Souleymane Simporé, a researcher from Burkina Faso, has earned his doctorate with a thesis focused on understanding community behaviors, perceptions, and practices related to environmental protection. The study, titled "Approche écho-étho-sémiotique des innovations environnementales au Burkina Faso: entre écho-formation formelle, non formelle et changement de comportements," was defended at the University of Joseph Ki-Zerbo in Ouagadougou on November 12, 2026. The research proposes an eco-ethno-semiotic approach to analyze the conditions for sustainable adoption of environmental innovations in Burkina Faso.
The study emphasizes the importance of combining development sciences with indigenous knowledge and Burkinabé imagination to promote eco-citizenship. According to Simporé, the eco-semiotic approach examines the co-construction of meaning between humans and their environment, integrating local perceptual and cultural patterns. The addition of ethos allows for analysis of how perceptions translate into real practices in the face of ecological challenges. This approach aims to promote sustainable environmental practices by understanding community behaviors and perceptions.
The research highlights the significance of eco-formation in promoting sustainable environmental practices. Simporé argues that environmental education should go beyond mere knowledge transmission to foster profound behavioral change. This approach requires complementarity between formal education and traditional knowledge. The study's findings suggest that combining formal and non-formal eco-formation can contribute to sustainable development and help communities understand and contextualize environmental innovations.
The thesis, presented in a 630-page document, was praised by the international jury for its scientific relevance and diverse analytical materials. The jury president, Professor Joseph Paré, noted the interest of the semiotic approach in analyzing social and environmental transformations. He emphasized that the thesis provides valuable insights into theoretical issues related to education, eco-formation, and behavioral transformation.
The thesis director, Dr. Kpanyawné Somda Balouhib Thadée, congratulated Simporé on his methodological approach, which combines human sciences with community adoption of environmental innovations through formal and non-formal eco-formation. As a school teacher in the Koulsé region, Simporé aims to contribute scientifically to promoting community practices that preserve the environment in Burkina Faso.
The study's results have been recognized for their potential to contribute to sustainable development and promote eco-friendly practices among communities. The eco-ethno-semiotic approach offers a new perspective on analyzing environmental behaviors and perceptions, highlighting the importance of integrating local knowledge and cultural patterns. By promoting eco-citizenship, Simporé's research aims to support sustainable environmental practices in Burkina Faso.
Souleymane Simporé's doctorate is a significant achievement in the field of environmental research, and his study is expected to have a positive impact on environmental policies and practices in Burkina Faso. His work demonstrates the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to understanding environmental behaviors and promoting sustainable practices. The research has been recognized for its innovative approach and its potential to contribute to sustainable development in Burkina Faso.
Key points
- Souleymane Simporé earns doctorate with research on community environmental behaviors in Burkina Faso
- The study proposes an eco-ethno-semiotic approach to analyze environmental innovations in Burkina Faso
- The research highlights the importance of eco-formation in promoting sustainable environmental practices
