Context —
The LABEX ARBRE community is a recognized multidisciplinary training center for problems and professions related to “tree-wood forest” objects. It is involved in two engineering courses – forestry engineers at AgroParisTech, wood science and technology engineers at ENSTIB, two master’s degrees – i) AEPTF (Master’s degree in Agrosciences, Environment, Territories, Landscape, Forest; 5 courses including the international course FEN “Forests and their Environment”) and ii) Microbiology (3 courses: Research and Innovation, Industrial Microbiology and Environmental Microbiology) -a Master’s degree in “Forestry, Nature and Society” and a Doctoral School (Sciences and Engineering of Natural Resources, SIRENA).
These courses aim to provide innovative managers for companies, public policies and research. The targeted professions include production – of plants, biosourced materials, etc. -, leadership and management consulting – of forests, territories, production sectors, biodiversity, protected areas, etc. -, research and development, and research. In a context of multiple transitions and uncertainties, traditional know-how is being disrupted. For example, climate change requires rapid adaptation of the slow dynamics of forest systems to environments never experienced before. It also requires meeting new demands for mitigation, by increasing both carbon storage in forests and the mass substitution of bio-based products for fossil fuels and materials. Social and economic contexts are changing: agricultural decline and urbanization are modifying the relationship between man and nature; globalization implies a global vision of decision; the economic crisis and the end of the welfare state strongly link the production of ecosystem services to the maintenance of industry and the development of territories.
The new managers must know how to rely on the state of the art and international networks, to communicate precisely and concisely according to international standards, to experiment, to imagine and to create… More than ever, the problems therefore call for ambitious training systems, anchored on the science-education links and training through research methods. We must also know how to attract brilliant and motivated students to our sectors, and for this purpose, disseminate our original and interdisciplinary knowledge widely upstream.
LabEx Strategy —
The general policy of LABEX ARBRE in support of this initial training is therefore to reinforce i) the attractiveness of our training system and visibility of our most original areas of expertise, ii) internationalization of the training programs, iii) strengthening training programs in research for jobs in production and consulting, especially those programs geared for engineers. To meet these goals, LABEX ARBRE offers support funding for i) implementing and promoting open access training programs (e-learning), ii) higher learning actions supporting doctoral and master’s level studies (research programs, conferences, foreign travel allowances) which strengthen internationalization and promote open communication in science, and iii) organized activities (seminars, internships, introductory training workshops) to boost the image of research for masters students and postdoctoral candidates beginning their careers.
Figure : Overview of the academic system and ARBRE’s perimeter of involvement (at the start of the ARBRE project)
