Mediterranean Institute for Risks,
Environment and Sustainable Development IMREDD

As part of the collaboration between Université Côte d’Azur, through its Initiative d’Excellence (IdEx), and the University of Utah, and with the participation of the Partnership Chair «Water in the territories of the Alpes-Maritimes», IMREDD is hosting a conference from the Wilkes Center for Climate Science and Policy.

Mandatory registration

As every year, Academy 3 «Territories, Environments, Risks and Resilience» is organising a thematic day to bring together students, teacher-researchers and scientific experts. In 2026, the very broad theme of «Energy Challenges» has been chosen.

 MEETING on 28th May 2026, at 9:30 AM at IMREDD

On the agenda

8:45 AM - 9:25 AM – Participant Welcome

Opening: Christophe Den Auwer – Head of the «Territories, Environments, Risks and Resilience» Academy»

09:30 – IA, infrastructures and energy

Guillaume Urvoy-Keller – Professor and SDGs Correspondent at the Laboratory of Informatics, Signals, and Systems of Sophia Antipolis (I3S)

10:25 II: Building Energy

Erwin Franquet – Vice-President of Environmental and Societal Transitions at Côte d'Azur University of Azure and Director of the Polytech'lab laboratory

11:20 III: Energy Resources

Christophe Poinssot – Deputy Director General of BRGM and Member of the Academy of Technologies

12:15 – 13:45 – Lunch

13:50 IV: Lithium Extraction in France: An Anthropological Perspective

Violeta Ramirez Doctor of Anthropology and Documentary Filmmaker, Laboratory for Planning, Economics and Transport (LAET, ENTPE)

2:50 PM V: Nuclear reactors, where do we stand?

Patrick Blaise – Scientific expert, FRAMATOME

15:45 VI: The «Sustainability Hub" »from the University of Barcelona

16:45 – End of day drinks

Day of discussions with a conference, round table and three reflection workshops as part of the projects supported by the partnership Chair «Water in the territories of the Alpes-Maritimes», with Master HYDROPROTECH students and their tutors Morgan Abily and Mirjam Neu.

The practice of traditional irrigation allowed the inhabitants of the Middle and High Country to both adapt their territory to live in and to reduce the extreme Mediterranean-Alpine climatic impacts inherent to the region. Today, numerous questions arise regarding the relevance and methods of maintaining this practice, which is listed in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage (June 2024). Knowledge and know-how intersect without producing a common response.

During this day, your respective knowledge and know-how of traditional irrigation will be called upon by the students of the HYDROPROTECH Master's programme around a round table and three participatory thematic workshops. The collective conclusions from this day will be integrated into a unique production, the Blue Book “Co-construction of knowledge: a response to the quest for meaning in traditional irrigation in the face of 21st-century global changes”.

Whether you are a manager or beneficiary of the canal, an engineer, a lecturer-researcher, a student, an elected representative or simply interested in issues relating to water resources and the preservation of traditional know-how, your contribution is essential on this first day of collaborative development of knowledge and skills related to traditional irrigation, in the interests of sustainable management of the Alpes-Maritimes region.

Registration required https://wkf.ms/4vY4qKQ

Advance programme

9 AM – 10 AM

Home, Introduction of partners and the day's objectives.

10 am – 11 am

Conferences

11:15 – 12:15

Round table

2 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Participatory workshops: three consecutive 45-minute sessions

16:30 – 17:00

Summary of workshops, conclusion of the day

All registered participants will receive the updated programme, including all the practical details for the day, on Friday 29 May 2026.

Location: IMREDD - Mediterranean Institute for Risk, Environment and Sustainable Development

9 rue Julien Lauprêtre – 06200 Nice

Tram access:

Tramway line 3 – stop Meridia (at 130 m)
Tram line B – stop The French Embankment (at 850 m)

Cycling access:

Continuous cycle path from the Promenade des Anglais to IMREDDSee the routeBicycle racks available next to the building (rue Emmanuel Grout).