Olivier Dauchot: “Universities must collaborate with individuals who influence society”

You coordinate the Partage des Savoirs (Knowledge Sharing) action at Paris Sciences et Lettres University (PSL). What is your mission?

Olivier Dauchot: Four years ago, PSL received structural funding for nine years, allocating around €100,000 annually for knowledge dissemination and scientific outreach. Given my experience in these areas, I was asked to take on this mission. With the approval of PSL’s Board of Presidents, we devised a strategy based on two key pillars: interdisciplinarity and engagement with civil society organizations, associations, businesses, and public authorities.

Why focus on interdisciplinarity?

O.D.: PSL encompasses a broad spectrum of disciplines across its schools and faculties — from dramatic arts at the Conservatoire National Supérieur d’Art Dramatique to cold atom physics, and including law, economics, philosophy, and more. To leverage this diversity, we organize initiatives where representatives from different disciplines share their perspectives on a common word or theme. This cross-disciplinary approach is incredibly stimulating.

How does interaction with civil society fit into this approach?

O.D.: When we think of science outreach, we typically picture children, students, or families participating in events like the Physics Olympiads, the Fête de la Science, or European Researchers’ Night. However, we also aim to engage decision-makers and influencers — those who shape society through their actions. It is important for them to understand what is happening within universities. Many civil society organizations are now highly competent, and with the Internet granting access to information, a well-informed NGO manager may know more about a specific topic than a non-specialist researcher. However, researchers and NGO leaders often speak different languages, follow different schedules, and address distinct challenges. Bringing them together can bridge these divides.

How do you facilitate these discussions?

O.D.: We partnered with SoScience, a company that runs a multi-stakeholder project ideation program called The Future Of. Over the course of a year, this program identifies three or four projects involving participants from three sectors: academia, civil society, and business. Ideally, each project includes several members from each category.

What are the steps in this process?

O.D.: First, we select a broad theme, which is refined by a scientific committee composed of researchers, civil society representatives, and business leaders. The question posed must be specific enough to guide discussion but open enough to allow for creativity. For instance, the first year’s theme was Urban Water, with a focus on short-cycle management in large cities. The committee drafts a pitch, and we issue a call for expressions of interest.

Do you receive many applications?

O.D.: Around 150 each time. The committee, with SoScience’s initial screening, filters out proposals lacking a collaborative approach or those promoting pre-existing products. Ultimately, about 50 individuals are selected.

Does this result in 50 projects?

O.D.: No, it results in 50 individuals with 50 ideas. However, we ask them to set aside their initial ideas and collaborate to develop new ones. We also reach out to additional participants to ensure the group is balanced. These 50 people are invited to a fully funded workshop in Paris, where, by the end of the day, about 15 project concepts are drafted.

Are project groups formed during this workshop?

O.D.: Yes, groups of five to ten participants are created. Some people are involved in multiple projects, while others may not join any. From there, SoScience follows up with the groups for six weeks, helping to refine their projects into detailed ten-page proposals. This process typically narrows the field to seven or eight projects. Finally, the committee selects three projects based on criteria like maturity, feasibility, and funding potential.

Does PSL fund these projects?

O.D.: No, PSL doesn’t fund them directly. SoScience supports the selected projects for six additional months, helping participants apply for funding from sources such as European grants, the French National Research Agency (ANR), or ministerial funds. The diversity of project leaders expands the range of potential funding options, and sometimes a participating company will decide to invest.

What is PSL’s return on investment in this initiative?

O.D.: It is similar to public science outreach during an event like a science fair: you don’t know exactly what outcomes to expect. However, we are the only university collaborating with SoScience on The Future Of. The former French Minister of Higher Education and Research personally came to announce our first selected projects. Additionally, PSL researchers can benefit directly: for example, one of our academics is involved in a Future Of urban water project that received initial funding from ADEME and is likely to secure ANR support.

Are three new projects per year sufficient?

O.D.: Three are formally selected, but the process creates a network of connections and lays the groundwork for many more collaborations. Even if some ideas take years to materialize, this cross-sector interaction is invaluable.

How often have you run this process?

O.D.: We are currently in the third cycle. The first year focused on urban water, the second on active health during the Olympic Games, and this year’s theme is metamaterials for sustainable development.

How will you ensure the program’s sustainability?

O.D.: Initial funding from the Ministry of Higher Education and Research supported us for three years. We have secured funding to continue our action for another four to five years, but long-term sustainability will require sponsorship. Thankfully, this initiative’s prestige should attract sponsors.

Has your approach inspired transdisciplinary research within PSL?

O.D.: Yes, though not all projects are directly related. For example, a PSL economist studying the 19^th-century industrialization of agriculture has expanded his work into participatory research with farmers, involving them in data analysis and interpretation. We provided additional funding to support this initiative.

Are all PSL schools equally engaged in scientific outreach?

O.D.: Yes, they are pretty much all involved but in different ways, focusing on different aspects of it, with a focus on lab visits or in the Science Feast for some of them, or a more general Art-Science approach, depending on the culture of the school.

What about the natural sciences?

O.D.: The Institut Curie, a PSL partner, has long been involved in outreach with hospital patients. They actively participate in committees that define research programs.

Should more PSL researchers develop participatory projects?

O.D.: Absolutely. Many researchers are so specialized that they overlook how their broader skills could contribute to interdisciplinary efforts. It is important to help them overcome their hesitation and show them the value of stepping outside their comfort zones.
Interview by Luc Allemand