M1 - Water and Society (ES)

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Project management encompasses all the methods, tools, and techniques used to organize the execution of a project and achieve its objectives, from the initial concept through to completion.

Practical, real-world scenarios will be incorporated through exercises or case studies to help students develop the right habits and learn how to use project management tools.

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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 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 operational 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 coastaland 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 examination of the many debates and issues involved in the confrontation between theemergency (or priority) socioeconomic and the environmental urgency (or priority) 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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The EU Bibliographic Project consists of training in literature review, including the use of search engines, databases, and bibliographic reference management tools. Students work in pairs on a topic they have chosen themselves, related to their field of study. This literature review culminates in the preparation of a summary and a poster.

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Sociologists of science view controversies as inherent to the process of knowledge production. They refer to (1) situations in which scientists debate and either disagree or reach agreement regarding the data they generate, as well as (2) mobilizations that arise within the context of institutionalized public debates or more informal exchanges. These controversies provide an opportunity to observe science and decision-making in action, as they draw on knowledge that has not yet been established. They offer examples from which to rethink the relationship between science and society—and, in doing so, the challenges of technical democracy—at the intersection of several disciplines.

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English tutorial course for students in the Water Sciences program who are working toward professional proficiency in English.

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By the end of this module, students should be able to understand an economic analysis related to a water management project or policy. They should be familiar with the principles of cost-benefit analysis and know the valuation methods, parameters, and indicators that can be used. They will learn to take a critical look at evaluations and the parameters and indicators used.

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The issue of contaminants in the aquatic environment is addressed from a multidisciplinary scientific perspective (chemistry, geochemistry, microbiology, etc.), while also addressing the regulatory aspects:

• Overview of the main contaminants in the aquatic environment: chemical contaminants such as major elements, trace metals, organic micropollutants (pesticides, hydrocarbons, endocrine disruptors, microbiological contaminants, etc.), radioactive elements, and biological contaminants such as microorganisms, pathogenic bacteria, viruses, etc.

• Focus on certain contaminants based on aquatic environments, taking into account, in particular, the hydrochemical characteristics of the water in relation to the geological and environmental contexts of hydrologic and hydrogeologic basins.

• An overview of interactions between microorganisms and organic and inorganic contaminants, and their impact on the fate of contaminants in the aquatic environment; applications in bioremediation.

These lessons are illustrated using examples from current events, such as antibiotic resistance, and/or the speakers’ research topics.

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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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The EU curriculum is organized into three parts:

1) The Water Cycle and Water Balance
• The Main Water Reservoirs
• The Mechanisms of the Water Cycle
• Water Circulation: From the Global Scale to the Watershed Scale
• Humans: Their Impact on the Water Cycle

2) The Atmospheric Phase of the Water Cycle – Hydrology
• The watershed
• Atmospheric circulation and precipitation
• Evapotranspiration
• Infiltration
• Runoff

3) The underground phase of the water cycle – Hydrogeology
• Porous media and their hydrodynamic properties
• Different types of aquifers
• Piezometric levels and maps

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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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This course is divided into two parts: one focusing on surface water and atmospheric water, and the other on groundwater. This course builds on the “Water Cycle” course from the first semester and lays the essential foundation for the specialized courses in hydrodynamics and physical hydrology that will be offered in the second semester. It therefore serves as a transitional course between fundamental knowledge of the water cycle and specialized knowledge related to the study and characterization of surface and groundwater resources.

Lectures combined with integrated tutorials are supplemented by practical exercises in the lab using computers and hydrogeological maps.

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The GIS Practice course consists of training in the use of Geographic Information Systems, covering basic concepts related to geographic information and proficiency in the open-source software QGIS. The majority of the course is devoted to an introduction through a combination of lectures and hands-on exercises. A personalized capstone mapping project allows students, at the end of the course, to apply the concepts they have learned. An introductory lecture by industry professionals provides context for the relevance of GIS approaches in general hydrology.

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This methodological module covers qualitative research techniques and inductive reasoning. Students will be trained to conduct open-ended interviews, carry out field observations, and learn to analyze empirical data. Students will apply these skills by conducting a group investigation into a controversy related to water or the environment (in connection with the material covered in course HAO717T).

