The University of Montpellier welcomes Peter B. Reich: two lectures and a round table on global change and climate ecology

[Press release] - Published on November 3, 2025 in Attractivité scientifique, Press room

On November 12 and 13, 2025, the Faculty of Science at the University of Montpellier will welcome Peter B. Reich, a world-renowned figure in ecology and plant physiology, for two lectures and a round-table discussion on the major contemporary environmental challenges: climate change, loss of biodiversity and ecosystem transformations.

These meetings will offer a unique opportunity to exchange views with a scientist whose work has had a profound impact on our understanding of the interactions between climate, biodiversity and the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems.

Peter B. Reich, an international reference in plant ecology and physiology

Peter B. Reich is Director of the Institute for Global Change Biology at the University of Michigan and Professor in the Department of Forest Resources at the University of Minnesota. He is recognized worldwide for his pioneering research into the impacts of environmental changes such as global warming, air pollution and land use change on plants, forests and ecosystems at different spatial and temporal scales.

His work has helped shape conservation and climate change mitigation policies, integrating ecological, biogeochemical and human dynamics.

In parallel with his academic career, Peter Reich is also involved in popularizing science: he helped create MinuteEarth, a science education channel with over 500 million views worldwide. His visit to Montpellier marks an exceptional encounter between cutting-edge research and the transmission of knowledge.

Two days of discussions on global change and ecological resilience

Wednesday November 12, 2025 at 11:30am: Lecture: "Can we just(ly) use nature to fight climate change?"
Amphithéâtre Dumontet - campus Triolet
Terrestrial plants and soils store more than three times the amount of carbon present in the atmosphere. Peter Reich will explore the potential (but also the limits) of nature-based solutions to mitigate climate change, integrating the ecological, social and political dimensions of this global challenge.

Wednesday November 12, 2025 from 3 to 4 pm: round table with Peter B. Reich
Amphi 36.05 - Triolet campus
A convivial meeting where you can talk directly to the researcher about his work, his career and his vision of major contemporary environmental issues. An opportunity to discuss research, ecology and international scientific careers. A coffee break will follow the discussion.

Thursday November 13, 2025 at 4:45pm: Lecture: "The strength of simplicity and the challenge of complexity: traits, trade-offs, and scaling in an era of multiple global changes "
Amphithéâtre Dumontet - campus Triolet
How can we predict the behavior of ecosystems in the face of the multiple pressures of global change? Drawing on his international research, Peter Reich will show how the simplicity of ecological traits can help us understand the complexity of interactions between biodiversity, climate and ecosystem functioning.