M2 - Ecological Engineering and Biodiversity Management - Apprenticeship

This course starts with the integration seminar.

During this course, students will participate in the design and implementation of two major annual events in the field of ecology: the Festival de la biodiversité (Festi'Versité) and the Salon national de la biodiversité (SNB). Since 2008, these events have provided an opportunity to bring together, get to know and promote all the players in the professional ecology sector in France.

Working with partner organizations (OFB, F-CEN, UPGE, F-CPIE, UM, CNRS, local authorities, etc.) and the organizing professional structure, the students will assist in the management of the two events.) and the organizing professional structure, the students are assistants to the project management of the two events, occupying various positions according to their motivations, interests and abilities (experience, skills, proposed training courses) in conjunction with volunteers from other training courses (BTS): recruitment and reception of the public and speakers, media events, communication, safety (fire risk, first aid), logistics, fund-raising, eco-responsibility, etc. The positions are offered through job descriptions for which the students apply during the master's integration seminar.

Supported by an Adhoc structure (in the process of being set up) and under the direction of a steering committee bringing together their main stakeholders, these 2 events integrate the assistance of students from the Environmental Management master's courses at the University of Montpellier's Faculty of Science, as part of their teaching and through their student associations.

- Festi'Versité, the biodiversity festival. Festi'Versité raises public awareness of ecological issues through events, shows, games, conferences, screenings and photo exhibitions. It takes place over a weekend in late October/early November at Montpellier Zoo.

- The national biodiversity show. Combining a forum for careers and training, a scientific and technical congress and professional meetings, it features conferences and round tables, scientific and technical presentations, recruitment and professional exchanges. The show takes place over 2 days in January at the Parc des Expositions in Montpellier.

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River engineering, River morphology, Hydraulic modelling, Flows, Hydraulic engineering and structures, Flooding, Impacts and compensation
Discipline: Free surface hydraulics

This course provides students with a solid grounding in hydraulic modeling. Students learn the equations of free-surface hydraulics under steady-state and non-stationary conditions. They learn how to make the transition from field study to hydraulic modeling: by taking topographic and hydrometric measurements, observing hydraulic indicators (high-water marks, hydrogeomorphological formations, hydraulic jumps, etc.) and then establishing in situ hypotheses for the functioning of watercourses.
Several scales can be explored, depending on the chosen subject: the habitat scale, that of the developed reach, that of the flooding watercourse. For each scale, students can study and implement specific structures in their modeling (fish ladders, lateral weirs, weirs, dykes, dams, etc.). The impact of these structures is simulated and analyzed in terms of hydrodynamics and hydraulic continuity.
The study is deployed on a single case study, from the field phase through to the modeling and presentation of the impact of developments. Work is carried out in groups.

A field trip enables learners to analyze the terrain and conceptualize it in a topographical and hydraulic model. In situ operating hypotheses are formulated and compared with models and results.

Finally, the EU offers students an analysis based on a real case of development or intervention in a watercourse, with an assessment of the initial state, an analysis of the impacts of the intervention, and proposals for hydraulic compensation where appropriate.

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Sustainable development, ERC sequence, green, blue, turquoise grid.

The aim is to present the regulatory and technical frameworks for integrating the environment into projects, plans and programs. The Avoid, Reduce, Compensate sequence, its challenges and the players involved will be presented, discussed and illustrated. The green and blue webs and their interface with the turquoise web will be analyzed as tools for improving biodiversity preservation in land management and development operations.
Learners will be asked to take a step back from the methods and know-how used to apply the ERC sequence in various fields, linked to plans, developments and programs with an impact on the environment.

A field trip is an opportunity to meet the players and the ERC actions deployed, and to draw up a diagnosis and outlook.

Applications will focus on the "trame turquoise" linking biodiversity law and water law, and on the ERC deployment of the development file.

Last but not least, the EU offers learners a real opportunity to critically analyze their know-how and produce innovative, inclusive solutions.

