Ceremony to Award Honorary Doctorate Degrees from the University of Montpellier to Yves Maufette and Yves Bergeron

[Press Release] - Published on November 30, 2022 in the Press Room

This Friday, December 2, Philippe Augé, President of the University of Montpellier, will confer the title of Doctor Honoris Causa of the University of Montpellier on Yves Maufette and Yves Bergeron, both professors at the University of Quebec (Canada). The ceremony will take place on the Triolet Campus starting at 11 a.m., in the presence of Patrick Caron, Vice President for International Relations atUM; Jean-Michel Marin, Dean of theUM Faculty of SciencesUM Ahmed Adam Ali, Associate Dean of theUM Faculty of Sciences.

By invitation only

What does the title “Doctor Honoris Causa” mean?

Established by decree on June 26, 1918—and with origins that may date back to the 17th century—the title of Doctor Honoris Causa honors foreign figures who highlight and embody the university’s values through their contributions to the worlds of ideas, culture, the arts, and the sciences. Awarded during a formal ceremony, this academic title is the most distinguished and prestigious that can be conferred by the University of Montpellier.

Yves Maufette and Yves Bergeron, the two professors receiving the title of “Doctor Honoris Causa”

Yves Maufette, Associate Professor at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM): “The role of a university professor primarily involves teaching and research. Our training is first and foremost that of a researcher, and we often teach based on our intuition. In academia, our responsibilities are divided into three areas: research, teaching, and community service. In theory, these three responsibilities should be equally balanced. Research is the key activity, as it will largely determine the success of our academic careers—from promotion to international recognition. The second component, teaching, is less highly valued. Choosing to invest in university pedagogy carries certain risks, as we’re stepping off the beaten path. Modifying the content of one’s course is one thing, but changing an academic program in a field—and shifting it toward a new pedagogical approach—is almost a reckless move. Isn’t preparing our students to better meet the needs of tomorrow a paramount issue? Research is advancing—so why not pedagogy?”

Yves Bergeron, Professor at the Université du Québec en Atibi-Témiscamingue and the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM): “The Canadian boreal forest is one of the world’s last remaining natural forests, and it is under severe strain. Traditional forest management practices have significantly reduced the proportion of old-growth forests. Fire, a source of soil disturbance that increases soil fertility, has been largely eliminated. Forest managers must find ways to replicate the key characteristics of natural forests through practices that mimic natural disturbances and forest dynamics. In this critical field, France has a long history of forest management, and paleoecological approaches have been developed to reconstruct the past. Over the past twenty years, the University of Montpellier’s expertise in paleoecology has been applied in collaborative and joint supervision projects in the cold forests of Canada, France, and elsewhere around the world.”

Keywords: Ceremony, Honoris causa, International