Earth System Sciences 1st and 2nd year

The objective of this course is to examine the behavior of the lithosphere and of the crust, at spatial scales ranging from the global Earth to the mountain range. An important part of the course is meant to place plate tectonics in the broad context of mantle convection. Similarly, the evolution of mountain ranges is understood within the general geodynamic framework. Surface deformation is explained by the cumulative effects of crustal and lithospheric tectonics, mantle convection, and surface processes. The development of the course is largely based on the analysis of Cenozoic tectonics, using multiple regional examples. A multidisciplinary approach is developed, in order to use analytical tools and geodynamic modeling to interpret observations from geophysical datasets or from the geological record.

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This course is on the interactions and feedback relationships between tectonics and climatically controlled surface processes, with a particular emphasis on evolution of mountain belts such as the Alps, Andes or Himalayas. In this context, the timescales on which geological processes shape the surface of the Earth are of great importance. Therefore, the determining the timing and quantifying geological processes through wide range dating techniques are at the core of this course with the objective of modelling landscape evolution. Half of the course will be based on practical exercises, case studies and presentations, so that the students will actively participate in the teaching of this course.The course will be in English.

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Description and quantification of the processes that manage magmatic and metamorphic petrology Fractional crystallization - example of large bedded intrusions; Partial melting - trapps and oceanic plateaus; Assimilation, mixing of magmas - magmatic deposits; Basalts from oceanic ridges and oceanic islands; Volcanic rocks of subduction zones; Composition and structure of continental crust; Transformation processes of metamorphic rocks; Metamorphic rocks and their geodynamic context; Metamorphic facies and reconstruction of pressure-temperature conditions; Dating of metamorphic rocks; Alpine metamorphism.

This course is given in English.

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This 5-day course (3 ECTS) takes place in the Ivrea zone, in northern Italy. The objective is to study a Permian igneous system, exceptionally preserved, and its metamorphic surrounding. The observations made on the field can be extrapolated to understand the structure of the continental crust.
This course is based on an integrative approach. Students study different outcrops during the day. In the evening, they synthesize their field observations together with thin section descriptions and geochemical and thermodynamic data. This approach allows understanding, progressively during the fieldtrip, the igneous processes that operated within the magma chamber and the consequences of magmatism on the thermal structure of the lower continental crust. The work is evaluated from reports throughout the course.
For practical reasons, this fieldtrip is limited to 16 students. It is asked to follow the Petrology course to participate to the fieldtrip.

Additional information
Location(s) : Departure and return from Grenoble. Training course taking place in the Ivrea area, in Italy
Language(s) : French (English)

Targeted skills:
- Processes in igneous system and interaction with the surrounding rocks.
- Associated mineral deposits.
- Macroscopic and microscopic recognition of magmatic and metamorphic rocks
- Autonomy in the field, team work, field notebook, note taking, observations.
- Drawing and mapping of outcrops.
- Interpretation of mineral textures and paragenesis in metamorphic and magmatic rocks.
- Synthesis of data obtained on the field and data that can be acquired later in the lab (geochemistry, thin sections) in order to establish a plausible geodynamic scenario of the studied area, at the outcrop scale and at the regional scale.

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The objective is to explore to what extent geomorphological archives (landscape features and associated sedimentary deposits) can inform us about past climates, as well as associated environmental conditions and earth surface processes/natural hazards. This course adresses this question with a multisciplinary approach (geomorphology, sedimentology, paleoclimatology) with the aim to reconstruct past landscapes and use them as archives. A special focus will be on the Alps and their evolution during the Plio-Quaternary, but other environments/periods will also be considered, especially key transition periods from glacials to interglacials or changes in amospheric circulations (monsoon). The proposed course is organised around lectures and interactive group sessions.
A field excursion around Grenoble is also planned. Some background in paleoclimatology and/or geomorphology would be advantageous but not mandatory. Teaching can be performed in french or english.

