This project is grounded on both a research on the geographical implications of indigeneity and the formation of a specific field of research on indigenous territorial issues in geography. On the one hand, it aims to investigate the interest of a geographical approach of indigenous-related issues; on the other hand, it plans to stress the significance of indigenous territorial dynamics for geographical knowledge. The project will emphasize the emergence and developments of this specific field of research by studying its bases, trends, and articulations. Key questions will consist in asking where, since when and how geographers study and analyse indigeneity, and what does such a contribution mean to geography. The project builds on the hypothesis that the increasing interest on indigeneity araising from the scientific community -and geographers in particular- began in the 1970s, within the context of emergence of both local and international indigenous peoples’ movements. Echoing these mobilisations, and more precisely the territorial dimension of indigenous claims, a growing number of geographers developed different perspectives of research on indigenous-related topics, giving progressively rise to a specific field of research. Since it was strongly shaped and influenced by diverse disciplinary approaches and traditions, this field was not identified as such for a long time. Furthermore, it relies on an unequal interest and production depending on academic and national contexts. In France, in particular, despite the increasing interest for indigeneity by a younger generation of geographers, there is no formal space of discussion able to lead, foster and guide the development of indigenous geographies. Moreover, the lack of background and epistemological research on the origins and developments of this specific field of the discipline did not allow to recognize the value and significance of a geographical approach of indigeneity. This is precisely the challenge addressed by this research which aims to fill the theoretical gap and advance the understanding of this critical subject matter, but equally importantly to position France in an relevant scientific debate in order to increase its international influence. Three successive and complementary tasks structure this proposal which is theoretically framed at the crossroads of cultural, political and historical approaches in geography. First task will draw up a global report of the interest of geographers for territorial issues related to indigenous peoples worldwide, thus providing the framework for the second task which will aim at precising the specific contribution of French-speaking geographers to the rise of indigenous geographies. In this sense, first and second tasks will share a common epistemological interest about the emergence of this specific field of research. Finally, the third task will constitute the empirical part of the project by focusing on the concrete implications of, and the usefulness of geography with respect to, indigenous territorial claims in the French Overseas Territories. By this way, the proposed reflection on the geographical implications of indigeneity aims at contributing to the definition of a framework for concrete political action in both the respect and the satisfaction of indigenous peoples’ expectations.

Tourism is one of the most impacted sectors from the Covid-19 pandemic. The extent of the impact is expected to be particularly severe for tourist destinations where the virus is actively circulating and tourism plays an important role in the economy. With a rich endowment of tourism potential, the Hauts-de-France (HdF) was part of the French regions classified as Covid-19 "red zone" the day after deconfinement (May 11th). The research project THREpiCo addresses the issue of the consequences of this pandemic on both tourism demand and supply. In terms of tourism demand, the project aims at understanding individuals’ perceptions of the region with regard to the Covid-19 epidemic risk and analysing the role of their perceptions in their visit behaviour and revisit intentions. Particular attention will be paid to the individuals’ trust in regional policy-makers and confidence in Covid-19 risk mitigation measures. The changes in demand for trips and individual welfare due to the pandemic will also be explored. In terms of tourism supply, a number of Covid-19 health and safety protocols, combined with related communication strategies, have been implemented, particularly in the commercial accommodation sector, in an effort to restore visitors’ confidence and stimulate demand. Another objective of this project is to investigate the attractiveness of these tools among visitors by estimating the extra amount of money that they would be willing to pay for one night in a hotel establishment. Finally, additional changes are expected to be made in the regional tourism industry in the medium term to strengthen the resilience of the sector. With this in mind, qualitative survey interviews of tourism stakeholders will be carried out with the objective of co-constructing a restructuring plan for the tourism supply organised into different actions (or scenarios). An ex-ante economic valuation of these scenarios will be conducted to support the decision-making process. This research project will be led by a multidisciplinary research team, whose expertise covers all aspects related to the impact analysis of a pandemic on tourism. The team will rely on close collaboration with the diverse tourism-based organisations within the HdF and the original combination of several non-market economic valuation methods, quantitative and qualitative surveys, coupled with the use of secondary data about tourist trips during the last ten years, to provide a broad picture of the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic on tourism activity in the HdF. The expected results are empirical, methodological and operational.

