On Thursday, April 3, the University of Burgundy Europe (UBE) hosted a meeting as part of the international “Stand Up For Science” movement. This event is part of a movement that began in the United States in response to the threats facing scientific research under the Trump administration, particularly regarding climate change.
The event, held on the Dijon campus in the Orbigny amphitheater, began with an introduction by Nadine Millot, Vice-President for Research at the University, who emphasized the importance of defending scientific research and raising public awareness of the impact of political decisions on research infrastructure.
Presentations then enriched the discussions. Vincent Boudon, CNRS Research Director (ICB Laboratory), Benjamin Pohl and Yves Richard, respectively University Professor and CNRS Research Director at the Biogeosciences Laboratory, as well as Thomas Thévenin, University Professor at UBE and Director of the THEMA Laboratory, addressed the issues of data loss and the dismantling of research infrastructure related to climate change, highlighting the increased risks to climate hazard forecasting and management.
The event continued with a roundtable discussion and an interactive exchange with the audience, allowing for discussion of the issues raised by the speakers and collective reflection on possible actions to defend science against unfavorable political decisions.
This scientific mobilization underscores the importance of maintaining robust research infrastructure to guarantee the objectivity of scientific studies and ensure continuous monitoring of environmental changes. The scientific community remains committed to defending research and its essential role in society.
