Models and modelling processes: A critical step for an environmental research [La modélisation: Moment critique des recherches sur l'environnement]

Many new modelling practices appeared over the last 20 years. These innovations together with the idiosyncrasies of environmental management issues stimulate social sciences to renew their approach and adapt their analysis of models and modelling processes. In particular, the new modelling practices have to be analysed in a historical and sociological perspective in order to better understand the role of modellers and user communities, as well as their interactions. This shift in focus, from models as objects to modelling processes as sets of practices, enables to reinstate the role of the different actors of modelling processes. Such an evolution of perspective is all the more necessary since environmental models are developed in an ever-closer relationship with action. Dealing with modellers aiming - through their tools - to "change the world", social scientists have to take into account the models' implementation and the context of use. This opens the way for a proper understanding of both their nature and their role in environmental management. These observations provide the very basis of a research domain that has been explored far less by social scientist in France than in Anglo-Saxons countries. A large research project entitled "Modelling, Simulations and Complex Systems Management" and funded by the French Ministry of Research is trying to fill this gap. The project aims at: (a) exchanging experiences between many disciplines, as diverse as History of Sciences, Epistemology, Management Sciences, Communication Sciences, Environmental Economics, Urban Transportation Economics, Climate Modelling or Chemistry ; (b) developing common concepts and understanding of these new environmental modelling approaches, (c) improve our understanding and characterisation of complex models, and, (d) renew our understanding of the role and status of models in environmental management. © 2003 Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS. Tous droits réservés.