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The objective is to provide an overview of the coupling between the solid Earth (the geosphere) and the external spheres (hydrosphere, atmosphere, cryosphere, biosphere), and to understand the physico-chemical processes that are at work. The behavior of these spheres is examined in the context of the Earth System (and not independently of it).
This course is based on a reversed pedagogy, i.e. the courses are prepared by the students beforehand in the framework of tutored projects.

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This teaching unit presents the key question related to the formation and evolution of Solar System objects, and the approaches that have been developed across the last decades.

The methods and techniques of remote sensing applied to Solar System surfaces (planets, satellites, small bodies) are discussed.

The exploration of small bodies (asteroids, comets) via space mission and analysis of extraterrestrial matter originating from their surface are described, as well as the contributions to our understanding of the young Solar System.

The phenomenon of cratering is explored on different types of surface, as a physical and geological process, as well as the links with the dynamic evolution of the Solar System.

The space and robotic exploration of Mars will also be presented, in particular the evolution and dynamics of its outer envelopes, and the contributions of the Curiosity and Perseverance “field” missions to our understanding of the geological history of the planet.

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The objective of the course is to provide students, from the beginning of the Master's degree, with tools to identify and retrieve geophysical data from international data distribution systems, and to apply some simple processing on the data. The 3 types of data are a) seismological data, and their application to earthquake location; b) GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) data; c) Earth's magnetic field data, with an application to the reconstruction of the magnetic field at the surface of the Earth's core. The practical work on applications forms the core of the module, and is prepared through introductory courses in each of the three areas. Requirements: Basic knowledge on the Solid Earth and/or Waves and potential fields. Language: English

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This module provides an introduction to the course. It helps place the issues covered by the Earth and Environmental Sciences in context, and guide the students with their training and professional projects. This module consists of:

(1) a 3-day field workshop for the entire class, which will serve to illustrate the major themes and issues of EES with the help of the exceptional sites found around Grenoble;

(2) an interview, and the drafting of an educational and professional project by each student;

(3) seminars for the entire class on the major current issues of EES (mineral and energy resources, telluric risks, climate change, water resources).

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This module is intended to acquire and deepen the basics of computer programming and computer environments that will be used throughout the Master's programme. It consists of 6 hours of lectures and 18 hours of practical work on computers. The practical sessions are adapted to the level of each student.

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This course offers a guided tour of the Earth's interior, from the crust to the core. The main observables and tools for investigating the Earth's interior (seismology, mineralogy, heat transfer, geochemistry, gravity, geomagnetism) are presented and used to describe and explain key processes (crust formation, plate tectonics and mantle convection, magnetic field generation). A historical approach is often privileged: the emphasis is put on the construction and evolution of our understanding of the internal structure of the Earth and its behaviour, by presenting the discoveries and conceptual advances that have led to our current vision of the Earth. The course includes two sessions of group presentations of historical or recent papers.

Teaching language: English

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The geomechanics course applies the principles of continuum mechanics to concrete problems of the Solid Earth.

The module is articulated by a back-and-forth between:

- a complete course presenting the basics of geomechanics, which allows a refresher for students who have never studied continuum mechanics,

- numerous application examples from real studies, both geotechnical and geodynamic. The large exercise base allows students who already have the basics of mechanics to practice reading data and applying the geomechanical approach in a more applied way than in their previous course.

Thus, at the end of the module, students should have a solid foundation in

- mechanics of continuous media

- the use and measurement of elastic properties of materials

- the use of failure criteria to gauge the mechanical stability of a structure: friction and fracturing phenomena.

Evaluation:

A mid-term CC counting for 50% of the grade

A final exam accounting for 50% of the grade

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This course offers a broad and practical introduction to Earth Observation from space and to Geographic Information System (GIS). The course works on a basis of 3h lecture associated to 3h of practical work using the free software QGIS. Course are usually given in French. In addition, a project using QGIS has to be by small groups of students, including 9h (3x3h) with teacher support in computer room.

