Oceans – Social Worlds, Living Worlds

Anchored in the collective global effort to preserve the ocean, the FMSH aims to promote scientific research in the humanities and social sciences with a view to developing knowledge about maritime spaces. This approach is accompanied by a partnership-based initiative aimed at sustainably transforming the relationship between human societies and ocean ecosystems. The FMSH thus actively promotes collaborations between scientific research and civil society organizations, public authorities, private enterprises, and more.

Projects may fall under one of the following headings, which are not limited to other themes:

• Governance and regulation of maritime areas: legal, political, diplomatic and economic issues
• Ocean societies and cultures: practices, knowledge and representations
• Circulation and exchanges: human, material and immaterial flows
• Conflicts and vulnerabilities: tensions, violence and resilience

In 2025, particular attention will be paid to projects dealing with maritime violence in its human and environmental dimensions: piracy, trafficking, armed conflicts, pollution, over-exploitation of resources and degradation of ecosystems.

All disciplinary approaches from the humanities and social sciences are eligible. Interdisciplinary projects, particularly those involving collaboration with life, earth and environmental sciences, are particularly encouraged.

Selected projects will receive financial support of between €15,000 and €30,000 over three years.

Developed in partnership with the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, the French delegation, the ‘Oceans - Social Worlds, Living Worlds’ call for projects aims to encourage the development of scientific research, the promotion of its results and dialogue with civil society.

Objectives of the call

The aim of the ‘Oceans - Social Worlds, Living Worlds’ call for projects is to :

• Provide financial and logistical support for the creation or strengthening of international scientific teams and networks to meet the societal, environmental and climate challenges facing the oceans.
• Encourage dialogue between science and society, partnerships with economic players and cooperation with non-governmental organisations, with a view to developing solutions with public decision-makers.
• Create synergies between the humanities and social sciences (HSS) and the life, earth and environmental sciences, and encourage collaboration between scientists and civil society players.

Eligibility criteria

The call is open to researchers from all disciplines in the humanities and social sciences. The main coordinator must be employed by a French research organisation or higher education establishment, which will host the project for its duration. The other scientific participants may be doctoral students, post-doctoral fellows or tenured researchers, both in France and abroad. The team or network may include societal partners.

Selection criteria

Projects will be evaluated and selected by an ad hoc scientific committee, which will pay particular attention to :

• The originality of the theme and the proposed deliverables
• The quality and relevance of the scientific project
• The international dimension of the team and the project
• The interdisciplinary dimension of the network and the complementary nature of the participants
• Synergies between disciplines in the human sciences and with the life and natural sciences
• The involvement of young researchers
• Involvement of civil society players

Applications that do not present an interdisciplinary and international dimension, as well as a clear plan for actions to promote and disseminate the results, will not be presented to the Selection Committee.

Practical and financial terms

• Financial support is granted for a period of three years.
• The amount of financial support is between 15,000 and 30,000 euros over the three years.
• This financial support is intended to cover all expenses related to scientific activities (travel between countries, working meetings, workshops, round tables, debates, etc.), with the exception of personnel costs and remuneration excluding service providers.
• An agreement will be drawn up between the FMSH and the network coordinator's home institution.

Support for the FMSH's departments

The FMSH's various departments can help prize-winners to promote and disseminate the results of their projects:

• The Media & Science mission produces, promotes and disseminates research work through appropriate productions: videos, photographs, podcasts. If the project lends itself to it, it can offer to support researchers in producing a different kind of research writing, in image and sound (interview, report, photo exhibition, etc.). Training in filming and sound recording may be envisaged to enable the team to make high-quality recordings.
• The press office can help the prize-winners think about and organise events at the FMSH (idea of a series of meetings hosted by journalists), as well as promote their work to the general and specialised press by arranging interviews.
• Éditions de la MSH can support the prize-winners from the outset of the project in their consideration of different formats for dissemination and promotion: publications, mooks, etc.
• The Digital & Research mission offers researchers personalised support in choosing the digital tools and technologies best suited to their project, such as databases, generative artificial intelligence and project management solutions..
• The Maison Suger, the FMSH's residence and research facility for foreign researchers, can host foreign researchers invited as part of selected projects, as well as events and workshops.

Depending on the projects selected, several types of training and practical, interactive workshops may be offered.

Application form

The application must include :

• The application form, which includes in particular: a detailed presentation of the team, the scientific project, the interdisciplinary and international dimension, the planned activities and deliverables.
• A bibliography relating to the project.
• A provisional budget with a precise timetable (with activities starting in January 2026).

It is important to note that applications must be submitted via an online platform, and that incomplete applications or those that do not correspond to the call will not be taken into account.

Beneficiary's obligations

• An interim report will be requested at the end of each year, as well as a final report.
• The teams undertake to come to the FMSH's premises to present their work (in the form of a conference, round table, exhibition or screening, etc.).
• The coordinator also undertakes to publicise, in advance, all events organised as part of the project.

In terms of communication

• Use of the FMSH logo on all communication documents.
• Mention of the FMSH's financial support in any written or oral communication (programs, posters, proceedings, documents given to participants, articles).
• Beneficiaries agree to inform the FMSH's communications department of any major event or activity organized as part of the project (conferences, seminars, publications, exhibitions, etc.) with a minimum of two weeks' notice. This prior information will ensure optimal visibility for the actions supported and enhance their impact on our various audiences.

Application submission and schedule

The application file is to be submitted as follows:

• Go to the http://projets.msh-paris.fr platform and enter the ‘Project workspace’;
• Log in if you have already created an account, otherwise create an account;
• Fill in your account profile for the ‘Project manager contact information’ platform and then click on ‘Create a project’;
• Click on the ‘Support for Scientific Projects’ call, then select: ‘Oceans-2025 Call’;
• Fill in all the information categories about your network project;
• Then specify the team coordinator and its members;
• At the bottom of the project page, download a single electronic document in PDF format entitled ‘Oceans Call - Social Worlds, Living Worlds - 2025’, which also includes the form attached to the call.