General TU (Freshmen through Junior Years) – Even-numbered semesters

Organizers : Isabelle Parrot and Claire Loiseau

Description*:

An invitation to share your scientific knowledge with young children.

Undergraduate students in the Faculty of Sciences, young people pursuing a science degree—come learn how to share a scientific topic in a fun and interactive way! With the support of science communicators or faculty members, after a few training sessions, you’ll become a mentor for a small group of schoolchildren and will be tasked with developing or creating workshops, digital tools, visual aids, games, or any other science outreach media of your choice. The topics will be determined collaboratively.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, also addresses the issues of equal opportunity and knowledge sharing, which are carried out through educational and cultural support programs for students in priority neighborhoods or rural areas far from major university hubs. This project is part of the initiative led by the University of Montpellier called “UniverlaCité.”

We hope that this first step toward sharing knowledge will be just the beginning of a rewarding journey for everyone. One of our main goals is to create spaces for reflection on science and technology that are accessible to as many people as possible, particularly future citizens who may not necessarily be planning to pursue higher education. We are convinced that this societal initiative will provide as many people as possible with the means and the opportunity to address the major challenges of tomorrow with full knowledge of the facts.

Contact:isabelle.parrot-smietana@umontpellier.fr

Description:
An interactive introduction to the world of perfume.

Objectives:
Have you ever wondered where fragrances come from? The one you wear, the one that scents your shower gel, or even your living room? How was it conceived, created, designed, and produced? What is it made of?
This course is for everyone—for the curious who would like to immerse themselves in and discover the world of perfume. Science, of course: chemistry, botany, physiology, marketing, toxicology, ecology… but… there is no perfume without culture. How can we discuss the world of perfume without referencing history, mythology, fashion, haute couture, geography, travel, art, our French culture, and international culture…
An ingenious blend of art and science, a subtle formulation designed to evoke emotion…

Hours: 18.

Recommended prerequisites: curiosity

Assessment: Continuous assessment

This is an invitation to first listen and discuss how the sense of smell works and how perfumes are made (initial sessions will take the form of lectures and tutorials), and to introduce the annual theme through an exploration of related olfactory materials. Students will then work in groups on a specific theme (tutorials in groups of 4–6 in a breakout format). This group work will be supervised; students will work with their instructor to identify the perfumes and raw materials they will need to explore their theme and present their findings in a medium of their choice (film, poster, presentation, etc.), accompanied by an olfactory tasting presented to the entire class.

Contact person => Aurélie.celerier@umontpellier.fr

Description:

This is a general TU that explores the themes of pleasure and addiction through the lens of various disciplines in the humanities, social sciences, and life sciences.

Objectives:
• Philosophical and historical approaches
• Evolutionary approach: animals and drugs
• Neurobiological approach: Neuroanatomical and neuropharmacological foundations / reward circuitry / behavioral addictions
• Pleasant touch and painful touch
• Vulnerability factors (genetic and environmental)

Hourly volume:
CM: 15

Assessment: 100% written

Contact:ilham.bentaleb@umontpellier.fr

Why study the oceans?
• The oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth’s surface. The oceans play a fundamental role
in regulating the climate.
• Marine resources are very important, but many plant and
animal species are endangered.
This year we will focus on the Mediterranean.
– understanding what oceanography is
– what topics are covered in oceanography?
– the case of biodiversity in the Mediterranean
– how to become an oceanographer?

There will be ongoing assessment (2 grades: oral + written)

Contact: sonia.chalbi@umontpellier.fr

Are you already writing, or would you like to get started? There are no prerequisites—just a desire to experiment with different writing styles and discover your own voice through a variety of prompts.

This course also helps broaden your general knowledge: you’ll be introduced to numerous literary and artistic references throughout the module. You’ll be encouraged to write on a variety of topics; group cohesion and a supportive atmosphere are key assets. Humor too!
Finally, depending on the schedule, you may have the opportunity to participate in an off-site workshop at a cultural venue, take part in creative projects within the UM (France CultureStudent Novel Prize , writing masterclass with an author, OSNI with the University Library, participation in the Les Boutographies photography festival…).
And who knows? If you catch the creative writing bug, you might want to continue with the student association Scribes, which was founded by former students.

