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The EXPAIRs program

Experiential knowledge
and peer support

The EXPAIRs research program deals with the contemporary development of peer support, and the (rare) experiential knowledge that arises from the latter.

EXPAIRs program objectives

The first objective of this program is to create scientific knowledge about :

  • the range of peer support practices (peer support, peer work, peer intervention, etc.)
  • the diversity of contexts in which peer support occurs, their effects on these practices and on the experiential knowledge which is, or not, implemented

The second aim of this program is to create scientific knowledge about :

  • experiential knowledge created to address, in particular, disabling situations, chronic illnesses, a mental health disorder or any other rare situation
  • the social processes underlying experiential knowledge, its production, perpetuation or disappearance, and circulation, etc.

The third aim is to disseminate research results in different forms, especially in relation to requests from the public.


The EXPAIRs program

EXPAIRs is an interdisciplinary research program which brings, or has brought, together researchers from the following fields :

  • Sociology
  • Anthropology
  • History
  • Sports Sciences
  • Rehabilitation Sciences
  • Psychology

The program’s Scientific Director is Eve Gardien, Sociologist and Associate Professor, University of Rennes 2.
Currently working on the EXPAIRs program :

  • Samir Boudrahem, Sociologist & Rehabilitation Sciences, IFMK, ISTR, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1
  • Gildas Bregain, Historian, CNRS Researcher, ARENES, EHESP
  • Paul-Fabien Groud, Anthropologist, Post-doctoral fellow, S2HEP, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1
  • Pierrick Le Mouël, Sociologist, Doctoral fellow, Université Bretagne Ouest

EXPAIRs is administrated by the ESO (UMR 6590) Laboratory on the University of Rennes 2 campus.

Available ressources