“Accelerating the transition to sustainable development”
Launched in March 2019 as part of the I-SITE Program of Excellence “Montpellier University of Excellence” (MUSE), the Montpellier Advanced Knowledge Institute on Transitions (MAK’IT) is a newcomer among the Institutes of Advanced Studies (IEA).
As a hub for knowledge development, collaboration, and interaction between the local ecosystem and the international scientific community, MAK’IT aims to encourage scientific communities to contribute to the analysis, support, and acceleration of the transitions necessary to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the fields of agriculture and food, the environment, and health.
As a platform for collective intelligence, the Institute fosters interdisciplinary dialogue and the development of new approaches and innovative research methodologies, in close collaboration with policymakers and citizens.
Vision
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as adopted under the auspices of the United Nations, call for a profound transformation of our societies toward more innovative, inclusive, and adaptive models. This transformation relies on a series of major transitions that must be orchestrated at the intersection of health, the environment and climate, agriculture, and food. From the local to the global level, these transitions present numerous challenges for research to address. MAK’IT has set itself the goal of renewing the venues and forms of mobilizing scientific knowledge and creating new forums to address the many controversies sparked by these changes.
Features
Programming: contribute to the planning of research on transitions and strengthen the development of a school of thought at the local, national, and international levels.
Looking ahead: identifying and promoting relevant foresight exercises, and strengthening the scientific expertise and capabilities needed to implement these transitions.
Influence: contribute to discussions within national and international bodies where transitions are conceived and implemented, by serving as an interface between science and society and between science and politics.
Activities
Hosting International Researchers
MAK’IT offers international researchers from all regions and disciplines the opportunity to spend several months conducting research in Montpellier. The Institute facilitates their exchanges and supports their interactions with Montpellier’s scientific community and the broader non-academic world.
Freed from their day-to-day responsibilities, these researchers—working individually or in groups—pursue scientific projects of their own choosing in collaboration with research institutions in Montpellier. These projects are characterized by a strong interdisciplinary approach focused on the analysis of controversies, innovative methodologies and research areas, real-world science-society interactions, and an impact on the transition toward sustainable development.
Applications for a residency at the Institute undergo a selective evaluation process conducted by the MAK’IT Scientific Council, composed of independent international experts. The Council meets twice a year to evaluate applications submitted in response to the Institute’s main calls for applications: “SCIENTIFIQUES INVITES,” “COHORTE,” “French Institutes for Advanced Study” (FIAS), and “Constructive Advanced Thinking” (CAT).
Organization of international events in Montpellier
To strengthen the scientific community’s engagement in public discourse, MAK’IT organizes a full program of events centered on hosting international researchers. Weekly meetings among resident researchers allow them to discuss the impact of their work across disciplinary and sectoral boundaries. Monthly discussion sessions, the “MAK’IT Talks,” bringing together academics and researchers, policymakers, and representatives from civil society and the private sector, foster reflection on issues related to current and future societal challenges.
Partnerships and the development of European and international initiatives related to the SDGs
MAK’IT collaborates with other organizations, institutions, and think tanks of a similar nature or with an interest in related topics, with a particular focus on accelerating the transition to sustainable development and strengthening scientific capacity in countries of the Global South. In particular, the Institute has forged close partnerships with the French (RFIEA), European (NetIAS), and international (UBIAS) networks of Institutes for Advanced Studies.
A true laboratory for change, MAK’IT is committed to ensuring that the findings of its research benefit future generations and inspire their commitment to sustainable development. In addition to widely disseminating its publications, the institute actively promotes the development of educational materials and innovative curricula.
Specific Features
- Alignment with the broader framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- 3 priority areas: agriculture & food, environment, and health
- Strengthened dialogue between the life sciences and the social sciences
- The science-policy-society interface and an innovative approach through the analysis of societal controversies
- Geographical focus on the “South” (“Leaving no scientific community behind”)
- Strong ties to the local scientific community and a close-knit network of international academic and institutional partners
News
MAK’IT Celebrates Five Years in Business
Published on: April 5 , 2024
To mark its fifth anniversary, the Montpellier Advanced Knowledge Institute…
