The Ecology Fair

 What is it?

TheEcology Fairis the annual national gathering for the environmental sector. It is sponsored bythe University of Montpellier andorganized by the ASdE*. Its mission isto bring togetherpublic and private professional organizations,introducestudentsto theseentities, andraisepublicawarenessof current environmental issues.

*The ASdE is the Association of the Ecology Fair, composed of students in the Master's program in Ecology and Biodiversity Management (IEGB Master’s Program).

 Where is it taking place?

It is based inMontpellier, a recognized hub of French and international scientific ecology. This location is due to the ecological richness of the Mediterranean ecoregion—classified asone of the world’s biodiversity hotspots—and to the reputation of the laboratories at the Mediterranean Center for the Environment and Biodiversity (LabEx CeMEB), and also thanks to Montpellier’s regional policy—the city is one of the first in France to have made biodiversity a core component of its local development strategy.

 The idea

The lack of awareness about professional ecology—and, by extension, about ecologists—is what led to the creation of our trade show. The challenge of distinguishing it from political ecology—and, therefore, from environmentalists—was all the more significant given that this professional field brings together many dedicated and committed individuals: it is a gathering of passionate professionals whose work is centered on protecting the environment and nature. The goal wasto highlight the professional expertise of these various stakeholders and to bring them together to foster a shared commitment to development and communication with society. With the creation of more than 3,000 jobs between 2002 and 2010**, the ecology profession has established itself in the socioeconomic landscape alongside other “green growth” sectors and during the Grenelle Environment Forum. The Ecology Fair brings together the entire network of ecologists, promoting and highlighting this professional sector in all its diversity and dimensions. Another key challenge lies in the Fair’s relationshipwith the general public: raising awareness that the ecological crisis lies at the heart of our country’s economic and social crises—serving as both a cause, a challenge, and a solution. Beyond being a sector with a promising future and an opportunity for development and innovation, ecology is about living in harmony with the environment—a vision that is gaining increasing traction thanks to a growing awareness of our planet’s finite resources.

**: Economic data on the environmental sector (Biodiversity Sector Committee).

 The Advantages

The great strength of our event lies in breaking down the barriers between the various sectors of the environmental field, thanks tothe diversity of speakers presentat the Fair. Indeed, the goal is to bring together stakeholders and audiences who have not had this opportunity before. As a result, researchers, engineers, technicians, and students from organizations, government agencies, local authorities, public institutions, and small and large businesses—as well as the general public—come together around a unifying theme: the environment.

Amida festive atmosphere, energized by the optimism of the young people in this emerging field—armed withtheir open-mindedness andfaith in the future—the Ecology Fair upholds its professional and scientific values througha rigorous and expert program,but also, and above all, through its commitment to humanity unitedby the common goal of protecting nature.

The 2019 Ecology Fair