Professor Frédéric Herman was appointed Rector of the University of Lausanne (UNIL) on 1 August 2021, a role he carries out with all the curiosity, lucidity and serenity of an academic who is well aware of current upheavals, but also keen to take the long view, as one of the world’s experts in the interactions between climate change and the evolution of mountains.
He emphasises several major societal issues that UNIL can help to identify and resolve in its three fundamental areas of expertise: research, teaching and academic mediation. Logically, the strategic plan he is developing with other members of the Rectorate is focused on these issues – namely health, the ecological transition, equality, the role of science in society and the necessity of collaborating with other institutions.