CIVIS Waves

Poser les fondations d'une recherche partagée

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000

[English summary below]

Dans ce cinquième épisode de CIVIS Connect, Robin Lebrun reçoit Samia Ben Rajeb, professeure à l'École Polytechnique de Bruxelles, architecte, directrice du laboratoire AIA et coordinatrice académique de l'OpenLab.brussels pour l'ULB. Que recouvre vraiment la recherche participative, et pourquoi en parle-t-on autant aujourd'hui ? Samia Ben Rajeb propose un éclairage à la fois théorique et historique sur cette méthodologie, avant de nous emmener sur le terrain d'un projet qui lui tient particulièrement à cœur : l'Observatoire collaboratif du patrimoine bâti en Tunisie, financé par l'UNESCO, où des dizaines de citoyens ont contribué au recensement d'un patrimoine architectural menacé.

À travers notamment cet exemple concret, l'épisode explore les défis que pose ce type de démarche — de la fiabilité des données récoltées jusqu'à la juste reconnaissance des personnes impliquées — et interroge plus largement la place de la recherche participative à l'université : comment la mener sans perdre en rigueur scientifique, comment embarquer et garder les co-chercheurs dans la durée, et pourquoi elle mérite une reconnaissance institutionnelle qui reste aujourd'hui encore à construire.

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In this fifth episode of CIVIS Connect, Robin Lebrun talks with Samia Ben Rajeb, professor at the Brussels Polytechnic School, architect, director of the AIA laboratory, and academic coordinator of OpenLab.brussels for ULB. What does participatory research really involve, and why is it such a topic of conversation today? Samia Ben Rajeb offers both a theoretical and historical perspective on this methodology, before taking us into the field with a project close to her heart: the Collaborative Observatory of Built Heritage in Tunisia, funded by UNESCO, where dozens of citizens helped document threatened architectural heritage.

Drawing in particular on this concrete example, the episode explores the challenges raised by this kind of approach — from the reliability of the data collected to properly recognising the people involved — and looks more broadly at the place of participatory research within universities: how to carry it out without losing scientific rigour, how to engage and keep co-researchers on board over time, and why it deserves an institutional recognition that has yet to be fully built.

CIVIS is a European University alliance, bringing together 17 leading higher education in Europe and Africa. Discover CIVIS and join us as we learn and develop transformative projects for academia and society.

This podcast is co-funded by the European Union.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Episode 5 : Gender Justice in an Age of Polycrisis

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 11:22:30 +0000

In the second PolyCIVIS podcast series, we engage with experts from Europe and Africa across diverse disciplines to explore the complexities of the polycrisis and its effects on research, policy, and education.
CIVIS Meets PolyCIVIS: A New Chapter in Euro-African Academic and Policy Synergy

Gender Justice in an Age of Polycrisis
With: Fiorenza Deriu, Associate Professor of Sociology, Sapienza University of Rome
Moderator: Evika Karamagioli, Researcher at the PolyCIVIS Project,
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

These podcasts were recorded at the Media Studios of UCAD and were edited at the Laboratory of Audiovisual Media, Department of Communication and Media Studies, NKUA
Concept and Interviews: PolyCIVIS Communication and Dissemination WP (NKUA and USF)
Audio Editing: Silas Michalakas (NKUA)
Studio Technician and Recording: Samba Ndiaye (UCAD)
General Production: PolyCIVIS Communication and Dissemination WP
Special Thanks to: Maria Isabel Soldevila Brea and Jeanne Sadzot from the CIVIS Communication Unit

This podcast is co-funded by the European Union.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Episode 4 : Climate Change as a Polycrisis: Challenges and Mitigation Action

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 11:21:31 +0000

In the second PolyCIVIS podcast series, we engage with experts from Europe and Africa across diverse disciplines to explore the complexities of the polycrisis and its effects on research, policy, and education.
CIVIS Meets PolyCIVIS: A New Chapter in Euro-African Academic and Policy Synergy

Climate Change as a Polycrisis: Challenges and Mitigation Action
With: Constantinos Cartalis, Professor of Environmental and Climate Physics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Moderator: Eleni Panagiota (Elda) Stoupa, Researcher at the PolyCIVIS Project, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

These podcasts were recorded at the Media Studios of UCAD and were edited at the Laboratory of Audiovisual Media, Department of Communication and Media Studies, NKUA
Concept and Interviews: PolyCIVIS Communication and Dissemination WP (NKUA and USF)
Audio Editing: Silas Michalakas (NKUA)
Studio Technician and Recording: Samba Ndiaye (UCAD)
General Production: PolyCIVIS Communication and Dissemination WP
Special Thanks to: Maria Isabel Soldevila Brea and Jeanne Sadzot from the CIVIS Communication Unit

This podcast is co-funded by the European Union.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Episode 2 : PolyCIVIS Podcast - Climate change adaptation in West Africa: an interplay with the polycrisis?

