Research
Internationally recognized for the excellence of its scientific research, the University of Montpellier is stepping up its commitment to more responsible research in support of the ecological transition and for the benefit of society.
As the lead institution for the I-SITE Program of Excellence—dedicated to food security, environmental quality, and human health—it is also involved in water research with the UNESCO ICIREWARD Center. As a recipient of the University Innovation Hub project, it supports innovators in the areas 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 helping to preserve biodiversity.
As part of its efforts to promote scientific culture, 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 Impacts of Research Activities
The University is committed to supporting research and innovation practices that address the challenges of the ecological transition and have a low impact on the environment, 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 effort and to support all of its research units, the university has been organizing an annual event dedicated to transition research since 2024.
The goal of this event is to foster dialogue among various stakeholders in the research community to ensure the sharing of best practices and the development of solutions for more sustainable scientific activities.
Incorporating Ecological Transition Criteria into Calls for Proposals
In an effort to encourage 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 specify the Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs) defined by the United Nations that the research project addresses, calculate the carbon footprint of travel related to fieldwork, and explain how ecological transition issues are taken into account in the project’s design. In particular, applicants are required to streamline travel, minimize energy consumption, and ensure that project-related waste is sorted.
The University’s goal is not to select projects based on their carbon footprint or their 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 working toward and that research projects are addressing.
Identification of Research Stakeholders
In order to better meet the expectations of citizens and society at large, the University of Montpellier is developing a database that identifies 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 skills possessed byUM researchersUM use by the socio-economic sector.
This initiative will facilitate interactions between academic researchers and local stakeholders, while enhancing the visibility and societal impact of the research conducted at the University.
Disseminating knowledge derived from scientific research on ecological transition to society
The University of Montpellier places the dissemination of knowledge at the heart of its societal mission, particularly with regard to issues related to the ecological transition. It pursues an active policy of science outreach, aimed at making research findings accessible to citizens, local stakeholders, and public policymakers.
For the general public, the University has been coordinating the Fête de la Science since 2016, 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 themes centered 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.
