CHOICE 1

This course introduces students to contaminants in the aquatic environment, which is essential for assessing risks to human and ecosystem health and for managing water resources. For this reason, the curriculum includes an overview of the various contaminants found in the aquatic environment and the relevant regulations.

The courses in this module are taught by faculty members and researchers (this is a multidisciplinary module) whose research focuses on issues related to contaminants in aquatic environments.

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The course primarily consists of a detailed overview of the fundamentals of land-use planning: The main legal frameworks and their constant evolution (codes, laws, regulations), as well as the “  doctrines  ” that shape their implementation, as well as the various technical “tools”—whether procedures or the preparation of applications (urban planning documents, or public or private construction or development projects). The tools and conditions for dialogue and coordination (examination of the various methods), as well as the land management approaches (land management and the tools for managing it), and the assessment of the various issues (financial, socioeconomic, and political), and finally, the decision-making . The various aspects mentioned above are highlighted as factors that determine the success—and thus the successful spatial implementation—of all development projects, regardless of their nature and scale .

Designed to cover all regions, the module also aims to focus on issues specific to coastal and similar areas. Because coastal zones have unique characteristics, a specific approach to these areas is essential to complement general approaches (the Coastal Zone Act, the Water Act, easements, and changes to regulatory frameworks and legislation).

Finally, the underlying theme of this module is the systematic exploration of the many debates and issues involved in the confrontation between the emergency (or priority) socioeconomic and the environmental environmental , with an understanding of the trade-offs and constant adjustments that this tension gives rise to. The current urgency of the ecological and transitional crisis, as well as the acceleration of confrontations / conflicts of interest are examined and put into perspective.

With regard to the “  management  ” of territories—presented in the course title (“ From Land-Use Planning to Territorial Management”) as stemming from the land-use planning phase—this theme is also described and analyzed for each of the specific points covered under land-use planning, both as a consequence of the actions taken and as a condition for success —in the medium and long term—of projects being implemented in a territory, regardless of their scale.

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This course unit is designed to enable students to gain in-depth knowledge of how aquatic ecosystems function and to identify threats and vulnerabilities in the face of local pressures and climate change.

It will also enable students to 1) understand the specific characteristics of how benthic ecosystems function and the ecological roles of their components, 2) acquire in-depth knowledge of how aquatic ecosystems function, 3) gain knowledge about the impact of chemical and biological contaminants (toxic and pathogenic microalgae), climate change, and human activities on aquatic ecosystems, their functioning, and their components, including the associated socioeconomic repercussions. This course unit will develop monitoring networks for the marine environment and the health of harvested marine animals by addressing mortality issues.

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To present the main processes associated with liquid effluent treatment, as well as the treatment and management of the byproducts generated. This course is based on learning to conduct a comprehensive ecological assessment focused on the challenges of water resource management, wastewater, and wastewater treatment byproducts. The design and implementation of treatment processes are addressed through the context of the urban and industrial water cycle.

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Water lies at the heart of multiple and conflicting issues, visions, and interests. The interplay of these various elements raises questions about integrated water resources management (IWRM) and regulation (particularly through public policy), the balance between collective and private values, and decision-making processes concerning collective issues—in short, governance. Decentralization, water and sanitation services, basin-level management, the European Water Framework Directive, and financial flows, in particular, illustrate various facets of governance.

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The course is organized into three main sections, interspersed with tutorials focused on engineering problems. In the first section, after describing the major global water reservoirs and, in general terms, the basic principles of the water cycle, the course addresses the effects of human activities on this cycle. The second part is devoted to the atmospheric phase of the water cycle, from precipitation to infiltration. The third part focuses on aquifers and groundwater bodies, ranging from the pore scale to the watershed scale.

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The “Ocean, Atmosphere, Climate” module aims to present the fundamental principles of atmospheric dynamics and ocean dynamics and offers a critical and well-documented perspective on climate change. The course is based on the analysis of official documents describing global change, well-documented discussions of key issues, and case studies applied to various global contexts.

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