In response to the growing complexity of contemporary global challenges – climate change, social inequality, biodiversity loss, pandemics and others – the higher education and research sector (ESR) is undergoing significant transformation. The emergence of sustainability sciences over the past twenty five years reflects this evolution. In France, the Réseau des Zones Ateliers (RZA), a distinctive initiative of the CNRS–Écologie & Environnement, exemplifies this dynamic. As a socio-ecological research infrastructure, the RZA mobilizes interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches to investigate the complexity of social-ecological systems and support pathways toward sustainability transformations.

Aimed at students, local stakeholders, and researchers, Zones Ateliers (French LTSER Platforms) adopts a historical perspective to trace the origins and evolution of the network through the lens of its institutional and scientific plasticity. The book then examines the successive stages in the development of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches, highlighting the diversity of issues and contexts specific to each Zone Atelier. Finally, the book opens broader perspectives by situating the RZA within the field of transformative sciences and advocating for a profound transformation of higher education and research itself.

Olivier Ragueneau is a marine biogeochemist at LEMAR, France. He currently works in transformative sciences as a scientific delegate for IR-RZA.

Vanessa Lea is involved in sustainability sciences at GEODE. She is co-director of IR-RZA and head of the researcher/stakeholder interface for ZA PYGAR, France.

Isabelle Charpentier works in modeling and mediation at ICUBE. She is the former co-director of ZAEU and current deputy director of IR-RZA, France.

Claire Tito de Morais is an ecologist at LEMAR, France. She is coordinator of IR RZA in charge of management, administration and communication.

Mathieu Bonnefond is MCF at the University of Tours and CITERES, France. He is the former co-director of ZAL and deputy director of IR-RZA in charge of communication.