Editorial by Valérie Verdier, Chairman and CEO
Our Board of Directors met last Friday. First of all, I would like to thank all those who helped organise the meeting and ensure that it ran smoothly by videoconference.
We presented the directors with a report on the management of the health crisis. Everyone unanimously praised the flexibility and responsiveness of our teams, and the exemplary commitment and mobilisation of everyone at all our sites. Once again, I would like to thank you for your commitment and mobilisation, which are particularly valuable and essential to the smooth running of the Institute's activities.
The situation is still uncertain in mainland France, and caution is still called for. Above all, do not disregard the health and safety instructions. It is essential to apply them so as not to jeopardise all the efforts made to date. Overseas, the situation varies from one department to another. We are monitoring developments very closely, particularly in French Guiana, with the support of our representative. Abroad, the borders are gradually reopening, but the situation remains or is becoming very critical in some parts of the world. This is particularly the case in Latin and Central America, and my thoughts are with all our colleagues and partners there.
The Board of Directors also voted unanimously in favour of changes to the Institute's general organisation, which represent major challenges for the IRD.
Following the Board meeting last March, I asked Philippe Charvis, Deputy Director of Science (D2S), to carry out a review of the Science Cluster. This has now led to the following changes:
D2S has been confirmed as head of the Science Division, raising the division's profile both internally and externally.
The creation of the position of Deputy D2S in charge of sustainability science, to give it a high profile in the organisation chart. As a result, the Mission for the Promotion of Interdisciplinarity and Intersectorality has disappeared. I would like to thank the Mission for the Promotion of Interdisciplinarity and Intersectorality for all the work it has done under the direction of Jean-Luc Chotte on IPSPs and interdisciplinarity, which has enabled us to make this major change in our organisation chart. The promotion of sustainability science is also part of the remit of the organisation's three divisions.
In order to give visibility to cross-cutting thematic areas, I now have the possibility of appointing scientific advisors to the governance. The first scientific adviser will be appointed in the next few weeks to lead the Institute's overseas strategy, in line with the Government's Overseas Trajectory 5.0.
In order to strengthen the visibility and coordination of the IRD's actions in the field of Open Science in developing countries, the Mission for Digital Infrastructures and Data (MIDN) has been renamed the Mission for Open Science (MSO).
Our scientific departments will retain their current thematic boundaries. I wanted to maintain the principle of parity that has guided the appointment of directors to head them over the last five years.
In addition to these developments, discussions involving all stakeholders will continue or be initiated on the results and future of the PSIPs, open science, the overseas strategy, etc. These discussions will be informed by the IRD's second economic situation and outlook report, which will be presented by our Scientific Council in September.
Our commitment to the science of sustainability, initiated by the MP2I, must promote transdisciplinary knowledge, co-constructed between scientists and the players in society, whose purpose goes beyond disciplinary interests. The current health crisis shows just how essential this approach is for a better understanding of the complexity of the modern world and for finding more global and sustainable solutions to the economic, social and environmental challenges facing our societies.
This approach will be based in particular on the IRD's environmental roadmap, which we presented to the Directors on Friday. This roadmap is part of a growing collective awareness and is inspired by the many eco-responsible initiatives that have emerged within our Institute. Our objective is to reduce our environmental impact, including in the areas where we operate in the South, in consultation with our partners, through a multi-disciplinary approach involving all three divisions of our organisation. This roadmap is also based on a participative approach so that each of us can play a role in its implementation.
I'm counting on you to rise to these important challenges for our school. I know that you are involved on a daily basis in your projects, despite the difficulties associated with the current crisis. Your strong participation in the elections for our CSS and CGRA is proof of everyone's involvement in the life of our institution, and I would like to thank you for that.
Take care of yourself and your loved ones,
Valérie Verdier