ESCOOLA Project
ESCOOLA
The ESCOOLA project is being incubated at the LLUNAM Living Lab (PEPR SOLU-BIOD) from 2026 to 2027. It studies the effects of soil de-impermeabilization and vegetalization implemented in schoolyards across the Montpellier metropolitan area. These initiatives, developed by the City and the Montpellier Metropolitan Area, aim to adapt school spaces to climate change and improve children’s living environment. The project brings together researchers, local authorities, and school staff to establish a participatory research approach and identify observation indicators.
The research focuses in particular on the effects of these changes on children’s well-being, the microclimate, noise pollution, stormwater runoff, mosquito-related nuisances, and soil biodiversity; the goal is to understand better the environmental and social benefits of permeable, green schoolyards.
At the same time, the project team will work on developing an educational toolkit to help school and after-school staff use these new schoolyards as a resource for environmental education and awareness-raising.
Project team
- Rémy BEUGNON, Ecologist at CEFE, CNRS
- Marine ZWICKE, Ecologist at CEFE, Montpellier University
- Alan VERGNES, Ecologist at CEFE, Paul Valéry Montpellier University
- Aurélien RIOU, Assistant Engineer at CEFE, CNRS
- Louise EYDOUX, Postdoctoral researcher at CEFE, CNRS
- Alix COSQUER, Researcher in environmental psychology at CEFE, CNRS
- Jean-Louis PERRIN, Hydrologist at HSM, IRD
- Violeta MONTOYA, HSM
- Florence FOURNET, Medical Entomologist at MIVEGEC, IRD
- Mathilde MERCAT, Postdoctoral researcher at MIVEGEC, Montpellier University
- Stéphane DURRIEU, MIVEGEC, IRD
- Céline SUTTER, MIVEGEC, IRD
- Sophie CLAUZON, MIVEGEC, IRD
- Maïlys RONDOT, Project Manager at the BP2A Division, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole