Building an effective research programme

"Because we are committed to developing the school's research skills, because we believe that research and training should go hand in hand, and because a significant part of the present and future syllabus involves production of original work, we can formulate a specific policy that aims to link research and production. The way we choose research subjects and the nature of the projects we select reflect this original approach" (J. Arlandis, school director).

Research projects

The school encourages its teachers to develop high-level innovative skills relevant to research fields, and this in turn makes it possible to set up a research framework linked to university research laboratories. Fields of intervention include the moving image and film, recorded sound, sound in the performing arts, and photography (image capture and analogue/digital processing).

Two main areas of research have been defined in the field of sound: firstly the spatialization of sound, multi-channel recording, post-production and sound monitoring, and secondly audio imagery as applied to production of original work.

For applied research we keep abreast of emerging techniques, interpreting and embracing economic, technological and artistic changes in the arts-related industries. In this respect the school has become a forum for both specific and diversified experimentation. Projects include studies in 3D cinema exploring the aesthetic and narrative characteristics of ‘smoothed 3D' produced using prototype apparatus.

Our plan is to closely monitor socio-economic needs and to forge links with professional organizations that need research, thus increasing student placement opportunities, both during their studies and after graduation. We must encourage experimental exchanges with companies and partnerships with research laboratories. New skills must be developed relating to the interconnection of image, sound, virtual reality and interactivity.

Partnerships at work

The school's resources do not enable it to carry out a viable research strategy on its own. For this reason we have been working with the Polytechnicum at Marne-la-Vallée and collaborating with several research laboratories.

The Polytechnicum is a federation of higher education and research establishments managing an active scientific and technological network in the same geographical area as the school. It fosters cooperation between new areas of research and technology developing in the Marne-la-Vallée area, and enables the sharing of facilities.

The school continues to take an active part in the Aménagement Virtuel project.

From the very start of this project it became clear that the sound spatialization research carried out at the school was particularly relevant. This research will continue, while other research in preparation will be directed towards processes involving sound and mobile, fixed and moving images and their various applications (enhanced reality, hybridization and so on).

The creation of a Groupement d'Intérêt Scientifique or Scientific Interest Group linked to this project makes it possible to optimize study and work policy and facilitates the coordination of the various organizations involved. As well as plenary meetings there will be research seminars and study groups, providing a forum for the sharing of knowledge and skills.