Proud of Our Teachers
Chemistry Textbook for First-Year Undergraduates: I Make Mistakes, So I Learn!
Béatrice Roy and Jean-Yves Winum, faculty members in the Department of Chemistry at the Faculty of Sciences, are co-authors—along with Stéphane Perrio (faculty member, University of Caen-Normandy)—of the book *Chemistry L1: I Make Mistakes, Therefore I Learn!*
Methods, Tips, and Pitfalls to Avoid, published by DUNOD.
Published in August 2020, this chemistry textbook is intended for students in the L1 Plurisciences, PASS, and DUT/BTS programs. The goal of this book is to help students practice avoiding common pitfalls while strengthening their understanding of fundamental chemistry concepts. It was featured in an article published in the Dunod newsletter on educational innovation in February 2021. https://www.dunod.com/apprentissage-par-erreur
Emilien Azema: Recipient of the 2020 award from the Institut Universitaire de France (IUF)
He is one of the school's six honorees for the class of 2020
The graduates of the IUF Class of 2020 are:
Émilien Azema
Associate Professor
Faculty of Sciences –Laboratory of Mechanics and Civil Engineering (LMGC)
Junior MemberCherine Bechara
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Sciences –Institute of Functional Genomics (IGF)
Junior MemberLuca Cipelletti
University Professor
Faculty of Sciences –Charles Coulomb Laboratory (L2C)
Senior MemberOlivier Fontaine
Associate Professor
Montpellier-Sète University Institute of Technology (IUT) – Charles Gerhardt Institute, Montpellier (ICGM)
Junior MemberBenoit Nabholz
Associate Professor
Faculty of Sciences –Montpellier Institute of Evolutionary Sciences (ISEM)
Junior MemberFlorence Perrin
University Professor
Faculty of Sciences –Molecular Mechanisms in Neurodegenerative Dementias (MMDN)
Senior MemberDrawing on a group of faculty members—both male and female—selected by an international jury for the exceptional quality of their research, the Institut Universitaire de France (IUF) is dedicated to promoting the development of high-level research at universities and strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration.
Portrait of Émilien Azema
Emilien Azéma, 40, conducts research on the physics and mechanics of discrete (granular) media with realistic and evolving compositions and serves as the International Relations Coordinator at the FdS. He is also passionate about exploration and intercultural exchange. He earned his HDR (Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches) in mechanics from the University of Montpellier in 2016. Through advanced discrete element modeling, his pioneering work has systematically highlighted the nonlinear effects induced by particles with complex shapes (shape polydispersity) and a wide range of sizes (size polydispersity) on the behavior (from quasi-static to rapid flow) of granular systems.Detailed micromechanical analyses supported by scale-change methods made it possible to trace the origin of these behaviors back to the properties of the particles and their interactions.Gradually, he turned his attention to so-called “evolutive” granular materials, incorporating into numerical models changes in particle shape resulting either from grain fragmentation (brittle materials) or from grain deformation (soft materials). This research has benefited from strong international collaborations with, for example, Colombia (University of Los Andes), Thailand (Chiang Mai University), Australia (University of Newcastle), and more recently the United States (University of Colorado), as well as through various collaborations with industry partners.
Presentation of the project that caught the attention of the IUF:
The world is made up of grains. More than 80% of the raw materials used in human industry—such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and mining—consist of grains. Rocks, sand, and soil have been used for millennia by human civilizations to build structures, buildings, bridges, roads, and more.Against a backdrop of accelerating degradation of natural resources, new granular structures composed of potentially deformable, non-convex grains are emerging. Through advanced Discrete Element Modeling, the goal is to advance this emerging field of engineering and demonstrate how particles with “highly exotic” characteristics could lead to intelligent grain-based structures.
UNISCIEL: The Faculty of Sciences Online …
Educational materials to support teaching, promote the use of digital technology in education, and disseminatescientific culture, Francophone and international projects, and information on career guidance and professions.
Marc Rolland, a faculty member and researcher in the Faculty of Sciences, has been actively involved for many years in educational innovation, the use of information and communication technologies in education (ICT), and the development of high-quality digital resources for educational purposes.
