Projects on cross-cutting themes are selected witihin the framework of an annual call launched since 2019. These projects should promote collective research actions, by pooling sites, technics and know-how, according to a systemic and holistic approach aimed at better understanding the coupling between physical, chemical, biological and human processes within the Critical Zone, integrating time and space scale (cf. publication Gaillardet et al. 2018 – https://doi.org/10.2136/vzj2018.04.0067).

Collective and systemic research actions

The projects are built on an original scientifique question or issue, with an unifying and interdiciplinary nature and involve several observatories. Transversal themes, multi-year research actions or workshops for transverse exchange on a scientific issue, are a springboard for the emergence of multidisciplinary research projects.

Collaborations with the Zones Ateliers (https://www.za-inee.org) are stongly encouraged, as well as the study of socio-ecolosystems aimed at structuring the eLTER France community. Since this call for ideas has been launched, 34 cross-cutting projects have been supported (8 projects in 2019, 6 projects in 2020, 6 projects in 2021, 9 projects in 2022 and 6 projects in 2023). The feedbacks from the funded themes show that a real collective dynamic is in place using the data of OZCAR-RI. This dynamic has to be maintained and to be improved through the support of new projets.