Management/Governance
Vulnerability and sustainability. These are the two concepts that form the foundation of LIRDEF’s scientific project.
These concepts situate the laboratory within its region. Mediterranean Occitanie is, in fact, bearing the brunt of many consequences of climate change: droughts, Cévennes-style downpours, pressures on water resources and biodiversity, and so on. This region also experiences significant social and regional inequalities—between metropolitan areas, priority neighborhoods, and rural areas—which hinder access to education, training, and employment. These realities extend beyond schools to all settings where learning and training take place: initial and continuing vocational training, higher education, workplaces, the health and social sectors, and non-formal education. Finally, the Montpellier campus is one of the nation’s major research hubs for the environment and agronomy—fields in which these concepts are particularly relevant.
The concepts of vulnerability and sustainability already underpin much of our research: environmental education and education for sustainable development; teaching knowledge in response to socio-ecological challenges; lifelong support for vulnerable populations; transformations in work and professions; professional development and career transition; and the working conditions of teachers, trainers, and professionals in educational and social intervention. Our goal for the coming years is for these two concepts to also become opportunities for dialogue—both internally, by emphasizing interdisciplinarity, and externally, by forging new partnerships with stakeholders in education, training, and the workforce, both here and internationally.
Leading a research laboratory means facilitating and supporting this scientific exploration of the concepts of vulnerability and sustainability. But it also means caring for a community. From this perspective, the concepts of vulnerability and sustainability are particularly insightful for how we function together.
Being attentive to vulnerabilities means ensuring that everyone finds their place within LIRDEF: doctoral students, newly arrived colleagues, members who are geographically distant, or those whose research topics are underrepresented. It also means recognizing that research time is fragile and deserves to be protected.
Striving for sustainability means building a collegial and transparent governance structure, supported by the laboratory council, where decisions are discussed and shared. Finally, it means anchoring our projects, collaborations, and partnerships in the long term, beyond evaluation deadlines.
It is in this spirit—both cautious and ambitious—that the laboratory’s scientific leadership works alongside all of its members.
The Management Team