructures in response to the degradation of natural resources and desertification, as well as forest monitoring and management in relation to climate and biodiversity.

Through this diverse range of topics, ANDOR 2026 will highlight the growing role of data and data sharing in advancing knowledge and informing action in the face of major contemporary challenges.