Title of the thesis: The institutionalization process of citizen research in environmental health: the case of childhood cancer clusters in France.
Supervisor: Vololona Rabeharisoa (CSI – Mines PSL).
For about a decade, the media have regularly reported on controversies surrounding the emergence, definition, and research into the causes of childhood cancer clusters in France. Families of affected children often raise the alarm. They urge the public authorities to take action by assessing local health risks and investigating the environmental causes of these clusters. This research explores how concerned families mobilize the scientific community, health agencies, and citizens with an aim at institutionalizing the production of knowledge on environmental health risks. It also seeks to examine the transformative effect of citizen’s involvement in research and expertise.