Platforms & services

As a research unit, the Maison des Sciences de l’Homme (UAR 3550) conducts its own research projects, but its other mission is to provide support for the projects of its associate laboratories and the Social Sciences and Humanities lecturers of Clermont Auvergne University. There are eight specific services and five technological platforms.

The MSH supports its associate laboratories in their daily activities. It provides services in various domains, such as:

  • Reception,
  • Logistics,
  • Financial support,
  • Administrative management,
  • Financial management,
  • Computer science,
  • Communication,
  • Library and documents.

The MSH technical staff support researchers and lecturers in their projects, from determining their needs to realizing their deliverables. Its five technological platforms are:

  • Focale SHS (audiovisual media),
  • ArchiTex (digital humanities),
  • IntelEspace (geomatics),
  • PUD Clermont-Auvergne (University data platform),
  • Presses Universitaires Blaise-Pascal (Blaise Pascal University Press).

Platforms

Focale SHS:

  • Filmmaking (scientific documentaries) and podcast recording
  • Recording of international scientific events
  • Management of the Canal-U social network
  • Loan of equipment

ArchiTex:

  • Corpus and database creation, website development
  • Data analysis and referencing
  • Management, structuring and data training

IntelEspace:

  • Processing of geolocated data acquired from drones (photogrammetry, Lidar, multispectral, thermal)
  • Research support
  • Training in the use of geomatics processing tools
  • Valorisation of spatial archeology and heritage
  • Interdisciplinary projects

PUD Clermont-Auvergne:

  • Support for research and the identification of data
  • Training in organization and management

Presses Universitaires Blaise-Pascal:

  • Manuscript selection and assessment
  • Digital and paper publications
  • Promotion and distribtuion of scientific works

Library

The library is a calm, friendly workplace dedicated to research in the Humanities, with a specialized document research service to help guide people in all aspects of their research and publication projects.

The library provides its researchers with collections of documents related to the themes and programs that have been developed within the MSH and its associated laboratories. In addition to general Humanities documents, the library has specialist collections, including the “fond Bastaire” (the “Bastaire collection”, popular literature and archives donated by Jean Bastaire), the Thérepsicore collection (history of the theatre during the French Revolution), and the collections of editions of children's books. It also contains scientific archive material related to research activities developed within the MSH (here is a link to the specialist collections).

Practical information 

  • Access: people interested in consulting the collections are welcome. Access to the library and the documents is free. The library has about twenty seats, as well as computers on which the catalogue and all online documents available at Clermont Auvergne University and the CNRS can be accessed.

  • Loan conditions: all students (master’s or postgraduate), lecturers, researchers, MSH staff and people registered on the university network can borrow documents from the collections. (3-month renewable long-time loans for students). Essays, standard reference books, ancient documents and children’s literature can only be consulted on-site.

  • Opening hours: The library is located on the third floor of the MSH (address: 4 rue Ledru). It is open Monday to Friday, from 9am to 12 noon, and from 2pm to 5pm.

Outside library hours, but during opening hours of the MSH (8am to 6.30pm) documents can be left in a box located near the entrance to the library.