The University of Montpellier has been awarded the "Science With and For Society" designation
The relationship between science and society is a key focus at the heart of the University of Montpellier’s strategic priorities. The SAPS (Science With and For Society) designation awarded by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research “UM VIA des sciences” project, led by the university, is part of this effort to promote initiatives that disseminate knowledge throughout our region. With strong roots in the regional Science(s) en Occitanie network and as the only accredited institution in Occitanie, UM VIA des sciences is the result of a joint initiative with Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole, a major player in the Science & Society partnership.
“This accreditation recognizes and rewards all the work our university has already done to promote scientific culture at the regional level, contributing to a balanced regional network, and strengthens our ties with the Montpellier metropolitan area in the dissemination of knowledge,” said Philippe Augé, President of the University of Montpellier.
The University of Montpellier: A Key Player in Promoting Scientific Culture in Occitanie
UM VIA des sciences is a new path to be forged at the crossroads between the public and science. The name refers to the famous Via Domitia, which traverses the region and was the source of numerous cultural, scientific, and technical exchanges that shaped the future of knowledge and culture. The Via des sciences project shares this same ambition to foster scientific culture in the region and is structured around three pillars: Visibility, Impulse, and Boldness (VIA). Enhancing“visibility”by creating a dynamic mapping of personnel to highlight their commitment and facilitate cooperation and the implementation of knowledge-dissemination projects. Providing an “impulse”toward a more inclusive scientific culture to improve access to knowledge by revitalizing scientific exchange programs aimed at young people:
- in working-class neighborhoods,
- in areas geographically remote from major cities,
- with a disability,
- struggling in school.
The goal is to reinforce the idea of science as a common good that contributes to social cohesion, in order to combat skepticism toward science and inform public discourse. The final approach, that of“boldness,” embraces new experiments and platforms for dialogue: research stories for young audiences, scientific journeys and mysteries, and participatory science. The goal is to work together with our metropolitan partners, as well as community organizations, to build initiatives designed to expand and endure beyond the SAPS designation, on a scale that extends beyond the regional territory to reach a national and even international audience.
An innovative university partnership with the metropolitan area to strengthen the regional network
This certification is the result of a collaborative effort between the UM VIA des sciences project and Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole, particularly with the department overseeing the network of public libraries and scientific culture, and the department dedicated to environmental outreach. This partnership challenges traditional approaches to collaboration and aligns perfectly with the goals of fostering the Science & Society connection for both the University of Montpellier and the Metropolitan Area. In a metropolitan area where 50% of the population is under 34, the UM VIA des sciences project targets a young audience. It aims to serve as a model of genuine cooperation capable of driving a more structured, visible, inclusive, and bold science-society policy. To achieve this, the project aims to initially roll out across the fourteen media libraries (six in Montpellier and eight in the metropolitan area), thereby reinforcing the media libraries’ role as local science hubs. It also aims to support residents in embracing the climate and ecological transition through the development of mobile initiatives at the Lunaret Zoo and the Ecolothèque. This shared ambition to promote scientific culture throughout the region requires the pooling of human, technical, and financial resources between the University and the Metropolitan Area.