LE STUDIUM Loire Valley

Established in 1996 and inspired by the historical, geographical and human cultures of the Loire Valley, LE STUDIUM Loire Valley Institute for Advanced Studies is an independent institution covering all fields of research in a global initiative aimed at promoting international scientific exchanges in the Centre-Val de Loire region and creating a dynamic scientific community in support of research and innovation. Le Studium brings together the two regional universities of Tours and Orleans, the engineering schools INSA CVL and AgroParistech, ESAD Orleans and the research centres based in the Centre-Val de Loire region (CNRS, INRAe Val de Loire Centre, BRGM, Inserm, CEA). It benefits from the long-standing support of the Centre-Val de Loire Regional Council and Orléans Metropole, which have provided the IAS with outstanding premises and a spectacular residence for visiting scientists on the Loire riverbanks. 

Le Studium holds its headquarters in the city-centre of Orleans at the Hôtel Dupanloup, the former Bishop’s residence located next to the Orleans’ Cathedrale, a fully renovated 17th building. The place hosts international scientific events and welcome researchers all year long.

Le Studium fellows benefit from workspace and access to IT infrastructure, research facilities and other relevant resources. The venue, the Hôtel Dupanloup, has a large conference room and a number of meeting rooms that can easily be booked for their activities. The IAS provides fully equipped apartments in a renovated private mansion on the Loire in Orleans, the Château de la Motte Sanguin and other private apartments in Tours.

In addition to the many services provided by the IAS, fellows will benefit from the expertise, guidance and services of their host laboratory, as well as the support of the MSH (Maison des Sciences de l'Homme Val de Loire), which structures SSH research in the region and has its own services for researchers. The regional Shared Service Europe Research can also be consulted when planning to respond to a European call for proposal.

Fellows' projects at the Loire Valley IAS may cover all disciplines and topics in the social sciences and humanities (SSH), as well as in conjunction with other sciences. Projects must have a strong interdisciplinary dimension to the proposed research and must demonstrate the ability of the researcher and the proposed project to advance knowledge. This should also be reflected in the application of new ideas, processes, technologies, programmes or policies to important issues that will have a significant impact on the proposed field of study.

Priority will be given to projects that address societal challenges and embed the Institute's outward looking vision. To this end, LE STUDIUM Loire Valley IAS will welcome projects at the interface between SSH and other sciences enthusiastically.