Interdisciplinary Laboratory for Research in Didactics, Education, and Training

Robin Birgé

Postdoctoral Fellow

As a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Montpellier (Lirdef) and an independent researcher at the Hyperthèses laboratory, my work is marked by an interest in the ethics of discussion. After studying ecology, I trained in science studies through the critical analysis of discussions (also known as controversies) on the biologization of the social and the Sokal affair. In my thesis, I am interested in a story with a bad ending: "The tragedy of the expert, or 'Langagement en science-friction' as a response to the deconstruction of authoritarianism and relativism in scientific expertise by dramaturgical sociology." Through the staging of expertise and the definition of dramaturgical sociology (described by some as political epistemology), whose principles of distancing and alteration aim to transform habits and, thereby, the world, I propose a radically constructivist and engaged research practice.

Research topics

  • Dramaturgical Sociology and Eristic
  • Social responsibility, commitment, and the researcher's language
  • Expertise in democracy
  • The biologization of society
  • Epistemological controversies (Sokal affair and other hoaxes)

Lessons

  • Lecture at the University of Tiers Temps in Montpellier: Can "science" survive the loss of its "neutrality"?
  • Co-supervised with Manuel Bachtold (Lirdef, UM), entitled Study of the roles played by different actors and arguments in the controversy surrounding diesel vehicles. (2015-2016, M2 HPDS, UM)
  • Introductory Course on Constructivism (2014, Doctoral Module, UM)
  • Article analysis evaluation panel (M2 HPDS, UM)
  • Methodology course: bibliographic references and theoretical framework for understanding quotations according to their purpose within the text (M2 HPDS, UM)
  • Course on the aesthetics of communication: articulation of content and form (2015, ACCES program, M2 B2E, with Guillaume Bagnolini, Epsylon UM3)
  • Project evaluation jury: articulation of a science communication project, epistemic stance, communication model (2015, ACCES course, M2 B2E, with Grégoire Molinatti and Nicolas Chevassus-Au-Louis)
  • Introductory course in epistemology (2014, ACCES program for M1 B2E, with Nicolas Chevassus-Au-Louis)

Responsibilities

  • Researcher at the Hyperthèses laboratory (https://hypertheses.org)
  • Currently playwright on the opera and object theater project(Victor) Frankenstein, the next production by thecompany Les Karyatides(scheduled for release in 2019)