ENS de Lyon has taken a decisive step forward in its commitment to the socio-ecological transition with the creation, in July 2026, of the Institut des Mondes Durables. This new entity, the result of collective reflection and strategic vision, embodies the School’s ability to bring together research, education, and administration around a major societal challenge. The institute will be officially inaugurated on October 14, 2026, during a major event attended by leading scientific figures, including Valérie Masson-Delmotte and Luc Abbadie.

An Institutional Vision Rooted in Action

The Institut des Mondes Durables builds on the work carried out by ENS de Lyon’s Sustainability Office, while taking it a step further: it embodies, within a single, sustainable structure, the commitments made as part of the 2025–2028 institutional project. These commitments include strengthening the curriculum on transitions, integrating these issues into all of the School’s research approaches, and positioning ENS de Lyon as an interface between science and society.

To steer this initiative, the Institute relies on a team led by Romain Garcier, who was appointed to this position on September 1, 2026. This governance structure reflects ENS de Lyon’s commitment to establishing an institutional framework for the socio-ecological transition—one capable of coordinating, facilitating, and amplifying existing initiatives, while also launching new ones.

A Catalyst for the School

The Institut des Mondes Durables supports the integration of socio-ecological transition issues across all aspects of the School. It draws on a network of committed stakeholders, whom it aims to support in carrying out their activities, and which it will expand as it grows.

Among its main missions, the Institut des Mondes Durables leads the development of ENS de Lyon’s educational offerings on ecological transition. Since the start of the 2026 academic year, the Institute has provided a 30-hour core curriculum for all students at the School and assists departments in integrating these issues into their disciplinary curricula. It is also behind the creation of a “Sustainable Worlds” minor, which enables students to align and enhance their academic paths toward ecological transition.

The Institut des Mondes Durables is also dedicated to supporting the research ecosystem as it undergoes transformation in response to the socio-ecological context. On the one hand, it assists the laboratories at ENS de Lyon in reducing their environmental footprint. To this end, in collaboration with research stakeholders, it leads the development of a common environmental charter and assists with the preparation of carbon assessments and footprint reduction plans within each laboratory.

On the other hand, the Institut des Mondes Durables strongly encourages the development of interdisciplinary research aimed at understanding socio-environmental crises. This takes the form of an annual call for proposals, in collaboration with stakeholders in the Lyon region, to foster dialogue and the emergence of concrete solutions.

The Institut des Mondes Durables also extends its work to the School’s administration by offering action-oriented training to all staff members. The goal is twofold: to raise awareness of socio-ecological issues and to support the transformation of professional practices, in order to align daily activities with the institution’s strategic ambitions. The Institute conducts the School’s Carbon Footprint Assessment and leads its strategy to reduce its carbon footprint, working closely with the General Directorate of Services.

Finally, to ensure these issues are firmly embedded over the long term, the Institute continues and expands its awareness-raising efforts among members of ENS de Lyon and the general public (Sustainable Worlds conferences, film screenings, murals, etc.). These initiatives aim to create a space for collective reflection on the challenges of the socio-ecological transition.

Looking Ahead: Building a Network of Scientific and Local Stakeholders

The Institut des Mondes Durables aims to play an active role in opening up the research ecosystem to the local community.

Its medium-term objectives are to forge research partnerships with local stakeholders. To this end, it offers to bring together academic and local stakeholders who wish to collaboratively develop solutions tailored to the region’s challenges.

Finally, it intends to join international networks by collaborating with sister organizations abroad.