Station d’Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale - CNRS

The SETE (Station d’Écologie Théorique et Expérimentale) is a Mixed Research Unit of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and the University Paul Sabatier in Toulouse. Located on the Central Pyrenees foothills in Ariège, on the commune of Moulis, it is situated about 100 km south of Toulouse.

Founded in 1948 to study the physical and biological aspects of underground cave systems, the laboratory became an Experimental Ecology Station in 2007, then the current Theoretical and Experimental Ecology Station in 2016.

Since its reorientation, the station has been directed by Jean Clobert, then by Michel Loreau in 2018, and by Camille Parmesan since 2022. It currently hosts a team of 70 researchers, technicians, administrative staff, and PhD students.

The Station works on developing new knowledge about biodiversity, ecosystems, and their interaction with societies, in order to contribute to their long-term sustainability, using theoretical and experimental approaches.