Description du sujet de thèse

The PhD student will be part of the scientific team “Climate Change, well-being and soundscape: how auditory experiences of nature reveal local perceptions of socio-environmental changes and contribute to the quality of life in an increasing eco-anxiety context”, an interdisciplinary and international project funded by CNRS through the CNRS - University of Arizona PhD Joint Program - Climate Change and Human health 2025. The aim of the program is to identify and analyze how inhabitants of Southern Arizona (Pima and Santa Cruz counties) understand the dynamics of their socio-ecosystems through the observation of their biodiversity, particularly in their auditory dimensions. We seek to understand how sound environments/landscapes contribute to the awareness of ongoing changes, notably climate change, and of the threats to their well-being and quality of life. The PhD student will be in charge of an ethnographic survey, the collection of soundscape recordings and research within the Observatoire Homme Milieux (OHMi) Pima County.
The interdisciplinary program brings together geography, anthropology, ecology, bioacoustics and musicology, and will develop both classic academic tools for restitution and valorization, and more innovative ones such as musical compositions. The PhD student will work at UMR Ladyss (Nanterre) in partnership with the University of Arizona, under the supervision of Anne-Peggy Hellequin (UPN Ladyss Professor) and the co-direction of Anne Sourdril (CNRS Ladyss Research Associate). He/she will be assisted by Sara Frake (Assistant Professor of Music, University of Arizona). He/she will be required to carry out several 3-month fieldwork phases in southern Arizona (participant observations, interviews, recording and sound recording), and to take part in seminars organized by OHMi Pima County and the France-Arizona Institute for Global Grand Challenges.

In particular, the PhD student will contribute to :
- understand the conditions for socio-ecosystem adaptation in the context of socio-environmental change, particularly climate change,
- design survey protocols, conducting field work with a varied public (experts, users, inhabitants) in southern Arizona,
- program workshops and seminars organized by Ladyss, OHMi Pima County, LabEx Driihm and the France-Arizona Institute for Global Grand Challenges.
- communications of results at targeted scientific conferences,
- publication of a scientific article in English in a peer-reviewed journal
- production of musical compositions.

Contexte de travail

The PhD student will be recruited by the CNRS and affiliated to UMR 7533 Ladyss and OHMi Pima County. He/she will also be hosted during fieldwork phases at the University of Arizona's School of Music and IRL iGlobes. LADYSS's current research focuses on the spatial anchoring of individuals and social groups, and on the construction of action at different scales, from sparsely populated rural areas to metropolitan cores and peri-urban spaces. The study of the social, political and economic changes that underpin these processes is also reflected in a more global approach to characterizing socio-environmental change. The doctoral student will be affiliated with The Graduate School 395 “Espaces, Temps, Cultures” at the University of Paris Nanterre. He/she will benefit from a stimulating work environment, an office, a laptop and a budget to cover field expenses (5000 euros per year for 3 years).

Contraintes et risques

The work will require travel / missions in the United States and three months of fieldwork per year in southern Arizona, a semi-desert region with a semi-arid climate. A valid driver's license (over 3 years old) is required.
Recent Master's degree in Human and Social sciences (geography, anthropology, sociology, territorial sciences, etc.) with a specialization in health and/or environmental issues.
Experiences required in conducting interviews, ethnographic methods and sound recording and editing techniques.
Musician profile appreciated.
Ability to work as part of a team on multidisciplinary, comparative and international projects with researchers, as well as in collaboration with local communities.
Language skills: Fluent French and English required, both written and spoken.
Writing skills, ability to formulate a scientific project, publish, communicate and promote research.