Research
Internationally recognized for the excellence of its scientific research, the University of Montpellier is stepping up its commitment to more responsible research that supports the ecological transition and benefits society.
As a recipient of the I-SITE Program of Excellence, which focuses on food security, environmental quality, and human health, it is also involved in water research through the UNESCO ICIREWARD Center. As a recipient of the University Innovation Hub project, it supports innovators in the fields of “feeding, healing, and protecting” and implements the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from Their Utilization.
In line with the Climate and Biodiversity Plan for Higher Education and Research, it is committed to reducing the carbon footprint of its activities while contributing to the preservation of biodiversity.
As part of its efforts to promote scientific literacy, the University of Montpellier has been coordinating the Fête de la Science since 2016 and organizing research-related events to raise public awareness of the challenges of the ecological transition.
These initiatives are driven by a committed leadership team, through its vice-presidencies for Research, Partnerships and Innovation; Environmental Issues; and Science-Society Relations.
Reducing the environmental impact of research activities
The University is committed to supporting research and innovation initiatives that address the challenges of the ecological transition and have a low environmental impact, particularly on the climate and biodiversity.
Across the University of Montpellier, certain research laboratories have been working for several years to reduce their environmental impact and calculate their greenhouse gas emissions annually. To increase the number of laboratories involved in this initiative and support all of its research units, the university has been organizing an annual event dedicated to research on the transition since 2024.
The goal of this event is to bring together various stakeholders in the research community to share best practices and identify solutions for more sustainable scientific activities.
Incorporating ecological transition criteria into calls for proposals
In an effort to promote more responsible research, the institution has decided to include environmental considerations among the eligibility criteria for its internal calls for proposals. This initiative aims to raise awareness among project leaders about the environmental impact of their research activities, without limiting the diversity of scientific topics.
Specifically, each project leader must identify the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs) that the research project addresses, calculate the carbon footprint of travel related to fieldwork, and explain how ecological transition issues are incorporated into the project’s design. In particular, applicants are required to streamline travel, minimize energy consumption, and ensure the proper sorting of project-related waste.
The University’s goal is not to select projects based on their carbon footprint or subject matter—which would exclude certain research activities—but rather to foster a collective awareness of the environmental impacts of research and the need to reduce them.
Mapping the SDGs
To better understand the scientific community’s involvement and to support research and innovation practices that address the challenges of the ecological transition, the University of Montpellier has launched a two-pronged mapping initiative: to identify the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that laboratories are aligned with and that research projects address.
Identification of research stakeholders
To better meet the expectations of citizens and society at large, the University of Montpellier is developing a database of researchers who can be engaged in citizen science initiatives and who are likely to contribute to the development of public policies supporting the ecological transition.
This project will result in the creation of a map of the research capabilities of UM researchers for the socio-economic sector.
This initiative will facilitate collaboration between academic researchers and local stakeholders, while enhancing the visibility and societal impact of the research conducted at the University.
Disseminating scientific research findings on the ecological transition to society
The University of Montpellier places the dissemination of knowledge at the heart of its social mission, particularly with regard to issues related to the ecological transition. It pursues an active policy of science communication, aimed at making research findings accessible to the public, local stakeholders, and public policymakers.
Since 2016, the University has been coordinating the Fête de la Science, a flagship event that brings together researchers and the general public for workshops, lectures, and exhibitions focused on the environment, climate, and biodiversity. It also organizes recurring events such as the Bar des sciences and the Sud de Sciences festival, with a focus on major environmental issues.
For the research community—including Professors, faculty, and students—as well as anyone else interested, the institution identifies publications and academic works related to the ecological transition and thereby promotes their visibility and accessibility to the widest possible audience through the public HAL platform.
These initiatives help strengthen the dialogue between science and society, raise public awareness of environmental challenges, and highlight the expertise of the institution’s scientists.
