From January to March 2025, the MaHeWa project pulsed with energy through a series of eight methodological webinars, orchestrated by Catherine Sabinot (ESPACE-DEV, IRD, New Caledonia) as part of Work Package 3 (WP3).
These gatherings brought together researchers from diverse research units with the aim of exploring innovative methodologies to analyze the socio-economic vulnerability of island societies and strengthen the project’s interdisciplinary dynamic.
A space for methodological sharing
The webinars provided a valuable platform to present and discuss approaches tailored to island contexts, such as New Caledonia or Fiji.
Each session delved into a specific methodology applied to concrete issues, while fostering rich exchanges among participants.
Here’s an overview of the highlights:
Adrien Comte kicked off the series by analyzing public adaptation policies, using surveys and frameworks for transformative change to identify levers for action.
Jean Wencelius discussed the exploration of tools, from AI to logbooks, to document lagoon fishing practices.
Ariadna Burgos shared an insightful ethnoecological approach to knowledge related to shellfish harvesting.
Elodie Fache and Catherine Sabinot highlighted the role of children’s drawings in capturing values and knowledge associated with the marine environment.
Willem Malherbe shed light on sustainability initiatives in Fiji and New Caledonia, identifying chains of levers for sustainable transformations.
Sophie Caillon explored biocultural values as a key to integrating well-being into research.
Teriitutea Quesnot proposed a novel spatial approach to decipher territory usage.
Patrice Guillotreau concluded the series by comparing the I-ADApT and V2V analytical frameworks to assess the resilience of marine socio-ecosystems.
Discussions shaping the project’s future and collaborative dimension
Each webinar, structured to balance conciseness and depth, combined a methodological presentation, reflection on its application to the MaHeWa project, and an interactive discussion period. These exchanges helped consolidate common approaches, identify tools to share, and strengthen synergies among members. Participants particularly valued the ability to adapt methods to the specificities of the studied sites while exploring interdisciplinary perspectives.
This series marked a key milestone for MaHeWa, laying the foundation for a shared methodological toolkit. The discussions not only enriched ongoing work but also paved the way for future post-docs and interns joining the project. The webinars strengthened team cohesion and opened avenues for cross-cutting research, particularly around the resilience of socio-ecosystems and the well-being of island communities.
For more information: mahewa-info@listes.ird.fr
