Operationalizing Sustainability

Introduction

I.1. Introduction

In the 2000s, in order to adapt and secure its future, the School of Mines (EMA) in Ales, France, took the decision to disseminate the “entrepreneurship approach” and the “Web environment” concept, while focusing on other missions as well, such as technological research or economic action. In terms of sustainable institution, the objective of the EMA was to adapt and develop a new way of thinking, to implement the right organization and resources to be competitive, to ensure its survival and to develop employment. The aim of this approach was to develop EMA’s competitiveness through advancing sciences and its innovative vision.

Questions were asked about the relevance of R&D in a high level engineering school. For instance, concerning research topics, what is the relationship between quarks and men, a computer and the cosmos, prebiotics and the interstellar midst? Or between country macrohistory, brain development and governance?

The answer given shows that we cannot consider one concept and ignore the other, because all is interdependent. Should we instead remain confined to the unique field of industrial activity? The discussions led to reconsider the R&D strategy for the EMA institutional business in terms of the scientific and engineering areas to be covered or developed. As well as the philosophical, societal, and environmental approaches, a multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary laboratory called “Centre Intersciences” was proposed. Some key ...