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 11:20:21 +0000

The first episode of the PolyCIVIS podcast series explores climate change adaptation in West Africa and its potential connections to the polycrisis.
We are delighted to present our first guest, Ahmadou Aly Mbaye, Professor of Development Economics at Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar. He shares his insights on the topic in conversation with Prof. Dimitris Gouscos, co-leader of PolyCIVIS Work Package 5.

The PolyCIVIS podcast series is part of the Communication and Dissemination work package of PolyCIVIS, supported by CIVIS and co-funded by the European Union.

This episode was recorded at the PLUS studios in Salzburg.

This podcast is co-funded by the European Union.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Episode 3 : PolyCIVIS Podcast - Archaeological monuments, cultural heritage, and climate change

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 11:18:55 +0000

The final episode of this season delves into the intersections of the polycrisis, examining links between climate change, archaeological monuments and cultural heritage.
In this episode Sophia Papaioannou, Professor of Latin Literature and Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, International Relations and Extroversion at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, joins Prof. Dimitris Gouscos, co-leader of PolyCIVIS Work Package 5 in an in depth discussion.

The PolyCIVIS podcast series is part of the Communication and Dissemination work package of PolyCIVIS, supported by CIVIS and co-funded by the European Union.

This episode was recorded at the PLUS studios in Salzburg.

This podcast is co-funded by the European Union.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Episode 1 : PolyCIVIS Podcast - Innovative pedagogies as an approach to the polycrisis

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 11:17:44 +0000

The second episode of the PolyCIVIS podcast series explores how innovative pedagogies applied in education could act as an approach to understanding and tackling the polycrisis. In this episode, Aspasia Dania, Assistant Professor of Teaching and Methodology of Physical Education at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, shares her views on the topic, in conversation with Prof. Dimitris Gouscos, co-leader of PolyCIVIS Work Package 5.

The PolyCIVIS podcast series is part of the Communication and Dissemination work package of PolyCIVIS, supported by CIVIS and co-funded by the European Union.

This episode was recorded at the PLUS studios in Salzburg

This podcast is co-funded by the European Union.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Episode 6 : CIVIS Meets PolyCIVIS: A New Chapter in Euro-African Academic and Policy Synergy

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 11:14:38 +0000

In the second PolyCIVIS podcast series, we engage with experts from Europe and Africa across diverse disciplines to explore the complexities of the polycrisis and its effects on research, policy, and education.
CIVIS Meets PolyCIVIS: A New Chapter in Euro-African Academic and Policy Synergy

Group discussion with: Anne Weyembergh (Full Professor at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and Vice-Rector for External Relations and Cooperation), Christian Möllmann (CIVIS Global Partnerships Officer), and Emílio Tostão (Associate Professor and Scientific Director of Research, Extension and Innovation at Eduardo Mondlane University)
Moderator: Faith Mabera, Postdoctoral Research Fellow (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg)

These podcasts were recorded at the Media Studios of UCAD and were edited at the Laboratory of Audiovisual Media, Department of Communication and Media Studies, NKUA
Concept and Interviews: PolyCIVIS Communication and Dissemination WP (NKUA and USF)
Audio Editing: Silas Michalakas (NKUA)
Studio Technician and Recording: Samba Ndiaye (UCAD)
General Production: PolyCIVIS Communication and Dissemination WP
Special Thanks to: Maria Isabel Soldevila Brea and Jeanne Sadzot from the CIVIS Communication Unit

This podcast is co-funded by the European Union.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Episode 10: Learning in a world of crises: What students discover about Polycrisis and Resilience

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 10:57:28 +0000

With: Teodora Fefea, Ana Manolescu, Valentina Rosu and Catalina Saioc from the University of Bucharest and Marco Zuaro from Sapienza University of Rome

Moderator : Dr. Penny Papageorgoulou, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA)

Synopsis: This student-focused episode explores how learning about polycrisis shapes students’ understanding of interconnected global challenges, resilience, and their sense of agency. Students reflect on uncertainty, future careers, interdisciplinary skills, and how education can prepare them to navigate and contribute to solutions in a complex world.

