Elsa Faugère (INRA, UR Ecodéveloppement)

The CSI Guests Seminar will host

Elsa Faugère

Anthropologist at INRA, Ecodevelopment research unit (UR 767)


to discuss her book

Le making-of des grandes expéditions

Anthropologie des sciences de terrain



Introduction to the discussion by Abdoulaye Diaw


The making-of great expeditions. Anthropology of field sciences

Back cover: At the beginning of this 21st century, in reaction to the dizzying disappearance of biodiversity, French biologists are inventing a new kind of great naturalist expedition. They set sail for the oceans and tropical forests to collect and conserve animals and plants, both in situ in the countries concerned and ex situ in the collections of the world’s major natural history museums.

Embarked since 2005 in this scientific adventure unique in the world, Elsa Faugère proposes in this book a reflexive anthropology of the field sciences mobilized in these expeditions (taxonomy, systematics and anthropology).

She shows all the richness and depth of scientific expeditions where scientific, political, media, financial, logistical and perhaps above all human and relational dimensions are mixed and combined in sometimes difficult or even dangerous conditions.

Elsa Faugère, Le making-of des grandes expéditions. Anthropologie des sciences de terrain, La Discussion, 2019


The Guest Seminar Series is organized collectively by the CSI PhD students. It is open upon registration

Guest seminar programme



Date: Thursday 23 March, 2021 from 11am to 1pm. The session will be held (in French) by videoconference.

Registration: please fill out this form

Contact: Mathilde Pellizzari or Roman Solé-Pomies