Training Structure
College of Sciences
List of Courses
Choose 1 out of 5
Fluid Biophysics
3 creditsFood-Nutrition-Health
3 creditsBiotechnology and the Challenge of Sustainable Agriculture
3 creditsBiochemistry
3 creditsAnimal Behavior - Ethology
3 credits
Fluid Biophysics
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The first part (about one-third) of the module will cover (biological) processes whose temporal evolution is described by an exponential law (growth or decline).
Radioactivity will be discussed as an example of such a process and for its applications in the fields of biology, health, and the environment (dating, tracing, etc.).
The second part (about two-thirds) of the module will introduce the concepts of fluids and pressure, and will present the laws of hydrostatics (the fundamental law of fluid statics, Archimedes’ theorem).
Fluid dynamics will be introduced, including concepts such as flow, viscosity, sedimentation, and centrifugation, as they relate to the biology and health sector.
List of Chapters in the Module:
- Exponential variations
- Radioactivity (radioactive decay, activity)
- Fluids: definition, properties, the concept of pressure
- Hydrostatics: fundamental law of fluid statics, Archimedes' theorem.
- Elements of Hydrodynamics: Flow, Bernoulli's Theorem
- Viscosity; Sedimentation and centrifugation
Food-Nutrition-Health
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Given that nutrition has become a focus of interest for an increasingly broad audience, the objective of this course unit is to establish dietary guidelines based on a scientific approach.
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of food and nutrition, covering nutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals), nutritional needs, and the various food groups. It will also cover certain food processing methods and technologies.
Biotechnology and the Challenge of Sustainable Agriculture
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
This course is offered to second-year Life Sciences students who wish to explore or gain a deeper understanding of how biotechnology can help address current and future challenges related to the sustainable production of agricultural and agri-food resources.
Humans use the properties of photosynthetic organisms and microorganisms to obtain and transform a wide range of resources and services: food for humans and livestock, therapeutic molecules, construction materials, and more. This use depends on natural conditions, and its overall impact is likely to affect the environment in turn—for example, through the extraction or degradation of limited and/or non-renewable resources (water, soil, etc.). Therefore, to ensure that this production of resources is sustainable, its organization (the concept of agronomy) must incorporate an understanding of these impacts and be based on knowledge of the properties of plants and microorganisms to address these challenges. The development and use of new biotechnologies in the fields of applied genetics and plant physiology, the use of microorganisms, and the beneficial or harmful interactions between these microorganisms and plants play a major role in these sustainable agronomy strategies.
Biochemistry
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
Time of year
Fall
Animal Behavior - Ethology
Level of Education
2 years of post-secondary education
ECTS
3 credits
Training Structure
College of Sciences
The goal of this course is to understand animal behavior in an integrative manner, in light of Tinbergen’s four “whys”: from its ontogenesis and neurobiological causes to its evolution and biological functions. In addition to historical, conceptual, and methodological insights, students will be guided to understand the diversity of traits involved as well as the variety of scientific approaches and questions associated with them. Through various examples, this course will highlight the diversity of disciplines that study animal behavior—including neuroscience, ethology, and behavioral ecology—and will help students make informed decisions about continuing their studies in appropriate fields such as animal physiology and neuroscience, evolutionary biology and ecology, or other related areas.