The MAGNETICS project aims to further understand the circular causality between local socio-economic development and transport activities, more precisely in the case of the port and maritime sector. While empirical studies on the economic impact and connectivity of ports are numerous, they remain dispersed and divergent by their methods, sources, and results. An untapped database (Lloyd's) on the merchant marine fleet navigation from 1880 to nowadays will allow us to construct the global maritime network. Extracting road and railway segments from old and recent maps will serve to build the land-based network. Both networks will be combined and fed by the harmonisation of four urban databases on cities' population since 1880. Using graph theory, we will search for the mechanisms linking these three components based on the theoretical model of Fujita and Mori (1996), not yet applied, on port-related growth in an urban system. In the more recent period (since the 2000s), we will use the previous results to work on more detailed regional indicators about employment, firms, and regional productivity. Complementary methods such as spatial analysis, spatial econometrics, and autocorrelation shall evaluate the intensity and directionality of port-region influences in various contexts. Such analyses will include original variables such as the centrality of cities and regions - port and non-port - in the global sea-land network. Finally, the analysis of socio-economic impacts will be complemented by the one of environmental and health impacts. The quantitative part will analyse the feasibility of a modal shift from road to short sea shipping, to attenuate congestion in large hubs, reduce the carbon footprint of landside detours, and favor the development of peripheral port cities. It will also propose a new analysis of port traffic impacts on the urban environment and the health of local populations, based on indicators such as congestion, air quality, and demography (e.g. mortality). An intensive fielwork will complement the quantitative analyses by in-depth case studies of selected French and Italian port cities.

The Strait is defined as a channel between two lands and as an essential passage area for international trade. It is actually much more than that. As a border and a place of interaction between two lands, it is impacted by human activities. In its intellectual dimension, the project will revolve around three axes: maritime history, environment and transport and geopolitics. These three axes offer angles of study and reflection that allow us to consider all the problems linked to the straits from the angle of comparison and interdisciplinarity. 4 straits - Messina, Gibraltar, Bouches de Bonifacio and Pas de Calais - will be the subject of a privileged analysis (literature and field survey). A transdisciplinary work of analysis, prospective and anticipation is therefore required. In its operational dimension, it will produce articles and a thesis. The project will create two innovative tools : a Straits Observatory, which will centralise and produce knowledge and data on the Straits ; and a dedicated open access website "Straits", which will provide maps and access to regularly updated data thanks to the monitoring and scientific research carried out by the Observatory, as well as information proposed by users after verification by us. These two tools will be made available to as many people as possible : the scientific community, civil society, the professional world, the actors responsible for designing and conducting maritime policy first in France and then beyond.

"Tourism is one of the most impacted sectors from the Covid-19 pandemic. The extent of the impact is expected to be particularly severe for tourist destinations where the virus is actively circulating and tourism plays an important role in the economy. With a rich endowment of tourism potential, the Hauts-de-France (HdF) was part of the French regions classified as Covid-19 ""red zone"" the day after deconfinement (May 11th). The research project THREpiCo addresses the issue of the consequences of this pandemic on both tourism demand and supply. In terms of tourism demand, the project aims at understanding individuals’ perceptions of the region with regard to the Covid-19 epidemic risk and analysing the role of their perceptions in their visit behaviour and revisit intentions. Particular attention will be paid to the individuals’ trust in regional policy-makers and confidence in Covid-19 risk mitigation measures. The changes in demand for trips and individual welfare due to the pandemic will also be explored. In terms of tourism supply, a number of Covid-19 health and safety protocols, combined with related communication strategies, have been implemented, particularly in the commercial accommodation sector, in an effort to restore visitors’ confidence and stimulate demand. Another objective of this project is to investigate the attractiveness of these tools among visitors by estimating the extra amount of money that they would be willing to pay for one night in a hotel establishment. Finally, additional changes are expected to be made in the regional tourism industry in the medium term to strengthen the resilience of the sector. With this in mind, qualitative survey interviews of tourism stakeholders will be carried out with the objective of co-constructing a restructuring plan for the tourism supply organised into different actions (or scenarios). An ex-ante economic valuation of these scenarios will be conducted to support the decision-making process. This research project will be led by a multidisciplinary research team, whose expertise covers all aspects related to the impact analysis of a pandemic on tourism. The team will rely on close collaboration with the diverse tourism-based organisations within the HdF and the original combination of several non-market economic valuation methods, quantitative and qualitative surveys, coupled with the use of secondary data about tourist trips during the last ten years, to provide a broad picture of the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic on tourism activity in the HdF. The expected results are empirical, methodological and operational."