Bank of Experts

Cofounder of the IC Thinking method, Sara Savage is a social psychologist and a senior research associate at the Department of Psychology of the University of Cambridge. Her doctoral work at the University of Cambridge laid the foundations for understanding the way in which cognitive and social dynamics shape how people think about the social world in fundamentalism, social polarisation and extremism. With her colleagues, she developed an array of interventions to address these phenomenons, operationalizing the construct of ‘Integrative Complexity’ (IC) to measure violence prevention-related cognitive change. Ms. Savage’s work spans universal prevention through critical thinking programs in schools, programs for identified ‘at risk’ youth, and programs for former and current detainees involved in violent extremism. She is the author of thirty-four publications in this field. Mrs. Savage is an associate member of the UNESCO-PREV Chair.

Holder of a doctorate in sociology from the École des hautes études en sciences sociales since 2012, Romain Sèze is a researcher at the Institut national des hautes études de la sécurité et de la justice (INHESJ). Attached to the Sociétés, Religions et Laïcités group, a research laboratory coordinated by the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) and the École pratique des hautes études (EPHE-PSL), Mr. Sèze specializes in religion through the lens of security and justice issues. His research focuses on the political and religious sociology of the Muslim phenomenon in Europe, more specifically on militant violence perpetrated in the name of Islam and on the policies dedicated to it. He is also interested in the political and religious sociology of the Muslim phenomenon in Europe, more specifically in militant violence perpetrated in the name of Islam and on the policies dedicated to it. Mr. Sèze is a professor at Sciences Po Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Mr. Sèze is an associate member of the UNESCO-PREV Chair.

Lori-Anne Théroux-Bénoni is Director of the Regional Office for West Africa, the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS). She leads a team of researchers based in Dakar, Bamako, Abidjan, Abuja and N’Djamena. The unit works on key policy issues in the region such as violent extremism and terrorism, political instability, local conflicts, peace operations and political processes. Prior to joining ISS in 2012, she worked as a researcher for the Peace Operations Network (ROP) at the University de Montréal, in Canada, as well as for Radio-Canada and the Carter Center in Côte d’Ivoire. Ms. Théroux-Bénoni holds a doctorate in anthropology from the University of Toronto. She conducts research from an anthropological perspective through the studying of conflicts, insecurity and violence to inform current policy discussions and processes at national, regional and global levels. Mrs. Théroux-Bénoni is an associate member of the UNESCO-PREV Chair.

Frédéric Touchet, engineer, is the founder and director of Le Moutard, located in Lyon. He creates and produces didactic and interactive supports for young people and educational actors. His concept “Expo-quiz®” allows reflection and debate on social issues in schools, leisure activities and supervised education. His multidisciplinary expertise has allowed him to get involved in the field of primary prevention of radicalization through the creation of numerous titles such as “Awakening the critical spirit”, “Secularism”, “Equality between girls and boys”, or “Living in the city, let’s talk about it! ». His productions are developed in close partnership with institutions of reference in the fields of education and justice, as well as with the public concerned. They are recognized at the French and European levels and have won several awards.

Martine Zeuthen is an Associate Fellow in the Terrorism and Conflict Research Group at RUSI. Based in Kenya she focusses on extremism and radicalisation, countering violent extremism, programme management and research methodology. Martine set up RUSI’s operation in East Africa and led the ‘Strengthening Resilience to Violent Extremism in the Horn of Africa’ (STRIVE) programme and the follow on, STRIVE II as well as many other research-based CVE projects. She is a Danish anthropologist (BA and MSc) and currently studying a PhD in Crime and Security Studies at University College London. She became a Senior Fellow at Hedayah Centre of Excellence in February 2020 and is also a member of an International Consensus Guidelines Committee managed by the Canadian Practitioners Network for the Prevention of Radicalisation and Extremist Violence (CPN-PREV) as well as a member of the Danish Researchers Network specializing in extremism and radicalisation.