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English tutorial course for students in the Water Sciences program who are working toward professional proficiency in English.

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This module presents managerial and multi-criteria approaches to evaluating water services.

The module focuses on the management of drinking water and sanitation services, as well as irrigation water distribution services. It provides students with an understanding of—and a critical perspective on—the management tools used for these services.

The module is organized into three main steps:

• Analysis and evaluation of the economic, financial, and technical performance of water and sanitation services, with a focus on financial analysis and performance indicators for water services
• Environmental assessment, including a comparison of global approaches (Life Cycle Assessment) versus local approaches.
• An Analysis of the Sustainability of Services

The EU draws on concrete case studies to illustrate the various concepts discussed. Particular emphasis is placed on the relative nature of performance—a multidimensional concept that evolves over time and varies depending on the perspective considered.

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Historically, the issue of managing access to water resources first arose in relation to river water—which is closely tied to prevailing climatic conditions—and water supplied by man-made distribution systems. It is only more recently that the management of groundwater—which is less prone to short-term shortages (except for aquifers associated with surface watercourses)—has been considered. In most cases, access to these groundwater resources is on an individual basis, with each user (particularly agricultural users) accessing them through drilling at the exact location where they are needed. However, these groundwater resources also require management, as they are increasingly being exploited and, in some cases, even overexploited.

This module addresses the issue of groundwater resource management by first presenting the contributions of each physical science discipline (geology, hydrogeology, geochemistry, isotope analysis) and their tools for understanding aquifers (in terms of geology: outcrops, boreholes, well logging, seismic profiles, etc.; in hydrogeology: piezometry, pumping tests, intake/discharge points, withdrawal volumes, etc.): geometry, structure, and hydrological functioning.

He then discusses the importance of groundwater for the various uses for which it is drawn. The economic value of groundwater is thus examined in this section (Qureshi et al., 2012). The challenges involved in determining the volume of groundwater abstractions and the methods used to identify them are also outlined.

He then describes the various problems posed by aquifers: current or future overexploitation of groundwater, deterioration in groundwater quality, the threat of saltwater intrusion, soil salinization, etc.

Finally, it lists the various methods for rebalancing groundwater supply and demand. First, it outlines ways to increase water supply (active groundwater management, substitution between resources) or to prevent the contamination of high-quality water by lower-quality water. Examples: active management of karst aquifers (the Lez system), artificial recharge (e.g., the Seine catchment fields in Paris), inter-seasonal/inter-annual recharge (Llobregat, Catalonia), recharge using wastewater (California), and dams designed to prevent the contamination of freshwater by saltwater.

Second, it outlines solutions that address water demand. These solutions are rooted in two drivers of individual decision-making that can sometimes be combined: the maximization of individual utility and participation in a society that fosters “prosocial” behaviors. The study will explore solutions that directly affect groundwater demand (pricing, quotas, market-based trading of water rights) as well as indirect solutions (purchasing land to create a sanctuary for a resource in need of protection; agricultural or energy policies that can positively or negatively influence the growth of individual withdrawals, etc.).

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This module aims to provide students with a practical understanding of the implementation of IWRM and public participation in water management through an active learning approach.

It is centered on “Cooplage,” a support system for implementing participatory approaches to water management developed by researchers at the UMR GEAU, and the associated Agreenium MOOC, Terr’eau & co.

Students will work in small groups—comprising students from different tracks within the Master’s in Water program—on case studies drawn from the instructors’ ongoing research projects. Learning will take place through the application of certain tools from the “Cooplage” program to their case studies, particularly modeling and participatory simulation in the form of role-playing. To ground their work in real-world context, students will be connected with the stakeholders involved in these case studies. 

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This course is an introduction to quantitative research methods in the social sciences.
It focuses on the use of statistics and the definition of categories to describe the social world, as well as on the objectification of representations.
It offers students the opportunity to put the questionnaire tool into practice by designing a questionnaire, administering it, and analyzing the results.

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