Marc Rolland was appointed by the Unisciel Executive Board as national editorial director for chemistry.
Access to these resources is completely free and open to all students at partner universities, such as the University of Montpellier and, consequently, the Faculty of Sciences.
For more information on how to use these resources for your cours:marc.rolland@umontpellier.fr
UniSciel has … 4,000 resources, including modules and chapters; nearly 8 million visits per year; 15 million page views per year; and more than 45 members: universities and institutions of higher education and research.
It works to … support resource development, support the implementation of schools’ digital policies (instruction), combat academic failure, and promote career readiness.
Publication of the children's book *Terre des Géants* (Larousse, 2019)
https://www.editions-larousse.fr/livre/terre-des-geants-9782035952752
Scientific Advisor: Pierre-Olivier Antoine (FdS / ISEM)
Academic Palms
Anne Heaps Di Costanzo, certified professor and former Chair of the Department of Languages in the College of Sciences
And
– Alain Hoffmann, University Professor, Dean of the College of Sciences
The following are appointed KNIGHTS of the Order of Academic Palms.
Recipient of the Pierre Fabre Foundation Award
Frank Mennechet and his team at the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Montpellier (Montpellier, Hérault) were awarded a grant by the Pierre Fabre Foundation for their project, “Collaborative epidemiological and basic research on adenoviruses in Chad and Burkina Faso, within a global context of vaccination.”
Sonia Chalbi, English Teacher – From Science to Writing
Sonia Chalbi is an English professor in the Department of Languages (DDL) at the Faculty of Sciences. But in recent years, her passion for writing and her desire to instill a love of words have led her to take on two French- TU hips at the Faculty of Sciences.
First, Geneviève Degols and now Richard Arinero have entrusted her with a creative writing module for the second-year biology students. Since 2016, students have been able to acquire writing skills and improve their spelling in a fun way by exploring current topics. It is also an opportunity to practice taking the initiativeTell me ten words from French Language and Francophonie Week. Every year, off-site workshops are held at cultural venues such asLa Panacée, the Photo Barorthe Halle Tropismein order to encourage students to write about artistic media.
Since 2017, she has been responsible for a literature course in the L3 Science and Technology program, jointly directed by Nicolas Saby (Faculty of Sciences) and Valérie Munier (Faculty of Education). The goal of this year’s program is to enable non-science students to take the CRPE exam (Concours de Recrutement de Professeurs des Ecoles) with a set of skills spanning both scientific and pedagogical fields. General education is provided as part of the program, and the French course is therefore designed with this objective in mind.
What a wonderful opportunity for science students to hone their critical thinking skills and engage in discussions about classic works of French literature! The UM’s participation in the France Culture Télérama Student Novel Prize provided third-year students with the chance to get involved in this initiative, which is now an integral part of the course—a course that also includes an introduction to reading aloud and creating a Booktube[1][1].
It was precisely in their capacity as students in the scientific community that they were invited by France Culture to participate in one of the five national flagship events for the 2020 award, which were broadcast on the website and social media. Usually recorded in the Radio France studios, the interview was exceptionally conducted via videoconference this year and canbe viewed HERE. Four student jury members (Maelis Bejaud, Cynthia Chhun, Arthur Doustaly, and Caroline Gruet) worked with Sonia Chalbi to prepare a one-hour interview with author Celia Levi about her novel*La Tannerie*, whose highly topical themes—centering on a precarious youth struggling to find their bearings—particularly resonated with them.
By their own admission, it was an experience rich in emotions and discoveries: the writer, accustomed to questions focused more on form than substance, appreciated the pragmatism of their questions. Celia Levi and Adrien Landivier (France Culture) were keen to highlight the relevance of the students’ contributions, and the students felt they had earned their place in a role usually reserved for the literary world. Beyond this wonderful adventure, it was also a personal victory for Sonia Chalbi, who succeeded in instilling in them a love of reading.