This podcast series was recorded and edited at the Laboratory of Audiovisual Media, Department of Communication and Media Studies, NKUA

Concept and Interviews: PolyCIVIS Communication and Dissemination WP (NKUA and USF)

Audio Editing: Silas Michalakas (NKUA)

Studio Technician and Recording: Silas Michalakas (NKUA) General Production: PolyCIVIS Communication and Dissemination WP Special Thanks to: Maria Isabel Soldevila Brea and Jeanne Sadzot from the CIVIS Communication Unit

This podcast is co-funded by the European Union.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Episode 8 : Designing cities for health, resilience and justice

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 10:55:58 +0000

With: Alessandra Battisti, Professor at the Department of Planification, design, and architectural technology, at the Sapienza University of Rome and Livia Calcagni, PhD in Technology of Architecture at the Sapienza University of Rome

Moderator : Stefano Trento, Autonomous University of Madrid

Synopsis : This episode explores how urban design can strengthen health, resilience, and spatial justice in the face of extreme weather and polycrisis.

This podcast series was recorded and edited at the Laboratory of Audiovisual Media, Department of Communication and Media Studies, NKUA

Concept and Interviews: PolyCIVIS Communication and Dissemination WP (NKUA and USF)

Audio Editing: Silas Michalakas (NKUA)

This podcast is co-funded by the European Union.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Episode 7: International relations, global security and governance in an age of Polycrisis

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 10:54:20 +0000

With: Prof. Malte Brosig and Dr. Faith Mabera from the Department of International Relations at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg

Moderator: Cătălina Saioc, adjunct professor at the University of Bucharest

Synopsis: This episode explores how interconnected crises can cascade across borders and sectors, challenging traditional approaches to security and global governance.

This podcast series was recorded and edited at the Laboratory of Audiovisual Media, Department of Communication and Media Studies, NKUA

Concept and Interviews: PolyCIVIS Communication and Dissemination WP (NKUA and USF)

Audio Editing: Silas Michalakas (NKUA)

This podcast is co-funded by the European Union.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Episode 9: Past lessons, future landscapes: Rewriting Mediterranean ecological resilience

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 10:50:29 +0000

With: Juan E. Malo, Professor at the Department of Ecology at Autonomous University of Madrid.and Fatima Franco-Mugica, Professor at the Department of Ecology at Autonomous University of Madrid.

Moderaor: Dimitris Koutsobolis, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA)

Synopsis : This episode explores how Mediterranean ecosystems are being reshaped by climate change, fires, droughts, floods, and interconnected environmental pressures.

This podcast series was recorded and edited at the Laboratory of Audiovisual Media, Department of Communication and Media Studies, NKUA

Concept and Interviews: PolyCIVIS Communication and Dissemination WP (NKUA and USF)

Audio Editing: Silas Michalakas (NKUA)

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

A Marseille, la recherche partage ses fruits. Les dessous d’un verger participatif

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 08:42:03 +0000

[English summary below]

Dans ce quatrième épisode de CIVIS Connect, c’est au tour de Maud Rebibou d’explorer les aspects concrets de la recherche participative à travers les témoignages de deux enseignantes chercheuses à Aix-Marseille Université : Anne Gagnebien, enseignante chercheuse en sciences de l’information et de la communicationet Véronique Masotti, enseignante chercheuse en écologie fonctionnelle à l’institut PYTHEAS. A partir du projet VVOOM, réseau de vergers urbains agroécologiques, les invitées expliquent comment ce projet participatif et scientifique peut à la fois améliorer la production de connaissances et impliquer les habitants dans la recherche scientifique.

Si ce verger partagé est un moyen de réunir les habitants du quartier et de créer du lien social, il a aussi cette dimension expérimentale utile aux porteurs du projet, comme le Grab, l’IMBE, l'IMSIC et l’INRAE(*). Ils profitent de ce projet pour leurs recherches, notamment en matière d’agriculture biologique.

Le jardin est entretenu par des bénévoles issus en majorité du quartier. Ainsi, ils participent à collecter des données et à enrichir les connaissances sur la biodiversité en ville.

Cet épisode souligne la valeur ajoutée de la recherche participative pour faire avancer la recherche scientifique tout en prenant en compte les usages et les perceptions des habitants-usagers de ces espaces.

