The CRETs (Cross-cutting Research and Expertise Centers) are interdisciplinary structures created within the framework of the Lorraine Initiative of Excellence. Their mission is to bring together researchers and experts from different backgrounds in order to provide cross-disciplinary insights into major contemporary challenges. Each CRET is dedicated to a specific theme and aims to stimulate fundamental research while supporting the interdisciplinary projects of the Lorraine I-SITE.
CELEST, a CRET dedicated to transitions
CELEST (Center for intErdiscipLinary rEsearch and expertiSe on Transitions) brings together more than 80 researchers in the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS). Its objective is to analyze and understand the profound transformations our societies are undergoing—whether social, economic, legal, philosophical, or territorial.
Unlike approaches focused solely on technological innovation, CELEST highlights the decisive role of the Humanities and Social Sciences in supporting transitions.
Its work is structured around four main axes:
- Reinventing scientific practices in the face of the systemic nature of transformations
- Analyzing the renewal of relationships between science and politics
- Studying the evolution of normative frameworks (ethical, legal) necessary for transitions
- Observing the impact of these transformations on territories and their local dynamics
By fostering dialogue between disciplines, CELEST contributes to enriching collective reflection and to enlightening public decision-makers, private stakeholders, and citizens on the challenges of tomorrow.
