Organized by the EXEBIO International Institute for Bioeconomy and Environment and supported by the Grand Est Region and "Grand Reims", the symposium is part of the EXEBIO Graduate School initiative, launched as part of France's 2030 Future Financing Plan, and the strategy to develop transdisciplinary, international research focused on major environmental issues.

An edition at the crossroads of arts and sciences

Documentary cinema

The symposium opened with a screening of Pierre Dugowson's film “Arctic Glaciers, State of Play,” made in collaboration with glaciologist Heïdi Sevestre, on the consequences of climate change on glaciers. The screening was followed by a discussion with the director.

Art and Design

The opening of the joint exhibitions « la nuit obscure de l’âme végétale » and « le rêve des tourbières » was also one of the highlights of this edition of the symposium. These exhibitions will run from December 5, 2025, to January 26, 2026, at the Robert de Sorbon University Library of the URCA. They combine the artistic work of photographer Anaïs Tondeur and students from the Reims School of Art and Design with scientific work from the URCA's CERFE Center for Research and Training in Eco-ethology and the Argonne Rural Environmental Workshop Zone (ZARG).

Conferences exploring the links between humans and nature

Two scientific sessions and a closing conference were held during the two-day symposium:

The “Human-Nature Relationship” session, dedicated to understanding human history and impacts on ecosystems and how societies can rethink their relationship with nature, with presentations by:

• Anne-Caroline Prévot from the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (CNRS) on our relationship with nature and the importance of nature experiences,
• Jean-Baptiste Fressoz from the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (CNRS), who questioned the notion of energy transition as a model for ecological transition from a historical perspective,
• Bathsheba Demuth from Brown University, who guided us through a historical analysis of our relationship with nature using the example of Arctic communities and their environment.

The Nature-Based Solutions session, dedicated to the role of biodiversity and nature-based solutions in the face of global change, with presentations by:

• Daniel Gilbert from the University of Burgundy on peatland restoration as a lever for climate change mitigation,
• Jonathan Lenoir from the University of Picardie Jules Verne (CNRS) on forest microclimate modeling,
• Jan Bebbington from Lancaster University on the impact of accounting practices on the transition.

These scientific sessions concluded with a lecture by Philippe Grandcolas from the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (CNRS), shedding light on biodiversity, the current crisis, and the solutions within our reach.

Welcoming international students

Thanks to the support of Grand Reims, 17 student exchanges were funded, enabling students from five European countries (Greece, Finland, Spain, Italy, and France) to be welcomed.
These exchanges are part of the INVEST European University Alliance, of which URCA is a member.

Awards for young researchers

The symposium placed a strong emphasis on promoting the research work of doctoral students and young doctors from URCA and partner European universities through two poster sessions.

Three prizes for the best poster (1st prize – €1,000; 2nd prize – €700; 3rd prize – €400) were awarded at a ceremony where the winners had the opportunity to present their work to all symposium participants.

The third edition of the TR4HP Symposium can be considered a scientific, educational, and institutional success, given the high number of participants, the strong student involvement, the strengthening of European cooperation, the originality of the arts and sciences dialogue, and the quality of the scientific content presented.

Building on this momentum, the TR4HP Symposium is now established as a structuring and sustainable event, set to grow in future editions.