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In this fourth episode of CIVIS Connect, it is Maud Rebibou’s turn to explore the practical aspects of participatory research through the testimonies of two lecturer-researchers at Aix-Marseille University: Anne Gagnebien, a lecturer and researcher in information and communication sciences, and Véronique Masotti, a lecturer and researcher in functional ecology at the PYTHEAS Institute. Drawing on the VVOOM project – a network of agroecological urban orchards – the guests explain how this participatory and scientific project can both enhance knowledge production and engage local residents in scientific research.

Whilst this shared orchard serves as a means of bringing local residents together and fostering social cohesion, it also has an experimental dimension that is valuable to the project’s organisers, such as Grab, IMBE, IMSIC and INRAE(*). They benefit from this project for their research, particularly in the field of organic farming. The garden is maintained by volunteers, the majority of whom are from the local neighbourhood. In this way, they help to collect data and expand our understanding of urban biodiversity.

This example highlights the added value of participatory research in advancing scientific research by taking into account the uses and perceptions of the residents who use these spaces.

This podcast is co-funded by the European Union.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Semer le dialogue, récolter des connaissances

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 11:41:19 +0000

[English summary below]

Dans ce troisième épisode de CIVIS Connect, Christèle et Robin explorent les aspects concrets de la recherche participative à travers le témoignage de Noémie Maugan, ingénieure agronome et chargée de recherche à l’OpenLab.Brussels de l’ULB. À partir de son expérience dans le projet Le Pain qu’on sème, elle montre comment un podcast peut devenir un véritable outil de recherche, favorisant le dialogue entre chercheurs et acteurs de terrain.

Co-construit avec des agriculteurs, meuniers et boulangers artisanaux, Le Pain qu’on sème s’intéresse à la filière du pain en Belgique, de la semence à la tartine. Loin d’être un simple outil de communication, le podcast permet de faire émerger des questions de recherche directement ancrées dans les réalités du terrain, de valoriser des savoirs souvent peu visibles et de croiser les regards autour d’enjeux tels que la préservation des variétés anciennes de céréales, la transmission des savoir-faire ou les effets de l’industrialisation de la filière

L’épisode met en lumière plusieurs éléments clés de la recherche participative : l’importance de la co-construction des projets, la nécessité d’établir une relation de confiance avec les participants et la reconnaissance de l’expertise des acteurs de terrain. Noémie Maugan souligne également un défi récurrent de la recherche participative : parvenir à transformer ces connaissances en changements plus larges, notamment au niveau des politiques publiques.

À travers cet exemple, l’épisode montre que la recherche participative est avant tout une démarche de dialogue et de collaboration, capable de produire des connaissances plus proches des réalités vécues et directement utiles aux communautés concernées.

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In this third episode of CIVIS Connect, Christèle Aubry and Robin Lebrun explore the practical dimensions of participatory research through the experience of Noémie Maugan, agronomist and research officer at ULB’s OpenLab.Brussels. Drawing on her work on the project Le Pain qu’on sème, she explains how a podcast can become a genuine research tool, fostering dialogue between researchers and practitioners.

Co-created with farmers, millers, and artisan bakers, Le Pain qu’on sème focuses on the Belgian bread value chain, from seed to loaf. Far more than a communication tool, the podcast helps bring forward research questions rooted in real-world experiences, highlights forms of knowledge that often remain overlooked, and encourages dialogue around issues such as the preservation of heritage grain varieties, the transmission of traditional know-how, and the impacts of industrialization on the sector.

This podcast is co-funded by the European Union.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Citoyen·nes et scientifiques ensemble pour un air plus sain

Sat, 02 May 2026 10:35:21 +0000

(English below)

Dans ce 2ème épisode du podcast Civis Connect, Christèle et Robin poursuivent leur échange avec Pierre Dornier, fondateur et directeur de l’association bruxelloise Les Chercheurs d’Air, autour des enjeux sociétaux de la recherche participative.

Pierre Dornier explique comment la recherche participative constitue un levier central de son action pour lutter contre la pollution de l’air à Bruxelles. En impliquant directement les citoyens dans la collecte de données ces projets permettent à la fois de produire des connaissances scientifiques utiles et de sensibiliser le public à un problème de santé publique souvent invisible.

L’épisode met en évidence les motivations des citoyens et citoyennes, principalement animé·es par le désir de comprendre concrètement l’air qu’ils et elles respirent dans leur environnement quotidien. Même si les résultats confirment des constats connus, ils ont un fort impact pédagogique et contribuent à changer les perceptions, notamment chez les élèves.