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Training delivered by UMR MARBEC at its site in Sète, France. This module develops the current context of fisheries and global climate change on marine ecosystem dynamics. With a view to better understanding and predicting the effects of fishing and climate on marine ecosystems, the teaching module is structured around the identification of uses, assessment methods and modeling of marine resource dynamics.

Synthetic content of the EU:

Resource and fishing interactions. Analysis of marine trophic interactions. Temporal dynamics of exploited fish populations (species alternation, recruitment). Modeling of predator-prey systems. Bioenergetic modeling (DEB model). Analysis and processing of catch and fishing effort data. GLM and GAM data analysis.

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The expansion of the urban environment is leading to the fragmentation/destruction of natural habitats, conservation problems and a change in the relationship between man and nature. However, urban spaces can also be home to significant biodiversity in close proximity to man, which can then be used for conservation, awareness-raising, improving human well-being or even therapeutic purposes. It's a tall order to try to work in ecology while denying the existence and consequences of the urban environment and its particularities. The aim of this course is to help future ecology professionals find a compromise between urban development and respect for nature. Through courses given by a variety of professionals and a field trip to Montpellier, students will discover where (associations, consultancies, local authorities, etc.), with whom and how an ecologist can act in urban ecology.

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The aim of this course is to provide a legal understanding of the coastal areas included in the "maritime public domain", and of other coastal and offshore maritime zones, and to show which legal regimes apply to these areas: ownership of these areas, rules for occupying these areas, rules for developing these areas. The book draws on the law of the sea, coastal and urban planning law, and marine environmental law.

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The aim of this course is to provide legal and governance knowledge on land-use planning, the consideration of biodiversity in environmental law, and the awakening of management to the ontologies of societies' relationships with living organisms. This course is particularly useful for future environmental managers, at both national and local level.

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This UE is based on the same pedagogical project as the "Salon de l'écologie-1" UE: organization and participation in the two events "Festi'Versité" and "Salon National de l'Ecologie" (see "Salon de l'écologie-1" sheet).

The specificity of the "Salon de l'écologie-2" UE lies in the roles and involvement of the students in their mission of assisting the project managers of the 2 events. In this UE, they are involved in positions of responsibility as administrators of one of the partner student associations: president, treasurer, communications manager, logistics manager, eco-responsibility manager, festivities manager, congress manager, forum manager. They will coordinate the highlights of the events, the actions of the various teams and the work of the students and volunteers involved in implementation through the "Salon de l'écologie 1" EU.

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Project management is an essential skill for a Master's-level professional. The aim of this course is to enable you to design and manage a project. We'll look at the different phases of a project, its financing (diversification of sources and budget), the planning of work, time and resources, teamwork (meetings, conflicts, reporting) and risk management. The 6-week "project management" MOOC (Common Core, or classic course - 20 hours of training: Common Core (4 weeks) + 2 specialization modules minimum) between late September and early November will be supplemented by various TDs.

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The aim of this course is to deepen understanding of key concepts relating to climate change, to illustrate important concepts in ecology and evolution in the light of climate change, in many different ecosystems, and to produce a synthesis of the various scientific and societal questions and issues raised by CC.

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The aim of this course is to introduce students to:
1. the workings of the communications departments of different types of organization involved in research and scientific culture or its application (research institutes, local authorities, associations, NGOs, companies, etc.)
2. the methodology for drawing up a communications strategy and plan, as well as a press kit.
Teaching will be based on presentations by communication department managers from various organizations, and on practical sessions enabling students to analyze and design communication strategies and plans, and to write press kits based on real projects submitted by communication department managers.

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Training delivered by UMR MARBEC at its site in Sète, France. This module develops the current context of fisheries and global climate change on marine ecosystem dynamics. With a view to better understanding and predicting the effects of fishing and climate on marine ecosystems, the teaching module is structured around the identification of uses, assessment methods and modeling of marine resource dynamics.

Synthetic content of the EU:

Resource and fishing interactions. Analysis of marine trophic interactions. Temporal dynamics of exploited fish populations (species alternation, recruitment). Modeling of predator-prey systems. Bioenergetic modeling (DEB model). Analysis and processing of catch and fishing effort data. GLM and GAM data analysis.

