Research

Interdisciplinary research within the Maison des Sciences de l’Homme in Clermont-Ferrand mainly revolves around two scientific axes: “Territories, environment, adaptation” and “Ruptures, revolutions, innovation”. These axes concentrate on SHS (Social Sciences and Humanities) related dynamic phenomena on the scale of individuals, social groups, natural spaces, territories. These processes are questioned by every SHS field, by seeking opportunities to collaborate with the so-called “hard sciences”.

The research axes of the MSH of Clermont-Ferrand are part of the internal university policy, entitled “Contrat de Plan Etat Région” (a collaboration between the government and the région) through the ATTRIHUM challenge (1. Societies, businesses and territories attractivity and competitiveness; 2. Innovations and Social Behaviors facing changes) and the Schéma Régional de l’enseignement Supérieur, de la Recherche et de l’Innovation, through the fourth axis (Human development, societies’ dynamics).

The scientific axes of the MSH are centered on dynamic phenomena related to SHS, on the scale of individuals, social groups, naturel spaces, territories. These processes are thus studied through multiple lenses, within different levels of temporality. They are challenged through all the dimensions of Social Sciences and Humanities, seeking opportunities to collaborate with “hard” sciences, by focusing for example on notions of system and modelling. Inside the MSH, these processes are embodied in two significant and specific fields:

Axis 1: “Territories, environment, adaptation”

Axis 2: “Ruptures, revolutions, innovation”

In order to encourage a high standard of interdisciplinary research, which is at the same time creative and innovative, and connected to its scientific project, the MSH established a call for proposals, based on a competitive selection handled by its scientific counsel.

The projects endorsed by the MSH combine researchers and teams from different academic fields, such as humanities, foreign languages, social sciences, but also from fields outside this scope.

Different activities are materialized through these axes, such as:

• The organization of scientific events, supported by the MSH or in which the MSH is a partner,
• A yearly seminar cycle,
• A series of podcasts – with a different theme each year, chosen with the associate laboratories – launched in 2021 (here are a few examples from the 2021 season: “Warning signals, viral contagion, social justice, environmental justice” – “Detectives of the future” – “The imaginary worlds of cinema and video games in Japan, destruction and reconstruction”).
• An interdisciplinary working group

The organization of the axes is coordinated by a specific comity, the management team of the MSH, and one or two members from each laboratory.

In June 2021, the MSH created a special prize, the “Prix Jeunes Chercheurs Jean-Phillipe Luis”, as a tribute to its former director.