The University of Montpellier Welcomes Peter B. Reich: Two Lectures and a Roundtable 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 host Peter B. Reich, a world-renowned figure in ecology and plant physiology, for two lectures and a roundtable discussion focused on major contemporary environmental challenges: climate change, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem transformations.

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

Peter B. Reich, an internationally renowned authority on plant ecology and physiology

Peter B. Reich is director of the Institute for Global Change Biology at the University of Michigan and a 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 across various spatial and temporal scales.

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

Alongside his academic career, Peter Reich is committed to science communication: in particular, he helped found MinuteEarth, a science education channel with over 500 million views worldwide. His visit to Montpellier thus marks an exceptional convergence of cutting-edge research and the dissemination of knowledge.

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
Terrestrial plants and soils store more than three times the amount of carbon present in the atmosphere. Peter Reich will explore the potential (as well as the limitations) of nature-based solutions for mitigating climate change, taking into account the ecological, social, and political dimensions of this global challenge.

Wednesday, November 12, 2025, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.: Roundtable discussion with Peter B. Reich
, Lecture Hall 36.05 – Triolet Campus
A casual gathering to speak directly with the researcher about his work, his career path, and his perspective on major contemporary environmental issues. This is 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 how ecosystems will respond to the multiple pressures of global change? Drawing on his international research, Peter Reich will demonstrate how the simplicity of ecological traits can help us understand the complexity of interactions between biodiversity, climate, and ecosystem functioning.