See full page

The expansion of the urban environment is leading to the fragmentation/destruction of natural habitats, conservation problems and a change in the relationship between man and nature. However, urban spaces can also be home to significant biodiversity in close proximity to man, which can then be used for conservation, awareness-raising, improving human well-being or even therapeutic purposes. It's a tall order to try to work in ecology while denying the existence and consequences of the urban environment and its particularities. The aim of this course is to help future ecology professionals find a compromise between urban development and respect for nature. Through courses given by a variety of professionals and a field trip to Montpellier, students will discover where (associations, consultancies, local authorities, etc.), with whom and how an ecologist can act in urban ecology.

See full page

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The aim of this course is to provide a legal understanding of the coastal areas included in the "maritime public domain", and of other coastal and offshore maritime zones, and to show which legal regimes apply to these areas: ownership of these areas, rules for occupying these areas, rules for developing these areas. The book draws on the law of the sea, coastal and urban planning law, and marine environmental law.

See full page

See full page

The aim of this course is to provide legal and governance knowledge on land-use planning, the consideration of biodiversity in environmental law, and the awakening of management to the ontologies of societies' relationships with living organisms. This course is particularly useful for future environmental managers, at both national and local level.

See full page

This UE is based on the same pedagogical project as the "Salon de l'écologie-1" UE: organization and participation in the two events "Festi'Versité" and "Salon National de l'Ecologie" (see "Salon de l'écologie-1" sheet).

The specificity of the "Salon de l'écologie-2" UE lies in the roles and involvement of the students in their mission of assisting the project managers of the 2 events. In this UE, they are involved in positions of responsibility as administrators of one of the partner student associations: president, treasurer, communications manager, logistics manager, eco-responsibility manager, festivities manager, congress manager, forum manager. They will coordinate the highlights of the events, the actions of the various teams and the work of the students and volunteers involved in implementation through the "Salon de l'écologie 1" EU.

See full page

Project management is an essential skill for a Master's-level professional. The aim of this course is to enable you to design and manage a project. We'll look at the different phases of a project, its financing (diversification of sources and budget), the planning of work, time and resources, teamwork (meetings, conflicts, reporting) and risk management. The 6-week "project management" MOOC (Common Core, or classic course - 20 hours of training: Common Core (4 weeks) + 2 specialization modules minimum) between late September and early November will be supplemented by various TDs.

See full page

The aim of this course is to deepen understanding of key concepts relating to climate change, to illustrate important concepts in ecology and evolution in the light of climate change, in many different ecosystems, and to produce a synthesis of the various scientific and societal questions and issues raised by CC.

See full page

See full page

See full page

The aim of this course is to introduce students to:
1. the workings of the communications departments of different types of organization involved in research and scientific culture or its application (research institutes, local authorities, associations, NGOs, companies, etc.)
2. the methodology for drawing up a communications strategy and plan, as well as a press kit.
Teaching will be based on presentations by communication department managers from various organizations, and on practical sessions enabling students to analyze and design communication strategies and plans, and to write press kits based on real projects submitted by communication department managers.

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This course aims to provide a better understanding of the main types of pollutants (organic vs. inorganic), their source(s), their fate in the environment and how they interact with living organisms (bioaccumulation, biotransformation, effects). The methods used in depollution and bioremediation will be discussed. Particular emphasis will be placed on the contribution of terrestrial and aquatic plants to phytoremediation, and on the role of micro-organisms (bacteria, fungi) in biodegradation, biotransformation or biosequestration mechanisms. This course will be illustrated by a number of case studies, covering examples of chronic and acute/accidental pollution of water, air and soil. In particular, the treatment of pollution linked to the mining, oil, plastics and phyto-pharmaceutical industries will be covered, as will the treatment of liquid effluents (wastewater, industrial effluents). A field trip to Saint-Laurent-Le-Minier will illustrate a current phytoremediation project on a former mining site.

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Climate change, global change, outlook, adaptation, resilience, hydrology modelling, future climate simulation, water resource availability, extreme events, impacts on ecosystems, ecological issues

This course provides students with an insight into the climatic, environmental and anthropogenic changes impacting our hydro-eco-socio-systems today and in the future.

