Research unit’s life

An internal scientific seminar, organized through six meetings over the year, allows all unit members to stay informed and exchange ideas about their activities.
This exchange particularly fosters the emergence of cross-team projects within the unit, and one of these meetings is dedicated to presenting emerging ideas for “DIADE projects,” funded through the unit’s budget.

During the annual general assembly, a workshop is dedicated to topics that researchers, engineers, technicians, and students would like to see addressed in the following year’s meetings

DIADE seminars, held weekly and open to the scientific community, provide opportunities for interaction and exchange between unit members and external colleagues through presentations on ongoing research activities. One session in June is dedicated to students, giving them the chance to present their research before their thesis defense.
These seminars offer valuable time for discussions on a variety of scientific topics and are announced in our news updates.

Two annual events—the Masters Days and PhDays—give students, from undergraduate to doctoral levels, the opportunity to present their internship topics, training, objectives, results, and conclusions before an audience composed of DIADE members and external participants.
This experience helps students prepare for future competitive grant applications, which may require them to present their research projects conducted during their internships.
DIADE members attending these presentations come from diverse backgrounds. They are encouraged to ask questions and provide feedback to the students, especially during Masters Days.

A coffee break (with treats!) offers a chance for students and the audience to interact in a more informal setting.
We give doctoral students freedom in organizing the PhDays, allowing them to gain experience in managing scientific events.
These seminars provide valuable opportunities for discussion on a wide range of scientific topics and are announced in our news updates.

Our internal newsletter highlights the major events taking place within the unit each month.
It fosters interactions among members and keeps everyone informed about activities that energize our scientific community and work environment, such as internal seminars, field missions, new arrivals, scientific achievements, and more.

A dedicated group oversees hygiene and safety conditions within the unit. It is responsible for identifying, assessing, and supporting the reduction of risks associated with our activities.
This commitment is reflected in concrete actions such as managing chemical hazards and reporting risks related to field trips and working conditions.
Every staff member is required, upon arrival, to participate in an orientation tour led by a prevention assistant who shows the laboratories and presents the safety measures to be followed.
The unit also organizes awareness sessions on various risks (noise, manual handling, etc.) and training courses (first aid, autoclave certification, etc.).

The “Sustainability” working group was created in 2021 through a joint initiative of unit members and management. It meets once a month to discuss the implementation of actions addressing three interconnected themes: ecological transition, ethics, and diversity and inclusion.

The group’s objectives are to:

1. gather and share available information and existing initiatives related to these three themes;
2. generate knowledge about the environmental and social impacts of the unit’s research;
3. coordinate actions undertaken within the unit and with other entities (other research units, IRD, University of Montpellier, etc.);
4. propose concrete actions that encourage exchange and debates within the unit.