معرفی
Sophie Bernard is a Full Professor in the Department of Mathematical and Industrial Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal. Her research focuses on environmental economics, circular economy, and sustainable resource management. She is affiliated with multiple research centers including CIRANO (as Fellow and Principal Investigator), CIRROD, CIRODD, the Michael D. Penner Institute on ESG issues, CIRAIG, and the Research Group on Globalisation and Management of Technology.
Dr. Bernard earned her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Ottawa. Her doctoral research focused on environmental economics, examining remanufacturing, transboundary movements of waste, and the relationship between democracy, inequality, and environmental quality.
Professor Bernard's research spans multiple dimensions of sustainable resource management and environmental economics. Her work examines end-of-life management, remanufacturing, recycling, and reuse systems, with particular attention to durability, planned obsolescence, and incentives for green design. She applies economic theory including game theory, imperfect competition, and contracts theory to environmental policy questions. Her research also investigates international trade in reusable goods, illegal waste markets, and management of critical resources within circular economy frameworks. She has increasingly incorporated interdisciplinary approaches, collaborating with artists to explore how creative interventions can promote eco-responsible behaviors.
Analysis of Professor Bernard's recent publications reveals a strong focus on practical applications of circular economy principles across multiple sectors. Her work spans from theoretical economic modeling to applied case studies on energy transition under mineral constraints, fast fashion waste management, food distribution systems, and consumer behavior regarding reusable packaging. A notable trend is her growing interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly with artists to study how creative interventions can promote sustainable behaviors, as seen in her recent work on the "Zér0" exhibition at the Montreal Biosphere.
Professor Bernard has received recognition through her affiliations with major research centers:
- Center for Interuniversity Research and Analysis of Organizations (CIRANO) - Fellow
- Centre interuniversitaire de recherche en analyse des organisations (CIRANO) - Principal Investigator
- Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en opérationnalisation du développement durable (CIRROD) - Member
- The Michael D. Penner Institute on ESG issues - Member
- Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en opérationnalisation du développement durable (CIRODD) - Member
- International Reference Centre for the Life Cycle of Products, Processes and Services (CIRAIG) - Member
- Research Group on Globalisation and Management of Technology (GMT) - Member
Professor Bernard has supervised one PhD student and ten Master's students, with thesis topics spanning circular economy applications across various sectors including fashion, food distribution, critical minerals, and waste management. Her students' research often addresses practical policy questions related to sustainable resource management, demonstrating her commitment to training the next generation of researchers in applied environmental economics. She has secured funding for research on energy transition under mineral constraints, fast fashion waste management, and circular economy implementation in Quebec.
Professor Bernard is actively involved in multiple research teams and networks focused on sustainable development. She collaborates with the International Reference Centre for the Life Cycle of Products, Processes and Services (CIRAIG) on life cycle assessment methodologies, and works with the Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en opérationnalisation du développement durable (CIRROD/CIRODD) on operationalizing sustainable development principles. Her recent work with artists through the "Zér0" exhibition demonstrates her expanding interdisciplinary approach to addressing environmental challenges.
