2016 Research Leaders: Leading academic institutions in Earth & environmental sciences

The 2016 Research Leaders are based on Nature Index data from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2015.

Table criteria

Position Institution Share 2015 Count 2015
1 Paris Cité University, France 14.09 132
2 Sorbonne University, France 12.98 167
3 University of Lyon, France 12.71 62
4 Université de La Réunion, France 11.48 109
5 Université PSL, France 9.12 111
6 University of Lorraine (UL), France 7.67 43
7 Grenoble Alpes University (UGA), France 6.85 75
8 University of Toulouse, France 6.46 87
9 University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ), France 6.22 85
10 University Clermont Auvergne (UCA), France 6.17 38
11 University of Savoy (USMB), France 5.84 63
12 Gustave Eiffel University, France 5.68 64
13 École des Ponts ParisTech (ENPC), France 3.11 41
14 Aix-Marseille University (AMU), France 3.08 33
15 University of Paris-Saclay, France 2.98 27
16 University of Lille Nord de France, France 2.77 22
17 University of Montpellier, France 2.76 35
18 École Polytechnique, France 2.68 40
19 University of Strasbourg, France 2.54 21
20 University of Orléans, France 2.54 22
21 University of Rennes 1, France 2.50 21
22 University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour (UPPA), France 2.44 8
23 University of Nantes, France 2.24 28
24 Paris-Est Créteil University (UPEC), France 2.14 17
25 National Institute of Applied Sciences (INSA), France 2.00 13
26 CY Cergy Paris University, France 1.98 10
27 University of Évry-Val d'Essonne (UEVE), France 1.87 7
28 University of Bordeaux, France 1.80 19
29 University of Poitiers, France 1.80 4
30 University of Western Brittany (UBO), France 1.78 36
31 University of the French West Indies (UAG), France 1.75 23
32 University of South Brittany (UBS), France 1.62 35
33 University of Angers, France 1.48 21
33 Le Mans University, France 1.48 21
34 Collège de France, France 1.40 21
35 University Institute of France (IUF), France 1.39 14
36 Institut Mines-Télécom (IMT), France 1.23 13
37 Institut Polytechnique de Bordeaux (Bordeaux INP), France 1.16 14
38 Montpellier SupAgro, France 1.04 13
39 SIGMA Clermont, France 0.82 10
40 École Nationale des Travaux Publics de l'État (ENTPE), France 0.80 7
41 Centrale Lille, France 0.80 11
42 University of La Rochelle, France 0.73 8
43 Institut National Supérieur des Sciences Agronomiques, Agroalimentaires, Horticoles et du Paysage (Agrocampus Ouest), France 0.72 2
44 École Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Rennes (ENSCR), France 0.57 6
45 University of Toulon (UTLN), France 0.39 2
46 HESAM Université, France 0.37 24
47 University of Franche-Comté (UFC), France 0.36 6
48 École Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Montpellier (ENSCM), France 0.33 1
49 The University of Perpignan Via Domitia (UPVD), France 0.31 7
50 University of Tours (UFR), France 0.28 2
51 École des Mines d'Alès (EMA), France 0.26 1
52 Nantes Atlantic College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering (Oniris), France 0.25 2
53 Caen University (UNICAEN), France 0.23 3
54 Paul Valéry University (Montpellier III), France 0.23 6
55 The American University of Paris (AUP), France 0.20 1
55 KEDGE Business School (KEDGE BS), France 0.20 1
56 University of Technology of Compiègne (UTC), France 0.19 1
56 École Supérieure de Chimie Organique et Minérale (ESCOM), France 0.19 1
57 National School of Agricultural Engineering of Bordeaux (Bordeaux Sciences Agro), France 0.18 3
58 Bretagne Loire University, France 0.17 3
59 National Teacher Training School in Agronomy (ENSFEA), France 0.16 5
60 University of Avignon, France 0.16 4
61 Institut d'Enseignement Supérieur et de Recherche en Alimentation, Santé Animale, Sciences Agronomiques et de l'Environnement (VetAgro Sup), France 0.15 2
62 Ecole d'Ingénieur de Purpan (INP Purpan), France 0.14 1
63 National School of Fine Arts at the Villa Arson, France 0.14 22
63 Sustainable Design School (SDS), France 0.14 22
63 École Supérieure de Réalisation Audiovisuelle (ESRA), France 0.14 22
63 EDHEC Business School, France 0.14 22
63 École Supérieure de Danse de Cannes Rosella Hightower, France 0.14 22
64 School of Higher Studies in Social Sciences (EHESS), France 0.12 5
65 French School of Public Health (EHESP), France 0.09 4
66 École Centrale Lyon, France 0.08 1
67 University of Rennes 2, France 0.07 3
68 University of Haute-Alsace (UHA), France 0.07 1
68 Institut Agronomique néo-Calédonien (IAC), France 0.07 1
69 Artois University, France 0.07 3
70 Université Bordeaux Montaigne (Bordeaux 3), France 0.06 2
71 University of Picardie Jules Verne (UPJV), France 0.06 1
72 Centrale Méditerranée, France 0.06 1
73 École Nationale Supérieure des Ingénieurs en Arts Chimiques et Technologiques (ENSIACET), France 0.05 1
73 Ecoles Supérieures du Professorat et de l’Education (ESPE), France 0.05 1
74 University of New Caledonia (UNC), France 0.04 2
75 University of Limoges (ULIM), France 0.04 2
76 Superior National School of Advanced Techniques (ENSTA ParisTech), France 0.04 1
76 Le Studium - Loire Valley Institute for Advanced Studies, France 0.04 1
77 Higher Institute for Electronics and Digital Training (ISEN), France 0.04 1
78 University of Rouen, France 0.02 1
79 National School for Water and Environmental Engineering of Strasbourg (ENGEES), France 0.02 1
80 Lycée Nature - La Roche-sur-Yon, France 0.02 1
81 Université Sorbonne Paris-Nord, France 0.01 1
81 Université Sorbonne Nouvelle - Paris 3, France 0.01 1
81 Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po), France 0.01 1
81 National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO), France 0.01 1
81 University of Burgundy, France 0.01 1
82 Université de Guyane, France 0.01 2
83 Pantheon-Sorbonne University (Paris 1), France 0.01 1
84 University of Technology of Belfort-Montbéliard (UTBM), France 0.01 1

Footnote

Each year, the Nature Index publishes tables based on counts of high-quality research outputs in the previous calendar year. Users please note:

  1. The data behind the tables are based on a relatively small proportion of total research papers, they cover the natural sciences and health sciences only and outputs are non-normalized (that is, they don’t reflect the size of the country or institution, or its overall research output).
  2. The Nature Index is one indicator of institutional research performance. The metrics of Count and Share used to order Nature Index listings are based on an institution’s or country’s publication output in 145 natural-science and health-science journals. The journals were selected on reputation by an independent panel of leading scientists in their fields. The list is reviewed periodically and journals may be removed or added. Articles from eLife were no longer included in the Nature Index from 2023 after the journal changed its publishing model.
  3. Nature Index recognizes that many other factors must be taken into account when considering research quality and institutional performance; Nature Index metrics alone should not be used to assess institutions or individuals.
  4. Nature Index data and methods are transparent and available under a creative commons licence at nature.com/nature-index/.
  5. Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

The Nature Index database undergoes regular updating, corrections, adjustment of institutional hierarchies, and removal of retracted papers and thus the live website can differ from the frozen research leaders.