Presentation

The Observatoire sociologique du changement (OSC) is a research center affiliated with  Sciences Po and the Institut des sciences humaines et sociales (InSHS) of CNRS (UMR 7049).

Head of the OSC is Mirna Safi, Associate Professor at Sciences Po, since January 1, 2019. She has been a member of the OSC since 2007. She is the first woman leading the laboratory since its start in 1988.  Her research topics focuses on migration, urban segregation, discriminations and ethno-racial inequalities.

Research at the OSC focuses on four main pillars:

• Social stratification and the transformation of inequalities
  
• Cities and urban inequalities
• Lifestyles: culture and  norms, social patterns, environment
  
• Educational dynamics and policies
  

OSC is a broad-based, comparative research center in sociology. 
Founded in 1988 by Henri Mendras and led by Marco Oberti since January 1, 2014, the OSC investigates social dynamics in contemporary societies.
Combining qualitative and quantitative methods, the center gives primacy to cross-national comparative perspectives and multiple scales of analysis. The research produced at the center is solidly grounded in empirical inquiry.

A well-established team in social research communities in France and worldwide

Researchers at the OSC collaborate on interdisciplinary projects with other research teams at Sciences Po and with the French and international scientific communities at large. 

As active members of sociological associations and editorial board members of sociological journals, the OSC researchers are regularly invited to share their expertise on scientific boards and in national or international conferences. They have established worldwide partnerships.
The research produced at the OSC resonates far beyond the academic world, as the center's researchers and doctoral students are regularly invited to make media appearances and to participate on expert committees addressing social issue in contemporary societies.

A Strong investment in doctoral training and supervision


With over 30 PhD students fully integrated into the life of the center, the OSC plays an important role in doctoral training as one of the host research centers for the Sciences Po Doctoral Program in Sociology.

The center's members teach a number of courses within the are actively involved in teaching in Sciences Po Sociology department.

Evalutation

The OSC was rated A+ by AERES (French Evaluation Agency for Research and Higher Education) in January 2013 for each of its 6 evaluation criteria:

• Production and quality of scientific research
• Academic renown and attractiveness
• Interaction with the social, economic and cultural environment
• Organization and life of the center
• Involvement in research training
• 5-year strategy and project

Read the AERES evaluation in French (.pdf).

Honors

• Alice Olivier, 2019, PhD Prize, Observatoire de la vie étudiante (OVE)
• Marine Haddad, 2018, Young Author's Prize 2018, Population journal
• Juliette Galonnier, 2018, ASA's Dissertation Award (American Sociological Association) for the dissertation "Choosing Faith and Facing Race: Converting to Islam in France and the United States"
• Yoann Demoli, Panhard Prize 2018 (Automobile Club de France et Comité des Constructeurs Français d’Automobiles) for PhD work
• Pauline Proboeuf, 2017, 27^st Master Prize, Observatoire national de la vie étudiante (M2)
• Marie Duru-Bellat, Doctor honoris causa, University of Liège
• Agnès van Zanten, Doctor honoris causa, ULB (Bruxelles)  
• Gaëlle Larrieu, 2017, Second Prize by CNAF for her Master 2 thesis
• Hugues Lagrange, 2017, Medal of Honor, CNRS
• Agnès van Zanten, 2017, Corresponding Fellow, British Academy
• Margot Delon, 2017, Caritas Research Prize (Institut de France / Fondation de recherche Caritas)
• Agnès van Zanten, 2017, Gold Medal, CNRS
• Agnès van Zanten, 2016, Doctor honoris causa, University of Geneve
• Mathieu Ichou, 2015, ECSR Prize for the best PhD thesis
• Lorraine Bozouls, 2015, Vinci Grant (French and Italy University Frame for promoting mobility)
• Aden Gaide, 2015, Louis Gruel 1st Prize, Observatoire national de la vie étudiante for Master 2 thesis.  Subject: Les temporalités de la maternité étudiante. Cycle de vie, temps du quotidien.
• Edmond Préteceille, 2015, laureate of the Programme de chaire française with the University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (project: La dynamique des classes moyennes dans l'évolution des structures spatiales des métropoles de Rio de Janeiro et São Paulo)
• Juliette Galonnier, 2015, Presidential Fellowship, Northwestern University
• Juliette Galonnier, 2014, Winch prize, best 2nd year Paper, Northwestern University
• Yoann Demoli, 2014, Best Young Author GERPISA (in Kyoto colloquium)
• Hugues Lagrange, 2013, Prix Seligmann against racism, injustice and intolerance
• Olivier Godechot, 2013, CNRS Bronze Medal (French Webpage)
• Agathe Voisin, 2013, Albert Memmi Prize
• Anne-Sophie Cousteaux, 2012, Prize from Ville de Paris for gender studies
• Laurent Lesnard, 2011, CNRS Bronze Medal (see PDF profile)
• Ugo Palheta, 2011, Prize Louis Cros
• Marie Plessz, 2009, 3st Young Author Prize by  Sociologie du travail
• Thibaut de Saint Pol, 2009, Prix de la Ville de Paris, Trémolières Prize
• Mathieu Ichou, 2009, 2nd CNAF Prize