This passionate teacher leads writing workshops at Papier de Soi, an organization she founded after completing the introductory module for Writing Workshop Facilitators at Paul Valéry in 2014. She skillfully combines exploring art exhibitions with an introduction to short story writing in a supportive, intergenerational setting. Students, working professionals, and retirees come together there for their mutual enrichment and discover unique worlds during a photography festival (Les Boutographies, Images Singulières), at a post-work writing session at the Halle Tropisme, or during an immersive tour of an artist’s studio or gallery.
References:
“Dis-moi dix mots” 2020–2021 (culture.gouv.fr)
Home Page | MO.CO.
Exhibition Gallery and Association in Montpellier – Le Bar à Photo (baraphoto.fr)
La Halle Tropisme – Montpellier
(20+) Papier de Soi – Writing Workshops in Montpellier | Facebook
[1][1] Film Review
"Prerequisites for Success – Bachelor of Science (Mathematics for the Sciences, Physics, Chemistry, Geosciences, and Life Sciences)"
Publication of a comprehensive guide to help students meet the requirements for admission to a bachelor’s degree program in science and support them in their transition from high school to college
"Prerequisites for Success – Bachelor of Science (Mathematics for the Sciences, Physics, Chemistry, Geosciences, and Life Sciences)"
Written by 9 authors, all of whom are Associate Professors or Full Professors in the Faculty of Sciences
Thibaud ETIENNE (Department of Chemistry)
Jean-Luc AYMERIC (BioMV Department)Rodolphe CATTIN (TEE Department)Anne-Laure DALVERNY (Department of Chemistry)Jérôme DORIGNAC (Department of Physics)Laila GANNOUN (BioMV Department)Frédéric LEMOIGNO (Department of Chemistry)Fleurice PARAT (TEE Department)Nicolas SABY (Department of Mathematics)Coralie WEIGEL (Department of Physics)https://www.dunod.com/sciences-techniques/prerequis-pour-reussir-licence-sciences-maths-pour-sciences-physique-chimie
Gamification of Instruction in the Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences
Béatrice Roy and Jean-Yves Winum of the Department of Chemistry Educationcollaborated on the creation of the serious game “Reactions” with the team led by Prof. José Nunes da Silva Jr. at the Educational Software Design Laboratory (LDSE) at the Federal University of Ceará, Brazil.
"Reactions" isa hybrid organic chemistry game (smartphone app + game board + cards) available in four languages (French, English, Spanish, Portuguese). Students (2 to 6 players) can choose up to 6 topics from the following: 1) Alkenes and alkynes, 2) Nucleophilic substitutions and eliminations, 3) Aromatic substitutions, 4) Alcohols, phenols, and ethers, 5) Aldehydes and ketones, 6) Carboxylic acids and derivatives.
The game involves answering true-or-false questions on selected topics. The questions and dice rolls are handled by the mobile app. Players who answer correctly can move forward on the game board; the first player to complete the entire circuit wins the game.
The game is available on the following download platforms:
=> Google Play:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.LDSE.reactions&hl=fret
=>Apple Storehttps://apps.apple.com/us/app/reactions/id1481371737
New Chemistry Book: Visual Guide to General Chemistry
Jean-Sébastien Filhol, Frédéric Lemoigno, and Jean-Yves Winum, faculty members in the Department of Chemistry at the Faculty of Sciences, are co-authors—along with Isabelle Bonnamour and Nathalie Pérol (faculty members at the University of Lyon)—of the book *Mémo Visuel de Chimie Générale*, published by DUNOD.
ZOOM
Immunology
Jean-Luc Aymeric, Gérard Lefranc, Franck Mennechet
(Faculty members at the University of Montpellier)
Understand and master immunology with study guides that combine course summaries and practice exercises.
This book provides an up-to-date overview of immunology courses at the L2 and L3 levels. The worksheets, consisting of lecture summaries, exercise problems, and detailed answer keys, provide the essential fundamentals that students must master to succeed on their exams (or entrance exams).
Each worksheet covers key concepts and their applications.
Essential knowledge: fundamental theoretical concepts illustrated with examples:
=> Tips and study strategies
=> Practical applications, with exercises and answer keys.
=> Multiple-choice questions with answer keys