CHOICES1

This course approaches the issues surrounding ecosystem management from the perspective of social sciences, and more particularly "science studies". It aims to contribute to the development of a general culture related to the relationship between ecological sciences and societies, and to equip participants to analyze social issues and underlying socio-scientific controversies. The first part of the course provides a conceptual and methodological framework for the presentation of a reflexive tool for analyzing the interplay of actors and arguments (epistemological, axiological) involved in socioscientific controversies, and illustrates this tool with current examples. Subsequently, thematic presentations by ecological researchers illustrate a variety of issues surrounding ecological sciences, and serve as a basis for the application and acquisition by students of the reflexive analysis tool. Students are evaluated on their ability to mobilize this analytical framework in order to position themselves in an individual and argued manner in controversies related to ecological sciences.

See full page

The pedagogical objective of this course is to reposition the main types of soil on a global scale, to explain their formation and to identify the mineral phases or the main abiotic factors likely to regulate the biological activity of soils. Based on this analysis, the different soil organisms (micro-organisms, micro-, meso- and macro-fauna) will be presented as well as their relationships in order to reposition the cycle of organic matter and mineral elements in the soil at different temporal and spatial scales. The notions of recycling, looping of biogeochemical cycles and community assembly rules will also be addressed. The organization of this course is based on lectures and conferences as well as fieldwork.

See full page