Accelerating Societal Transitions with MAK’IT
Since 2019, the Institute for Advanced Studies at the University of Montpellier, known as MAK’IT, has been hosting researchers from diverse geographic backgrounds and disciplines as residents. Their goal is to contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by analyzing and accelerating the transition in the fields of the environment, health, and agriculture.
About thirty researchers affiliated with foreign institutions have already participated or are currently participating in one of the four hosting programs offered byMAK’IT, the Institute for Advanced Studies (IEA) at the University of Montpellier, led by Patrick Caron, vice president for international relations. There are currently about 100 IEAs worldwide, but only eight in France—in Lyon, Paris, Marseille, Nantes, Cergy, Toulouse, Strasbourg, and Montpellier. “The first thing that sets MAK’IT apart is its thematic focus: the environment, health, and agriculture, ” explains Marianne Chaumel, project manager at Muse.“Our second distinguishing feature is a strong orientation toward the ‘Global South,’ where half of the researchers we host come from. Finally, we place great emphasis on dialogue between the social sciences and the life sciences.”
The Links Between Science and Society at the Heart of the Approach
What do these researchers from different disciplines and continents have in common? They are helping to accelerate the transitions needed to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. With this goal in mind, MAK’IT offers its resident researchers a unique approach:“We ask researchers to use their work to address the societal controversies that may be causing roadblocks hindering these transitions,” emphasizes Marianne Chaumel.
“The science-society connection is truly at the heart of this approach, since the results must be applicable to or beneficial for civil society,” continues the project manager. As such, the organization—by and for researchers—of conferences, seminars, and public events bringing together stakeholders from the socioeconomic, political, nonprofit, and artistic sectors is strongly encouraged, as is the development of educational content and innovative curricula. Since 2020 and the first MAK’IT hosting programs, the Institute’s researchers have organized about ten events, involving more than 70 speakers and 1,000 registered participants. MAK’IT was also involved in the 2020 Africa Season. MAK’IT implements this approach through four different formats corresponding to the four hosting programs offered.
"Visiting Scientists": A Prestigious Program
4D photoacoustic imaging of the heart and brain by Craig Goergen of the United States; the fight against Chagas disease by Marcelo Lorenzo of Argentina; camel milk technology and markets by Gaukhar Konuspayeva of Kazakhstan; and the use of peri-urban land by Roel Plant of Australia… Geographic and thematic diversity is the hallmark of the“Visiting Scientists”group. This is a 3- to 10-month hosting program reserved for“senior”researchers with at least 10 years of experience following their Ph.D.“In this program, researchers must propose an interdisciplinary project. They are integrated into the local scientific community, as each is invited by a unit that co-funds their visit,” explains the project manager.
Six researchers are participating in this program for the 2021–2022 academic year, including the first representative from the Middle East, who is from Lebanon.“In total, we received more than 200 applications, which reflects the growing enthusiasm for this program,” says Marianne Chaumel. “ The vast majority of the researchers currently participating work in the field of biology and health. Next September, we will also welcome our first female researcher in physics.”
"Cohort": Group Research
Second option: the“Cohort”program. A MAK’IT exclusive , this program brings together a small group of researchers from diverse fields to work together for six months on a topic selected by MAK’IT.“Our first cohort worked on the topic ‘Fake News or Flawed Science?’ and also participated in a Science Bar on this topic. The group we will host between January and June 2023—the call for applications is currently open—will explore the question: ‘What roles should science play in times of crisis?’ MAK’IT, in collaboration with the South Center, a Geneva-based intergovernmental organization, is also organizing an international conference on this same topic on April 7 in Montpellier, where several high-level international experts are expected to attend.
The cohort’s researchers, who are based in an open-plan office at Muse’s facilities, will ultimately be required to produce at least one joint—and therefore interdisciplinary—publication.“Through this program, they commit to working two days a week on this joint project; the rest of their time can be devoted to advancing their personal research interests,” explains Marianne Chaumel.
"FIAS" and "CAT": Moving the Network Forward
The FIAS program ( French Institutes for Advanced Study), open to researchers in the social sciences and humanities, offers the same terms of support as the“Visiting Scientists”program—namely, a ten-month residency co-funded by a research institution at the University of Montpellier or one of its partners. The difference is that this program, shared by five French IEAs, is coordinated by the French Network of IEAs (RFIEA). Of the 28 residencies offered in 2022–2023, three will take place in Montpellier. In 2021–2022,UM Margreet Zwarteveen from the Netherlands, affiliated with the UNESCO Water Center in Delft, and Myrtille Lacoste, a Franco-Australian researcher affiliated with Curtin University in Australia.
Finally, the CAT (Constructive Advanced Thinking) program is managed by the European Network of IEA, known as NetIAS. It offers already-formed transdisciplinary teams composed of young researchers (doctoral or postdoctoral students) the opportunity to participate in short stays of one to two weeks at various European IEAs.“Montpellier has already hosted two CAT groups for one-week stays. The support structure here is very different; we organize visits and meetings with researchers in the Montpellier area, all related to the proposed theme, of course,” explains Marianne Chaumel. Anti-vaccination attitudes and sustainable cities were on the agenda for 2021. The next groups to be hosted will focus on the role of light in human well-being and on depression in nursing homes.