Chair of Transitions

The Chair of Transitions at UM6P’s Institute for Advanced Studies represents a pioneering academic initiative investigating transitional phenomena across multiple domains of inquiry. Through rigorous theoretical frameworks and empirical methodologies, the Chair examines transitions as fundamental properties manifest in quantum mechanics, biological systems, and societal transformations. Under Professor Raphaël Liogier’s direction, this research entity advances transdisciplinary excellence through international collaborations, including partnerships with UC Berkeley’s Human Energy Project. The Chair’s distinctive approach integrates Global South perspectives while addressing contemporary challenges, from ecological imperatives to technological transformations, ensuring academic innovation serves societal advancement.

The Values of the Chair of Transitions

Transformative Understanding

We pursue profound comprehension of transitional phenomena across multiple domains, from quantum mechanics to social dynamics, advancing our understanding of how systems transcend their current states.

Innovative Research Paradigms

By investigating transitions as fundamental properties of matter and consciousness, we develop novel theoretical frameworks that enhance our understanding of transformative processes.

Interdisciplinary Excellence

Our approach integrates diverse academic disciplines to illuminate the complex nature of transitions, fostering innovative methodologies that bridge traditional scholarly boundaries.

Societal Impact Focus

Our research directly addresses contemporary global challenges, from ecological transitions to technological transformations, ensuring academic excellence serves societal advancement.

Global Perspective Integration

We recognize the vital importance of incorporating perspectives from both Global North and South, particularly emphasizing Africa's potential role in addressing worldwide challenges.

Collaborative Knowledge Creation

We foster international academic partnerships and cross-disciplinary dialogue, creating an intellectual ecosystem that nurtures breakthrough insights into transitional phenomena.

Mission of the chair of Transitions

  1. Advance Transition Studies: Develop comprehensive theoretical frameworks and empirical methodologies for understanding transitional phenomena across physical, biological, and social domains.
  2. Foster International Collaboration: Establish and strengthen partnerships with leading global institutions, including the Human Energy Project at UC Berkeley and the Anxiety Culture Program, to address contemporary transitional challenges.
  3. Promote Academic Excellence: Support advanced research through post-graduate, doctoral, and post-doctoral programs, while facilitating innovative training courses on transitions.
  4. Drive Societal Impact: Transform theoretical insights into practical solutions for global challenges, particularly focusing on ecological transitions and sustainable development.
  5. Enhance Digital Innovation: Develop cutting-edge digital humanities applications and research tools, exemplified by the Global Identity Digitals project, to advance transition studies.
  6. Bridge Academic Disciplines: Create synergies between university teaching, research, and IAS activities, fostering a holistic approach to understanding transitional phenomena.

Meet the Team

Rapha-Chair

Raphael Liogier

Director of the Chair of Transitions

I’m Raphaël Liogier, Lead of the Chair of Transitions and Scientific Director of the Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS) at UM6P in Morocco, where I lead research on paradigm shifts, transnational identities, and the impact of technoscience—particularly AI—on human narratives. Alongside my work at UM6P, I am also a professor at Sciences Po Aix-en-Provence and the University of Paris-Nanterre. I have been a visiting professor at universities across Europe, America, and Australia and have authored numerous books. My latest work, Khaos: La Promesse Trahie de la Modernité, explores the necessity of transcendence in today’s world, radically rethinking the tension between faith and knowledge.



Marouane-Chair

Marouane Jaouat

Postdoctoral Researcher at the Chair of Transitions

I’m Marouane Jaouat, a postdoctoral researcher within the Chair of Transitions at the Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS) of UM6P. With a doctorate in sociology, I have dedicated seven years to studying transhumanism and its implications. Previously a Lecturer and Researcher at the University of Caen Normandy, I contributed to a report for the French Ministry of Justice on Transhumanism(s) and Law(s) (2021) and to the collective work Regards Croisés sur les Transhumanismes (2022). In 2024, I co-authored the White Paper of Transitions with Prof. Raphaël Liogier for the Chair of Transitions and co-edited a special issue on Transhumanisms for the journal France Forum. My current research focuses on transhumanism and longtermism, exploring their societal, ethical, and philosophical dimensions.

Latest Projects

Special Issue of France Forum (2024) Co-edited by Raphaël Liogier and Marouane Jaouat (France Forum, Volume 418, Issue 4. A comprehensive scholarly examination of transhumanist paradigms and their implications for contemporary societal transitions.

A foundational document articulating the theoretical framework and methodological approaches for understanding multi-dimensional transitions in contemporary global contexts.

International symposium examining the evolution of collective consciousness and global cognitive networks, followed by a peer-reviewed publication synthesizing key theoretical advances and empirical findings.

A systematically structured series of multidisciplinary scholarly dialogues investigating transitional phenomena across physical, biological, and social domains, culminating in an integrated theoretical framework for transition studies.