Science and political decisions

A module developed in collaboration with the IEP de Bordeaux to raise awareness among students at the school of the issues involved in political decision-making.

Objectives

    - Open up ENSMAC engineering students to the problems of political decision-making and public action;
- Share the scientific culture of ENSMAC engineering students and IEP students by proposing a project to be carried out in teams;

Contents 

Designed jointly with Sciences Po Bordeaux, this module includes :

4 introductory modules 

1) What is politics? (Y. DÉLOYE, Honorary Director IEP Bx) Introduction to politics and the processes involved in politicizing society, particularly those associated with environmental and/or ecological issues.

2) What is a society? (L. RENARD, SPB ENSMAC project manager)
From a sociological point of view, what is meant by "society"? How does it evolve?

3) What is public action? (A. GAUDIN, Director CPAG IEP Bx)
The aim is to present the players involved in public policy and their relationships: national and local players, but also the role of the various judges (CJEU, CC, administrative judge), using environmental protection as an example.

4) What is a decision? (D. DARBON, Director of IEP Bx)
This question will be addressed from a variety of perspectives, including :
- public policy analysis
- management of administrations and comparative administrations (African countries)
- sociology of organizations and change
- general political sociology

1 group project 

The groups, made up of students from ENSMAC and IEP, will have a project to carry out during the course of the module. The project will involve students from both establishments in a practical case study of local or national public policy, so that they can experience the challenges of the process of producing scientific knowledge for public and political decision-making. 

Evaluation

An oral presentation will be given on the project.
The theme chosen for 2024-25 is "Photovoltaics and forests". Students in the AGB and CGP departments will be interested in the technical aspects and impacts on living organisms and biodiversity. (A. GAUDIN, head of the "Carrières Administratives" master's program, L. Vignau, head of the CGP department).