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

[Press release] - Published on November 3, 2025 in Press Room, Scientific Appeal

On November 12 and 13, 2025, the Faculty of Sciences 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 major contemporary environmental challenges: climate change, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem transformation.

These meetings will offer a unique opportunity to engage with a scientist whose work has profoundly influenced our understanding of the interactions between climate, biodiversity, and the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems.

Peter B. Reich, an international authority on 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 internationally recognized for his pioneering research on 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 by integrating ecological, biogeochemical, and human dynamics.

Alongside his academic career, Peter Reich is 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 knowledge transfer.

Two days of discussions on global change and ecological resilience

Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 11:30 a.m.: lecture: “Can we just(ly) use nature to fight climate change?”
Dumontet Amphitheater – Triolet campus
Plants and terrestrial soils store more than three times the amount of carbon present in the atmosphere. Peter Reich will explore the potential (but also the limitations) of nature-based solutions to mitigate climate change, integrating the ecological, social, and political dimensions of this global challenge.

Wednesday, November 12, 2025, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.: round table discussion with Peter B. Reich
Lecture hall 36.05 – Triolet campus
A friendly gathering to talk directly with the researcher about his work, his career, and his vision of the major environmental issues of our time. An opportunity to discuss topics related to research, ecology, and international scientific careers. A coffee break will follow the discussion.

Thursday, November 13, 2025, at 4:45 p.m.: lecture: "The strength of simplicity and the challenge of complexity: traits, trade-offs, and scaling in an era of multiple global changes"
Dumontet Amphitheater – Triolet campus
How can we predict the behavior of ecosystems in the face of multiple pressures from 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.