UNIL committed to a more sustainable society
Long committed to a strategy of reducing its impact on its direct environment, the University of Lausanne can count on many researchers who have chosen to include sustainability at the heart of their work.
Over and above their studies in philosophy, sociology and anthropology, which are essential for understanding the human being and its relationship, or even alignment, with nature, scientists at UNIL today offer work in a variety of fields, at the frontier of many disciplines.
At a time when people are mobilising the public sphere in an urgent bid to raise awareness of climate issues, research is also taking a look, sometimes a hard look, at protecting our planet. For example, legal research is being carried out to define and understand the legal tools used to prevent or remedy the harm caused by humans to nature.
In addition to research, UNIL also offers a variety of courses, such as its recent Master's degree in Sustainable Management and Technology, offered in conjunction with EPFL and IMD. With its management-oriented approach, it offers its students the opportunity to engage in a global reflection on the world of industry and the economy;The aim is to train the decision-makers of tomorrow, today more than ever, to tackle the many challenges of responsible, sustainable entrepreneurship.
Aware of the need for joint action to move towards a greener, but also more inclusive, society, UNIL has a number of partnerships with other public institutions, all of which are committed to the path of sustainability, in order to develop joint initiatives, such as the "greening" of the economy;UNIL has a number of partnerships with other public institutions, all committed to the path of sustainability, to focus on joint initiatives, such as the CLIMACT centre, which brings together the University of Lausanne and the Ecole polytechnique férale de Lausanne, and promotes innovation for the future of society and infrastructure in a changing world.
Perspectives on sustainable management
In this video, three scientists explain some of the sustainability and sustainable management research being carried out at the University of Lausanne: Julia Steinberger, professor, who is interested in the question of energy consumption and the need to satisfy every human being; Thierry Largey, professor of public law, specialising in administrative law, energy law and the law of the environment;Fabrizio Butera, professor of social psychology, whose research focuses on changes in pro-environmental behaviour through a study of children.
Continue the interviews: digital and...
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Energy needs
Julia Steinberger
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Local authorities
Fabrizio Butera
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The law
Thierry Largey
Research centres, institutes and groups
To find out more
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Nature and its rights (L'uniscope 635, June 2018, p.11)
With the massive influx of environmental issues and green waves into the political sphere, humans have had to revisit their relationship with Nature in order to devise a legal arsenal to formalise environmental protection in law. Antoine Refondini, a doctoral student in law, is writing his thesis on this very subject.
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A Masters in Sustainable Management & Technology (Our researchers testify)
Equipping tomorrow's entrepreneurs and decision-makers with the knowledge and skills they need to contribute to the transition towards a more environmentally-friendly and inclusive economy: that is the aim of a new Master's degree in Sustainable Management & Technology, jointly offered by UNIL, EPFL and IMD.
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Managing risk (Annual Report 2017, risk management, p.21)
A professor in the Department of Accounting and Control, Annette Mikes was awarded the ACA Prize in 2017. As part of her research, she is particularly interested in the emergence of risk management positions within companies and organisations, which has included the ecological issue for several years.
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Volteface pulls the plug (L'uniscope 631, February 2018, p.18-19)
Four years after it was launched, the Volteface research-action project, led by UNIL, the State of Vaud and Romande Energie, drew up a particularly positive balance sheet, with the aim of making energy and its transition a real social project. We spoke to Benoît Frund, Vice-Rector in charge of the "Sustainability & Campus" department.
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The economy must be sustainable (Heidi.news, 26 September 2019)
Although economics and sustainability are still often seen as an oxymoron, the concept of a greener, more virtuous and more sustainable economy is a subject on which many scientists around the world are actively working, including Sophie Swaton, Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Geography and Sustainability.
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Investing responsibly (HECimpact, 27 June 2019)
Beyond its philosophical and even political aspects, the ecological issue is intrinsically linked to the economy and finance. For several years now, traditional investment funds have been losing ground to socially responsible investment (SRI), an investment strategy that integrates environmental, social and governance factors.
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The end of the world? (L'uniscope 650, January 2020, p.4)
Today, the climate crisis is bringing together scientists from a wide range of backgrounds, all of whom are contributing to the debate on what is at stake and how to opt for a rapid ecological transition. Collapse theories, which predict the end of our industrial world by the end of the century, are becoming increasingly popular. This is the subject of research by Gabriel Salerno, a doctoral student at the Institute of Geography and Sustainability.
Other resources
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