MATerials for Energy and Sustainability
From science to science policy
A QCAM – Université de Bordeaux summer school
Monday 7 July – Friday 11 July, Université de Sherbrooke
SCOPE AND LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Materials are the fabric of our society and the framework of our daily life. Straddling traditional disciplines, materials science is one of the main drivers of the transition towards a more sustainable world. Public policies will have an increasingly significant role in defining key priorities to try and solve the multiple pressing issues.
Materials for energy and sustainability are key tools in the progress towards several UN Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Affordable and clean energy and Responsible consumption and production. Achieving these objectives rests on the synergy between cutting-edge science and a greater understanding of broader issues, such as societal and environmental factors.
The participants in the 2025 MATES school will have the opportunity to reflect on materials science from a new perspective, working with their peers on a policy brief to shape public policy. This afternoon group activity will build on a series of seminars, ranging from sustainable innovation to graphic design. The groups will present their work on Friday.
The seminars and lectures will address:
- Designing a roadmap for Quebec’s advanced materials
- Sustainable innovation – a new concept
- Rethinking materials for a sustainable world
- Environmentally responsible design of microelectronic devices
- The material metabolism of societies
- Batteries: from basics to business
- Hydrogen storage and production
- AI and energy storage
You will also find this information in the school one-pager (scan or click on the QR code)
Resources on science advice and communication with policymakers
Before the school, we will provide participants with a list of selected publications which will be used as sources for the drafting of the policy brief. Participants will also receive introductory material on policy briefs.
The toolkit Preparing plain language summaries, available on the website of Evidence for Democracy
The handbook Plain language, clear and simple, by the Government of Canada.
For a 101 on how scientist can engage in science policy, take a look at Communicating science to policymakers: six strategies for success, a 2019 article from the Nature career column.
5 things to think about before getting into the world of science policy-making a 2023 article from University Affairs
Good Advice for (Young) Science-Policy Advisors, an online panel co-organised by the Marie Curie Alumni Association, Formas, and Science Europe.
The Complex Role of Science Advice in Informing Policy, the transcript of the keynote by Mona Nemer, Chief Science Advisor of Canada, at the 2022 Bromley Memorial Event (, U. Ottawa) – full video recording on YouTube.
Reflections from the longest-standing Chief Science Advisor — from Science Advice to Science Diplomacy the transcript of the keynote by Rémi Quirion, Quebec’s Chief Scientist, at the 2024 Bromley Memorial Event (, U. Ottawa) – full video recording on YouTube.
Science Diplomacy in an Increasingly Fragmented and Uncertain Geopolitical World a panel discussion held by the , U. Ottawa.
Listen to the Science for policy podcast produced by the Scientific Advice Mechanism
Resources on materials and sustainability
Precious Elements, a page on the website of the Royal Society of Chemistry
A series of episodes of Business Daily (BBC World Service) focussing on critical minerals (the 26 May 2025 episode and the following)
VENUE
Université de Sherbrooke and 3IT (Institut interdisciplinaire d’innovation technologique)
PROGRAMME
From Monday, 7 July to Friday, 11 July
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Room no D3-2039 (Main campus) |
Room no D3-2039 (Main campus) |
Room no D3-2039 (Main campus) |
3IT | Room no D3-2039 (Main campus) |
|
8:45 Welcome 9:00 Opening remarks 9:15 Introductory lectures Julie Dirwimmer Panel discussion |
9:00 Catherine Marsan-Loyer:
Environmentally responsible design of microelectronic devices 10:15 Normand Mousseau: Rethinking materials for a sustainable world 11:15 Thierry Lefèvre The material metabolism of societies |
9:00 Jean-Louis Bobet:
Hydrogen storage materials 10:30 Eric McCalla and Steeve Rousselot: Batteries: from basics to business |
8:45 Jie He:
Applying cost-benefit analyses of new technology development projects in engineering: case studies 10:15 Oliver Fontaine: Battery electrolytes: sustainability issues IA and energy storage materials |
9:00-10:15 The basics of graphic design – a workshop by Émilie Dubois (IMPAKT Scientifik)
10:30-12 Presentation and discussion of policy briefs 12:00 Closing remarks |
| 12:45 Julie Ducharme:
From PhD to the role of Scientific Advisor at a Quebec Government Office 13:30- 14:45 Introductory seminars. Chloé Barrette-Bennington: Sustainable innovation Mélanie Girard: The development of a roadmap for advanced materials in Quebec 15:00-17:00 Drafting a policy brief: key elements by Matteo Duca 17:00-19:00 Board game : playing to save the planet! |
13:00-17:30
Group activity |
13:00-17:30
Group |
13:00-15:00
Group activity 15:00-16:30 Visit of 3IT facilities |
Speakers
Senior Advisor – Science & Society Relations – Fonds de recherche du Québec
Megan McGeehan
PhD student in materials science, Université de Montréal
Julie Ducharme
Scientific Advisor, Quebec Government Office, Los Angeles
Chloé Barrette-Bennington
Project coordinator, CIRODD (Interdisciplinary research centre on the operationalisation of sustainable development)
Mélanie Girard
Advisor, technology and innovation, PRIMA Québec
Technical coordinator, environmentally responsible projects, MiQro Innovation Collaborative Centre (C2MI)
Physics professor at Université de Montréal, academic director of the Trottier Energy Institute and Founding Director of the Transition Accelerator.
Research professional, Research centre on geology and engineering of mineral resources (E4M), Université Laval, and CIRODD
Director of R&D Ignis Lithium
Emilie Dubois
Scientific communicator, she is the cofounder and director of IMPAKT Scientifik
Matteo Duca
Director, scientific affairs and development, QCAM
Registration
The school is open to MSc/PhD students and postdocs
Maximum number of participants: 20
Please send your motivation letter (1 page max) and your CV in English or French to Dr Matteo Duca (Development and scientific affairs director of QCAM). Feel free to contact Matteo if you have any queries.
Deadline 26 May 2025
Fees
QCAM member
Partner
Other
The registration fees include accommodation costs (six nights, Sunday to Friday, in a single room in a university residence, for participants from outside Sherbrooke) lunch and coffee breaks; social events
Many thanks to our sponsor Éditions MultiMondes
Consultez leur site internet pour visionner leur catalogue et visitez leur page Facebook.
Practical information
- When: From Monday, 7 July to Friday, 11 July
- Where: 3IT, 3000 Bd de l’Université, P2 building, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 0A5
- Residences: G11 building, Résidences, Voie 9, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2X9
G11 building, residence
Check-in at the reception, G13 building
Reception (G13)
The residences are a 30-min walk away from the school venue
- How to get to Sherbrooke by public transport:
- From Montreal: Limocar coach service
- From Trois-Rivières: La Québécoise coach service
A map of the university campus is available on the UdS website
Organizing committee
- Matteo Duca (Development and scientific affairs director of QCAM)
- Nadi Braidy (Université de Sherbrooke)
- Mihaela Cibian (Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières)
- François Perrault (Université du Québec à Montréal)
- Lionel Roué (Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique)
Local contact at UdS
Mohamed Siaj (Director of QCAM)
Activities
Board game evening – an icebreaker activity against global warming
Main partners
Other partners
Many thanks to the RENARD research group for creating a MOOC on policy briefs
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