Course structure:

• 5 workshops, each lasting 3 hours, on different topics
• Ongoing monitoring and personalized editing of your texts
• 
  A 1-hour final exam based on passages that will refer to topics covered in class or will be original writing prompts

“Poetry isn’t information. Yet it is the only thing a human being will remember from their time on earth.” ( Gaël Faye)

Contact: jean-yves.cassan@umontpellier.fr

Click here for more information

Contact::corinne.lautier@umontpellier.fr

IT Basics:
1- Information and Data
Conducting research and monitoring information (search engines, social media, etc.)
Managing data (file managers, databases, etc.)
Processing data (spreadsheets)
2- Communication and Collaboration
Interacting (email, video conferencing, etc.)
Share and publish (sharing platforms, forums, and comment sections, etc.)
Collaborate in a group (collaborative work platforms and document sharing, etc.)
Engage with the digital world (develop a public presence on the web, etc.)
3- Content Creation
Create text documents (word processing, presentations, etc.)
Create multimedia documents (capture and editing of images/audio/video/animations, etc.)
Adapt documents to their intended purpose (format conversion tools, etc.)
Program (simple software development, solving logical problems, etc.)
4- Protection and Security
Securing the digital environment (protection software, encryption, etc.)
Protecting personal data and privacy (privacy settings, etc.)
Protecting health, well-being, and the environment
5- Environment and Digital Technology
Solving technical problems (software configuration and maintenance, etc.)
Building a digital environment (operating system, installing new software, etc.)

Objectives:

1- Demonstrate a basic proficiency in using digital tools (web tools, data processing software, document creation, etc.)
2- Have a basic understanding of computer science that enables students to take a TU .

Hours:
Lectures: 1.5 hours
Seminars: 13.5 hours

Recommended prerequisites: Have a personal computer at home

Assessment:
2 ongoing assessments (1 assignment and 1 online test)
1 final exam

The study of motion is undoubtedly a central theme in the history of physics. The motion of objects has raised many questions. We understand that an object begins to move when it is pushed or pulled, but how can it continue to move once that push or pull has ceased? Why does a projectile continue on its path after it is launched?

One common explanation today is that these phenomena can be attributed to a body’s inertia. To claim that an inert body continues its motion because of its inertia seems to be a contradiction, since inertia is generally perceived as the attribute of what is inert—that is, of what, precisely, has no motion of its own. Why, then, does a massive body fall while a flame rises?

All these seemingly trivial questions raise a host of conceptual problems and open up a vast field of inquiry into the nature of motion, taking us from the development of dynamics all the way to Einstein’s recent theories of relativity.

In this general TU , we will examine these questions from historical, philosophical, epistemological, and scientific perspectives. No scientific prerequisites are required, and all students, including those in fields not directly related to physics, are welcome to take this TU. Students in mathematics, biology, health sciences, natural sciences, or the humanities will find the course particularly engaging.

This TU perfectly TU the requirements for a general education course. The objective of this TU to understand the historical, philosophical, and scientific development of the concept of motion, and to provide a foundation for understanding the study of motion and the dynamics of bodies through reflections on observation, experimentation, and the concept of inertia. The final class will be dedicated to the concept of movement in theater. We will explore intrinsic parallels with the movement studied in physics.

=> COURSE OUTLINE

– Aristotelian motion
– “Perfect” motion
– The cause of motion
– Inertia and spacetime

Contact: olivier.arnould@umontpellier.fr

This TU an introduction to new design methods associated with additive manufacturing techniques (3D printing), teaching students how to create a simple part using a polymer-based 3D printer—from designing it on a computer (CAD – OnShape) to finishing it after printing.

Objectives:

Have a basic understanding of machine safety and maintenance.

Understand the various existing technologies and processes (polymer and metal), their key characteristics, the available materials, and typical application examples,

Understand the constraints and limitations of these new processes and their implications for design,

Master the various stages of the digital workflow (from the CAD model to the finished part);

Modeling a simple part in CAD software for additive manufacturing,

Prepare production based on a CAD file,

Start production on an FDM (polymer) machine,

Finish the parts after production,

Organizers : Isabelle Parrot and Claire Loiseau

Description*:

An invitation to share your scientific knowledge with young children.

Undergraduate students in the Faculty of Sciences, young people pursuing a science degree—come learn how to share a scientific topic in a fun and interactive way! With the support of science communicators or faculty members, after a few training sessions, you’ll become a mentor for a small group of schoolchildren and will be tasked with developing or creating workshops, digital tools, visual aids, games, or any other science outreach media of your choice. The topics will be determined collaboratively.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, also addresses the issues of equal opportunity and knowledge sharing, which are carried out through educational and cultural support programs for students in priority neighborhoods or rural areas far from major university hubs. This project is part of the initiative led by the University of Montpellier called “UniverlaCité.”

We hope that this first step toward sharing knowledge will be just the beginning of a rewarding journey for everyone. One of our main goals is to create spaces for reflection on science and technology that are accessible to as many people as possible, particularly future citizens who may not necessarily be planning to pursue higher education. We are convinced that this societal initiative will provide as many people as possible with the means and the opportunity to address the major challenges of tomorrow with full knowledge of the facts.