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European Researchers' Night in Bourg Saint Maurice

On September 22, come and meet researchers at the Friche Culturelle in Bourg Saint Maurice!

Away from the institutional framework of the university and its research laboratories, come and meet the researchers! It's a unique opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with scientists from all disciplines. Workshops, lectures, mini-conferences, exhibitions, walks: a full program awaits you on this occasion! Three lectures by researchers on the theme of "Deconstructing mountain myths".

The program

6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. - Conference: "Myths and mountains in the 21st century".
By Christophe Gauchon, professor of geography at USMB, EDYTEM laboratory (Mountain Environments, Dynamics and Territories Laboratory)

The promotion of mountain tourism and the development of sporting activities have been based on great founding stories, themselves founded on images and values that have been renewed over time. These myths have conferred great prestige on the mountains. But they have also given rise to their share of confusion and simplification, distorting our perception of the realities facing mountain regions today.

Christophe Gauchon, Professor of Geography at USMB, specializes in underground worlds and mountain heritage. His work also focuses on the history of geographical sciences, the future of tourist areas and the perception and representation of mountains.

7:00 to 8:00 pm - Lecture: "Pure mountain air: myth or reality?
By Jean-Luc Besombesteacher-researcher at the EDYTEM laboratory (Mountain Environments, Dynamics and Territories Laboratory)

Episodes of air pollution are increasingly publicized in the media, arousing the emotions of public opinion. Ozone, nitrogen dioxide and fine particles are just some of the compounds that alter the air we breathe. The sources of this pollution are manifold, combining discharges from human activities with natural emission processes. Atmospheric pollution is thus characterized by very different phenomena, depending on the season and the region. Against this backdrop, is there anything specific about mountain environments?

He teaches atmospheric chemistry; his research focuses on the study of atmospheric pollutants and in particular the chemical characterization of atmospheric aerosols. His latest work focuses on the identification of organic tracers and the development of methodologies for source studies using receptor models.

8:00 pm to 9:00 pm - Conference: "Climate change in the Alps: what impact on glaciers, snow and water resources?
By Anthony Lemoine, postdoctoral researcher in hydroclimatology at INRAE Grenoble; Jordi Bolibar, postdoctoral researcher in glaciology at Delft University of Technology (Netherlands); and Carlo Carmagnola, researcher at Météo-France / Centre d'Études de la Neige et de la Dianeige.

The impacts of climate change are particularly visible in mountain regions. In the French Alps, for example, we're seeing a reduction in snow cover and a retreat of glaciers. What is the current state of glaciers in the Alps? How will they evolve between now and 2100? What are the consequences for water resources and economic activities (hydroelectricity, ski resorts, agriculture, etc.)? etc) ? We invite you to discuss these questions and the latest scientific research in glaciology and mountain hydrology.

Anthony Lemoine is a postdoctoral researcher in hydroclimatology at INRAE Grenoble. His research focuses on hydrological modelling, hydroclimatic projections and the management of hydroelectric reservoirs.

Jordi Bolibar is a postdoctoral researcher in glaciology at Delft University of Technology (Netherlands). His thesis focused on the past and future evolution of French Alpine glaciers in a changing climate, using a modeling approach.

Carlo Maria Carmagnola is a researcher and snow specialist at Météo-France, for the Centre d'Etudes pour la Neige et Dianeige.

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