Thierry Dutoit is Research Director at CNRS, in the Mediterranean Institute for Biodiversity and Ecology in Avignon and also a scientific advisor at the Institute of Ecology and Environment.
His research focuses on the organization, resilience and ecological restoration of plant communities and Mediterranean ecosystems by using the concepts and techniques of ecological engineering to ensure that these operations are more sustainable.
The main fundamental objectives are a better understanding of the assembly theories of these communities. Then, the results are applied to the ecological restoration of degraded ecosystems via ecological engineering techniques (bio-inspiration, ecotechnology, nature-based solutions, etc.) using, for example, species called "ecosystem engineers" whose roles are expected to facilitate, in particular certain insects (harvest ants) or plants (nurse plants).
Thierry Dutoit holds a PhD in Science from the University of Rouen devoted to the dynamics and conservation management of the dry grasslands of limestone hillsides. Prior to joining CNRS in 2012, he was a lecturer at the University of Aix-Marseille, then from 2003, a university professor at the University of Avignon. He is the author of over 200 publications, including 70 in indexed international journals and 50 book chapters in the field of the ecology of plant communities and conservation sciences. Since 2011, he has been scientific advisor to the Directorate of the CNRS Institute of Ecology and Environment to promote research conducted in the field of ecological engineering to professionals and the general public.
