New Short Course on Digital Technology: Technical Issues, Ethical Challenges, and Societal Impacts
Digital technology, often perceived as intangible, has growing environmental,
economic, and societal impacts, amplified by the development of
artificial intelligence and related infrastructure.
Between innovation, resource consumption, and energy challenges, it raises numerous paradoxes.
This short training course helps participants understand the challenges and limitations involved, while emphasizing practical recommendations and actionable solutions for taking action—both individually and collectively—as part of a commitment to sustainable development and social responsibility.
Organized by Polytech Montpellier, the first session of this short course will take place on Thursday, June 11, 2026(7 hours of in-person training) at Polytech’s facilities.
Objective
This training program aims to educate decision-makers on digital issues (AI, data centers, software, etc.) in the context of economic, environmental, and societal transitions.
Key Skills
- Understanding Digital Systems: Mastering their overall functioning, their complexity, and the connections between data, AI, and infrastructure.
- Analysis of Technical Issues: Identifying technological and energy constraints, as well as challenges related to data centers and high-performance computing.
- Impact Assessment: Measuring the Environmental, Economic, and Societal Effects of Digital Technology.
- Critical thinking and responsibility: questioning digital practices, embracing digital moderation, and applying the principles of responsible digital use.
- Transformation and Strategic Alignment: Supporting organizational transformation by aligning technology choices with business, sustainability, and sovereignty objectives.
Target Audience
Stakeholders in the socioeconomic sphere (businesses, local governments, elected officials, organizations, etc.)
Prerequisites: This course has no prerequisites.
Teaching Staff
Michel ROBERT
Professor at the University of Montpellier, Polytech Montpellier, and LIRMM; a recognized expert on digital infrastructure and its environmental impact.
As the former director of CINES, he oversaw world-class high-performance computing infrastructures. He heads the REINE (Responsibility, Impacts, and Ethics of Digital Technologies) Chair, a joint initiative between the ISIA Group and Polytech Montpellier.
His research focuses on computer architectures, with an emphasis on energy efficiency, AI, data centers, and responsible digital technology. He is also involved with several academic institutions.
Fabienne AMADORI
Co-President of ISIA, an IT firm based in the Hérault region that specializes in supporting companies' digital transformation.
She is also First Vice President of
, the development and transition agency of
Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole.
Loric RIVIÈRE
As Director of Production at the ISIA Group, he is responsible for defining the technical stack and engineering methods.
He serves as a technical architect and ensures the
quality of projects by ensuring consistency in
technology choices and architectures.
He ensures that the principles of performance,
robustness, and digital simplicity are incorporated into the solutions
developed.
Training Session
A training session is scheduled for this year:
- Thursday, June 11, 2026(7 hours of in-person training) at Polytech Montpellier, Triolet Campus.
- Price: 950 € (including tax)
Are you interested in this training course?
Applications, administrative and academic questions: contact sfc-polytech@umontpellier.fr
