Contribution short abstract:

This paper examines the intersection of research, public history, and activism, through the experiences of an early career environmental historian in collaborating with public and private institutions, being involved in a National Parc’s scientific board and popularizing science on Twitch.

Contribution long abstract:

“You are part of the landscape now” : this statement comes from a resident participating in a public meeting following a master degree field workshop that I organised in 2019 at the request of a municipality to help resolve a forest management crisis. Thereby the resident underlined a side effect of my involvement in the valley as an historian : I became a stakeholder. This proposal examines the intersection of historical research, public history, and activism, through the experiences of an early career environmental historian. It highlights how doing research while taking public actions can mutually inform and enrich one another, enabling useful strategies for addressing environmental issues.

From past experiences, my proposal discusses the stakes of collaboration with public institutions and private companies, showing how these partnerships can facilitate the implementation of research-driven initiatives. Furthermore, through my involvement in the scientific council of the Vanoise National Park this proposal underscores the critical role that historical insights can take in shaping sustainable and equitable decisions regarding park management. Afterwards my paper interrogate how history can engage with a broader audience through my experience of creating a Twitch channel aiming to popularize scientific research in the Alps. Throughout, I share insights gained from methodological, ethical, and positioning issues inherent to combining historical research and action that I addressed in my PhD thesis.

By sharing experiences and reflections, this paper hope to contribute to a deeper understanding of how environmental history can engage the ecological crisis stakes, without denying its epistemological foundations.