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 purpose isto bring togetherpublic and private professional organizations,introducestudentsto theseentities, andraisepublicawarenessof current environmental issues.

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

 Where is it happening?

It is based inMontpellier, a recognized hub of scientific ecology in France and internationally. 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 regarding professional ecology—and, by extension, ecologists—was the observation that 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 people whose careers are centered on protecting the environment and nature. The goal wasto highlight the professional expertise of these various stakeholders, to bring them together, and to unite them in a drive for development and communication with society. With the creation of more than 3,000 jobs between 2002 and 2010**, the ecology sector 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 prominence 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 participants presentat the Fair. Indeed, the goal is to bring together stakeholders and audiences who previously did not have this opportunity. As a result, researchers, engineers, technicians, and students from associations, government agencies, local authorities, public institutions, and businesses—both small and large—as well as the general public come together around a unifying theme: ecology.

Ina festive atmosphere, energized by the optimism of the young people in this new 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, drivenby the shared goal of protecting nature.

The 2019 Ecology Fair