The activities focus on a number of non-exhaustive aspects of this vast and constantly evolving field.

In addition to presenting issues, figures and concepts, students learn about hydrological modeling tools that can be used to develop future scenarios for resource development. They analyze a specific subject by combining different disciplines and approaches. They discuss possible adaptations to cope with the impact of change.

The activities consist of 3 parts: The course activity, the modeling activity and the bibliography activity.

- The courses explain the principles of climate modeling, the construction of climate change scenarios and their limitations. The orders of magnitude of the main changes are outlined, as well as the major challenges of sustainable development, climate change and global change. A special focus is placed on French Mediterranean watersheds (climate change hot spots, declining availability of water resources, agricultural practices and adaptations, irrigation, tourism, etc.).

- The concepts of hydrological modeling and calibration in a non-stationary or poorly gauged context are taught, and an introduction to hydrological modeling is given with an application case. Students work with general hydrological models (such as GR, HEC-HMS or WEAP) to evaluate flows and balances, feed them with climate model outputs, generate future flow and balance scenarios, and critique the resulting scenarios. The modeling work carried out in small groups is the subject of an oral presentation.

- Finally, the bibliography compiled in class and completed independently should enable students to specialize around a concrete case study of a change occurring in a compartment of a natural or urbanized hydro-eco-system (chosen by the students). They carry out a bibliographical analysis to identify the societal or environmental issues arising from these changes, as well as the scientific questions inherent in the implementation of impact reduction or adaptation measures. They must identify how their case study is similar to others, but also how it differs from them. Finally, they open their analysis with a more general methodology, applicable to other case studies, for characterizing these changes, their impacts and adaptation measures. Learners write

an operational summary (bibliography, similar case studies, controversies, operational tools, protocols, orders of magnitude). They then pitch their findings to the class.

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Gestion du Milieu Aquatique et Prévention des Inondations
Discipline: Ecology, Hydraulics

This teaching unit enables students to immerse themselves in a real case study, in the field, relating to the GEMAPI competence. Stakeholders and managers will be met on the study site to appreciate the challenges and complexity of the territory. Student groups will work on a concrete project to bring together water management and flood prevention in a way that respects ecology, the environment and people. This teaching unit will be an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in previous courses (ecology, hydraulics, legislation, regional planning, etc.).

The study is deployed on the same concrete case, from the field phase through modeling, analysis and concerted management, to the phase of presenting the impact of developments. Work is carried out in groups.

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Innovation is the very culmination of scientific research, but it is also the condition for the survival and/or development of most companies and associations, and hence of all human organizations. Innovation is also a very important lever for the economic development of territories, where it is often coupled with the circular economy or the inclusion economy. 

Being able to participate in the design and implementation of innovative projects, and finding the financial and partnership resources to do so, are skills that are increasingly in demand among all employees, whatever their status and role in the organization (in short, from blue-collar workers to CEOs, technicians, engineers and even ... researchers!) The aim is as much to inculcate a professional culture of innovation as to teach its basic methodological and technical principles. This educational program is based on a project-based pedagogy, and uses seminar work (7 days a week, 24 hours a day) in a closed environment, cut off from the outside world for better concentration. The pedagogical principle is to bring together several skills (in our case, those of 4 GE Master's courses and 2 Energy Master's courses) in the same time and place to work as a group on a local environmental issue. Conferences, meetings, visits, reflection and work will alternate to enable students to deliver a written response and an oral presentation at the end of the week. The best projects will be presented orally to a panel of professionals and defended by the students themselves. 

Open to all GE majors in M2 (except GeIBioTe) in FI and APP, and to the Energy master's program.

With the exception of the Aquadura course, for which this UE takes place over the course of the semester, the Cogithon takes the form of a 6-day seminar. The seminar starts with a theoretical part (the first day) and then proceeds in the form of workshops in which students are organized into project teams. Teams compete to present a project in response to an invitation to tender, which changes every year and is drawn up in partnership with local players. The call for tenders is based on the work of the Aquadura course and their November restitution. 

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