Environnements, Dynamiques et Territoires de la Montagne (UMR 5204)

The EDYTEM laboratory (Environments, Dynamics and Mountain Territories) is characterised by its interdisciplinary aspect, bringing together researchers in human and social sciences (geographers and economists), earth sciences and environmental sciences, and whose work focuses on mountain environments and territories.

Ever since it was created, this research unit has been structured with a view to crossing different disciplinary fields in order to respond to present and future issues faced by mountain territories (risk management, sustainable management of natural resources, impacts of the usages of mountain territories and their facilities, environmental diagnosis, etc.). A joint research unit overseen by the University of Savoy and the CNRS, the EDYTEM laboratory is attached to the INSHS, the INEE and the INSU, given its fields of research. The laboratory comprises three teams:

1. The "Archives Naturelles" (Natural Archives) team, whose purpose is to study past and recent changes in the mountain environment, and to distinguish the share of natural processes (climatic variations) and human impacts (anthropisation). The team's research media consists of natural archives and historical archives. This team is particularly involved in the Equipex "CEMBRO" project as well as in many other programmes that set out to distinguish the role of humans in relation to this environment's past and recent dynamics, the uses of natural resources, and past territorial structurings.
2. The "Dynamiques Actuelles" (Current Dynamics) team focuses more specifically on water in mountains to assess resources (in terms of sustainable management, quality, etc.) and potential risks (collapse, debris flows, flooding, pollution, drought). Its research centres on mountain territories issues: thermal water management, integrated water management, management of future risks in the light of climate change.
3. The "Territoires de Montagne" (Mountain Territories) team works on current issues inherent in mountain territories: analysis of the perception of the global change by local societies and their strategies in terms of anticipation and adaptation. The team's work also focuses on the positioning of local societies as players with regard to these changes (adaptation, innovation, etc.). Its involvement in research programs fosters future research by LabEx with collaborations beyond the Rhône-Alpes region, including internationally.

The laboratory is structured into three teams, three cross-functional research areas, three technological platforms and three logistics centres. The co-leaders of each team, area and platform belong to different research fields and/or statuses (teaching researchers/research fellows/engineers) to effectively cover all the requirements and potentials of the research. All these responsible persons are members of the laboratory council, which convenes once a month. The laboratory is also supported by an external and international scientific council to monitor research work and place it in the context of international issues.