GREASE, a participatory and multidisciplinary Research network

Last update: 16 September 2022

Interview with Dr. Aurélie Binot, GREASE network Former Coordinator

June 21, 2013

As an Anthropologist and a Geographer, Aurélie Binot has a multidisciplinary approach of complex systems in which social, political and biological aspects are interrelated. 

As GREASE network’s coordinator, Aurélie focuses on the integration of Social and Environmental disciplines within the network’s activities, in partnership with colleagues belonging mainly to veterinary sciences.  

Aurélie Binot explains how concretely the GREASE members have been involved in the definition of the network’s strategic orientations:

“The setup of 4 working groups dedicated to interactions between Animal Health and Biodiversity sciences, Environmental sciences, and Public health to define GREASE’s strategic orientations framed the involvement of the members within different thematic areas: 

  • Defining interdependence between epidemiological and socio-economic systems in veterinarian public health
  • Defining the interactions between biodiversity and health
  • Improving epidemiological data sharing at the animal/human public health interface
  • Evaluating and controlling animal and zoonotic diseases impact

On the basis of this participatory process, GREASE members agreed on several research projects and training sessions to be organized to respond to their specific and immediate needs.

Within the framework of each regional research themes, the links between different partners (researchers, international organization’s experts, governmental technical services etc.) were progressively strengthened.

In parallel, the network gradually reinforced itself through joint research projects and trainings such as Participatory Epidemiology, and Companioning Modeling (ComMod) and Biostatistics (with 8 training cycles organized in 2012-2013).

Thanks to the support we get from the French embassies’ network in Southeast Asian countries, some members could join the network and set-up specific joint collaboration regarding their particular interests. For instance, in Indonesia the French Cultural Services (SCAC) financially supports the progressive integration of the University of Gadjah Mada (UGM) into the network. UGM will probably become a new core member in 2014 through an amendment to the MOU. In the Philippines, SCAC support allows us to strengthen existing collaboration with Central Mindanao University and to progressively include some researchers from Faculty of social sciences of the University of Los Banos.

The network members intend to build on this dynamic by continuing to work on 3-4 year-funded research projects, animate and attend trainings and meetings and develop an academic education offer (such as InterRisk Master) which will respond to the needs for new capacities formulated by GREASE’s members and associated partners. The implementation of research activities framed by EcoHealth principles (Ecosystem Approach to Health) clearly appears to be one of the prior expected developments for GREASE in the coming years.”

Last update: 16 September 2022