Research topic 1 : Landscape processes and organisation, and social and spatial reconstruction

This topic aims to gain a deeper understanding of the complex interactions between the processes of biophysical environments and means of social regulation. In this project importance is given to the idea of landscape in order make an in-depth study, not only of the material and functional dimension of environments, but also of their perception, and their social and cultural construction. The wide diversity of the terrain (Mediterranean mountains, Atlantic, West African and French coasts, urban or peri-urban environments), is suitable for the pursuit our studies of urban/rural and north/south relationships.

Research topic 2 : Social production of biodiversity and biological practices

This topic involves the study of social representations of living creatures and an examination of the meaning of social production living creatures in very different contexts. The common point of all these operations is really the consideration of biodiversity and living creatures in relation to the actors. National biodiversity, iconic or rare species are set aside here, to concentrate on ordinary biodiversity like that of Ile-de-France, and socially produced biodiversity, by traditional agricultural practices in countries in the South, or by practices associating networks of amateurs and the horticultural industry in countries in the North.

Research topic 3 : Environmental actions, expertise registers and public policies

This research topic mainly concerns the way in which sustainable development, which has become a reference for shared action, or in general, a growing ecological “engagement”, results in the formulation of new plans of action, and is included in political as well as technical reference actions. One of the important issues in these research projects is to revive the sensitive concept of ecology or of sustainable development which expresses a subjective imaginative and participative corporal engagement with environmental components (animals, plants, objects, etc.) as opposed to human ones. This way of imagining the relationships with places and the world make it possible to revive interactions and complex relationships which define the relationships between society and nature, limiting them and enriching them.

Research topic 4 : Inequalities and environmental justice

Questions of social and spatial equality have interested Ladyss research workers for a long time. One only has to think of the work by Nicole Mathieu on poverty in the rural environment. The environment as a social question today, demands development to be presented in terms of environmental justice. This justice, on which some members of Ladyss are working, is being developed in two ways. On the one hand, in terms of access to decision making concerning resource management, their future and what might be suggested as needing to be conserved (valuable subjects) ; on the other hand, in terms of the equal distribution of environmental resources, amenities and risks between social groups.