Transitions Laboratory

The acceleration of climate change and the depletion of natural resources are confronting societies with existential challenges. Universities have an important role to play in this context: that of thinking about fair transitions towards a society in harmony with the planet's limits. Announced in ULiège's strategic plan, the new ‘Transitions Laboratory’, supported by Rector Anne-Sophie Nyssen, was presented to the Board of Directors last May. It is designed to be an instrument at the service of the Faculties and research units. Interview with Professor Sybille Mertens, advisor to the Rector on environmental and social transition and one of the project's key players.

Le Quinzième jour : Why set up such an Transitions Laboratory?

Sybille Mertens : Universities are research centres where new knowledge can be developed in order to understand the causes of environmental crises, their impact and the solutions to be envisaged. A number of major institutions - I'm thinking of the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, the University of Montreal and the University of Lausanne - are looking at ways not only of changing their habits in terms of sustainability, but also of adapting their missions to the accelerating pace of climate and ecological disruption. The University of Liège is part of this dynamic: the new ‘sustainability and transition’ course (editor's note: see insert), compulsory in all courses from this year onwards, is one example. And our Green Office is cited as an example. But we need to do even more and even better, because the challenge is immense: we need to develop a new economic and social model in synergy with the planet. Thinking about transition means wanting to establish a resilient and sustainable model, which will inevitably change the way we consume, produce and live together.

The issues raised by the transition are complex and challenge our ways of thinking and seeing. Our way of life, the way we travel, eat, heat and so on are all being called into question. Our way of doing research is also being challenged: here too, it's time to innovate. Alongside the projects carried out by disciplinary research units - which are still relevant - we want to encourage cross-disciplinary research, participatory research involving civil society, and forward-looking research to put forward a collective, unifying vision. This will be the Laboratiry's mission.

As long ago as 2018, Nature magazine highlighted the relevance of joint knowledge production in the face of a complex reality. Transdisciplinary research, involving fundamental research, applied research and the expertise of non-academic players, provides a better understanding of complex problems and enables us to react more quickly and more effectively. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is also arguing in favour of this approach. In its latest report, it considers that the production of such knowledge is essential to inform all decisions to be taken in the future. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), for its part, recommends that universities ‘develop sustainable institutional structures and mechanisms’, because achieving the ‘sustainable development goals’ (SDGs) requires a transdisciplinary research programme to understand the issues of risk and resilience. The European Research Council, for its part, has observed that projects with a high degree of interdisciplinarity lead to major scientific advances. I could go on and on... All these references encourage us to set up an Laboratory dedicated to transitions.

LQJ: What will its missions be?

S.M.: To expand cross-disciplinary research projects, incorporate the results into courses and pass them on to the general public. We need to define the pathways to a desirable future and disseminate good practice throughout society. Because if there are no changes around us, we won't get there.

The creation of the Transitions Laboratory at ULiège is a strong signal: it will create a favourable, stimulating context by including citizens alongside researchers. And we know that involving citizens in major decision-making can restore confidence in the democratic model and encourage a commitment to the living world. The Institute will obviously work with existing research units, acting as a catalyst and facilitating dialogue between disciplines, between action and reflection.

I would add that the Institute will also encourage the development of new curricula, perhaps new master’s courses, related to these crucial issues of interest to students.

LQJ: How do you go about it?

S.M.: The Transitions Laboratory will be supporting collective projects aimed at outlining possible transition scenarios. This is a major challenge because the changes needed to adapt our modes of production and consumption to the limits of the planet are generating a great deal of resistance, commensurate with our fears about change. Research must therefore be forward-looking. It's research that wants to have an impact on the world. Based on recognised methodologies, it identifies desirable futures and the paths to get there. Initially, seminars on priority topics and a training programme in transdisciplinary and foresight research methods will be organised for researchers, with the support of the Institut wallon de l'évaluation, de la prospective et de la statistique (Iweps) in particular.

The Transitions Laboratory will be working on a number of key themes, including health (and ULiège's One Health initiative), food, energy, mobility and regional planning. All of them include issues of social justice. The more precise formulation of these themes will be the subject of a forthcoming internal consultation, as the aim is to interact with existing approaches. I should point out that the Institute will encourage the emergence of large-scale projects by funding the start-up phase.

LQJ: First and foremost, food?

S.M.: Industrial agriculture, which is in the majority today, has a high ecological impact: we know that the agricultural sector is responsible for 24% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide and 80% of deforestation. This has harmful effects for the planet (destruction of biodiversity, soil and water pollution, etc.) and devastating social impacts: 2/3 of the world's working poor are concentrated in the agricultural sector... So we need to rethink agriculture, aiming for quality for the good of the planet and human beings. Research is being carried out in this area.

But the University must also set an example. In the university canteens, we can guide the offer and propose menus that are healthy, socially and ecologically responsible. We can decide to give preference to ‘short circuits’, i.e. local products (organic if possible), rebalance the content of the plates to reduce the carbon footprint, provide vegetarian alternatives every day, etc. It is with this in mind that ULiège is participating in the Liège Métropole Food Policy Council (CPA), which is working to rebuild a local food sector that is more sustainable and self-sufficient.

Mobility will be another research topic. Here, too, we need to combine technological advances with changes in behaviour, both on the part of individuals and organisations. And the Sart Tilman could be a laboratory for trying out new solutions.

LQJ: A few words about the governance of this Transitions Laboratory?

S.M.: For the moment, it's a small team made up of the Vice-Rector for Research, Prof Michel Moutschen, and Nicolas Antoine-Moussiaux (coordinator of the One Health initiative) who are driving the dynamic forward. Eventually, a steering committee will preside over the whole project. It will be made up of Vice-Rector Moutschen and three professors from each of the four research sectors at ULiège. I will also be a member of the committee in my capacity as transition advisor. An Institute Council will validate the scientific quality and societal relevance of the projects, and a new director will be responsible for organising the activities. But all this still has to be approved.

As for the members, they will come from the Faculties on the one hand (and will be able to take advantage of a multi-assignment) and from civil society on the other, under the status of Fellow and for a limited period. We are currently evaluating the possibility of granting the same status to master's students.

Many issues are still under consideration - the location of the Transitions Laboratory, for example - but I am certain that the implementation of this project, set out in the strategic plan in accordance with the wishes of Rector Anne-Sophie Nyssen, is an important step for ULiège.