Sur le plan politique, Pierre Dornier souligne la difficulté à mesurer l’impact direct de ces projets sur les décisions publiques. Les résultats bénéficient d’une forte visibilité médiatique et sont connus des élus, mais les traductions en actions concrètes restent inégales et longues. Une communication stratégique, notamment en lien avec l’actualité, est donc essentielle pour renforcer l’influence de ces travaux.

La recherche participative contribue à désacraliser la science, à renforcer les liens entre science et société, et à nourrir l’engagement citoyen, en parfaite cohérence avec la mission de CIVIS.

ENGLISH

In this second episode of the CIVIS Connect podcast, Christèle and Robin continue their conversation with Pierre Dornier, founder and director of the Brussels-based association Les Chercheurs d’Air, focusing on the societal stakes of participatory research.

Pierre Dornier explains how participatory research is a central lever in his work to combat air pollution in Brussels. By directly involving citizens in data collection, these projects make it possible to produce useful scientific knowledge while raising awareness about an invisible public health issue.

The episode sheds light on the motivations of participants, who are mainly driven by the desire to better understand the air they breathe in their everyday environments. Although the results often confirm well-known findings, they have a strong educational impact and help change perceptions, particularly among students.

From a political perspective, Pierre Dornier points out the difficulty of measuring the direct impact of such projects on public decision-making. While the results receive significant media attention and are known to elected officials, their translation into concrete policy actions remains uneven and slow. Strategic communication, particularly when linked to current events, therefore plays a key role in increasing the influence of these initiatives.

Participatory research helps to demystify science, strengthen the links between science and society, and foster civic engagement, in full alignment with CIVIS.

CIVIS is a European University alliance, bringing together 17 leading higher education in Europe and Africa. Discover CIVIS and join us as we learn and develop transformative projects for academia and society. This podcast is co-funded by the European Union.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

CIVIS Connect: un voyage au cœur de la recherche participative

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 12:56:49 +0000

(English below)

Dans ce premier épisode de CIVIS Connect, animé par Christèle Aubry et Robin Lebrun, découvrez comment la recherche participative transforme notre manière d’explorer les grands enjeux sociétaux. À travers des projets consacrés à la qualité de l’air, citoyennes, citoyens et chercheur.es collaborent pour produire des données, interroger leur environnement et rendre la science plus accessible et ancrée dans le quotidien.

Ils reçoivent Pierre Dornier, fondateur de l’association Les Chercheurs d’Airet Nolwenn Bühler, anthropologue des sciences et des technique et spécialisée en études genres à l’Université de Lausanne, pour comprendre comment ces initiatives impliquent les citoyennes et citoyens dans la production de connaissance et transforment la manière de faire la recherche.

Une nouvelle série

CIVIS Connect est la nouvelle série de podcasts de l’alliance CIVIS. Elle est consacrée à la recherche participative, une approche qui transforme en profondeur la manière dont les universités collaborent avec la société. À travers des récits, des voix et des exemples concrets issus des universités et des territoires de l’alliance, le podcast montre comment chercheuses, chercheurs et citoyen·ne·s peuvent agir ensemble pour mieux comprendre les enjeux de notre quotidien et co-créer des solutions ancrées dans le réel.

Chaque épisode donne la parole à des projets inspirants du réseau CIVIS et d’ailleurs, et illustre la manière dont ces démarches renforcent l’inclusion, créent du lien et produisent des connaissances plus situées et plus utiles. La série aborde aussi les défis, l’éthique et les impacts de ces collaborations entre université et société.

CIVIS Connect

Hosted by Christèle Aubry and Robin Lebrun, the first episode of CIVIS Connect explores how participatory research is reshaping the way we address major societal challenges. Focusing on air‑quality initiatives, citizens and researchers join forces to generate data, question their surroundings and make science more accessible and grounded in everyday life.

They welcome Pierre Dornier, founder of the association Les Chercheurs d’Air, and Nolwenn Bühler, anthropologist of science and technology and gender studies specialist at the University of Lausanne, to understand how these initiatives involve citizens in the production of knowledge and transform research practices.

A new series

CIVIS Connect is the new podcast series from the CIVIS alliance. It is dedicated to participatory research, an approach that is profoundly transforming how universities collaborate with society. Through stories, voices and concrete examples from across the alliance’s universities and territories, the podcast highlights how researchers and citizens can work together to better understand today’s challenges and co-create solutions grounded in real life.

Each episode showcases inspiring projects from within the CIVIS network and beyond, and illustrates how these approaches strengthen inclusion, build connections and generate more situated, more useful knowledge. The series also explores the challenges, ethics and impacts of these collaborations between universities and society.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.