Michael Toplis

Michael Toplis Overview

On April 7, 2023, Michael Toplis assumed the role of President of the University of Toulouse after being elected by the Board of Directors. His appointment, spanning four years, marks a historic moment as he becomes the inaugural president of the experimental community of universities and institutions, established on January 1, 2023.

Under the new statutes, the president's legitimacy is derived from the Executive Board and the Board of Directors of the University of Toulouse. The initial phase of the election took place on Tuesday, March 28, before being extended to research organizations and a panel of seven external experts.

Michael Toplis is a planetologist and research director at CNRS. His academic journey began with a degree in natural sciences at Cambridge (UK) and culminated in a doctorate from the University of Bristol. Subsequently, he pursued his career at the Bavarian Geological Institute in Bayreuth, Germany. Later, he became a CNRS research fellow at the Center for Petrographic and Geochemical Research in Nancy, where he earned his authorization to direct research.

In 2004, Michael Toplis joined the Midi-Pyrénées Observatory (OMP). His dedication and expertise led to his election as vice-president of the scientific committee, followed by appointments as deputy director in 2016, interim director, and ultimately director in 2017. During the same year, he assumed responsibility for the Universe Planet Space Environment (UPEE) board at Toulouse III University - Paul Sabatier and became the delegate of the UPEE research center of the Federal University Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées.

Michael Toplis has always held a deep concern for the societal impact of research. This concern led him to take on one of the Occitanie region's fifteen 'key challenges,' specifically addressing the "Observation of the Earth and territories in transition." He also played a pivotal role in leading one of the region's three "Transitions Laboratories" focused on adaptation to climate change.

Michael Toplis has been deeply committed to knowledge dissemination. He has taught at both bachelor's and master's levels, encompassing general and professional training. He serves as the head of the university research school, "Toulouse Graduate School of Earth and Space Science." His dedication extends to sharing his scientific expertise with the general public through numerous speaking engagements.