The structure of the courses is:

first part is common to all the student (from January to February winter break)

+ Introduction to GIS: 3h course + 3h practical
+ Basics of Remote Sensing (1): 3h course + 3h practical
+ Basics of Remote Sensing (2): 3h course + 3h practical
+ Classification methods: 3h course + 3h practical

The second part of the course depends of the program followed by the students : 

for Geophysics, Geodynamics, Georesources and Georisks programs: 
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to geology:  3h course 
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to geophysics:  3h course 
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to continental surfaces:  3h course
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to planetology:  3h course + 3h practical

for Hydro-resources and Atmosphere-Climate-Continental Landmass programs: 
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to continental surfaces:  3h course 
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to Digital Elevation Surface:  3h course + 3h practical
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to atmosphere:  3h course
+ Remote-Sensing and GIS applied to Ocean:  3h course
 
Evaluation will be based on a written exam at mid-term, a written report about the project, and a final written exam covering all the lectures and practicals.

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The goal of the course ‘Basin analysis’ is to understand the formation and evolution of sedimentary basins. It includes:
- Lectures on the various types of basins in their lithospheric setting (divergent, convergent, transform plate boundaries, intraplate basins).
- Lectures on their sedimentary systems, clastic and carbonate, source to sink processes, diagenesis and thermal evolution, and their implications for energy resources.
- Practical work on the interpretation of sedimentary cores and seismic lines.
Required level: Bachelor level in sedimentology, tectonics and lithospheric dynamics.
Teaching language: Half of the course is given in English, half in French or in English in case at least one student does not understand French.

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During this course you will familiarise yourself with the evolution of a sedimentary basin through field observations. We will study, at various scales (hand sample, outcrop, landscape), the distribution of sedimentary facies in the basin through space and time, paying particular attention to the effects of changing accommodation space, as a result of for example sea-level variations. We will study the basin along a transect from the basin margin to the deeper water areas.

Language: French, English

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10-day field course between Grenoble and the Briançon area. This multidisciplinary course is organized around the implementation of previously acquired techniques of multi-tool geological analysis (pre-requisites in mapping, structural and sedimentological analysis) and consists of an exploration and synthesis situation in the field. This workshop, inspired by training courses requested by the petroleum industry, addresses multi-scale and three-dimensional observation, integration with geodynamic models and the link with the geophysical approach in current analogues. It also allows students to become familiar with the new mapping and measurement tools (tablets).

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The snowpack is an essential and unique component of the Earth's climate system. It forms an interface between the atmosphere and the ground, a place of intense exchanges of mass (water/ice), energy (radiative, turbulent), and chemical species (nitrogen, ...). It thus plays an important role in mountain hydrology (water resources, etc.), in ecology, in the thermal regime of the soil (permafrost), etc.

The course "Snow and atmosphere at Le Lautaret" aims at observing the alpine snow cover and the atmosphere from several angles: mass and energy balance of the surface, nivology, thermics, chemistry. The objective is to acquire new knowledge on snow and associated problems as well as technical and experimental skills.

This internship emphasizes autonomy and practical application with the use of instruments used in research and data processing in order to achieve elaborate scientific results. You will be in groups of 3, and will conduct a large number of observations during the internship, then process them to finally present the whole in the form of posters, which constitutes the final exam.

The course takes place every year at the end of February or the beginning of March at the Col du Lautaret (2100 m.a.s.l) over 6 days, during which you will address

- snowpack thickness mapping (GPS, GPR, 2 x 0.5 days)
- snowpack study: snow wells, stratigraphy, metamorphism (2 x 0.5 days)
- thermal regime (0.5 day).
- albedo of the anieg and energy balance (0.5 day).
- atmospheric ozone (0.5 day).
- snow optics (0.5 day).
- data processing and interpretation (0.5 day)

This course is also open to international students/professionals (Master, PhD), depending on available places, and is a good opportunity to open up in a beautiful and friendly environment.

Recommended prerequisites :
Basic knowledge of environmental physics

Language(s) : French

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This course focuses on the dynamics of the deep Earth from a deterministic point of view, based on elementary principles of physics.  Topics covered include the rheological behavior of the mantle and lithosphere, mantle convection and plate tectonics, core dynamics and the generation of the Earth's magnetic field. For each of these topics, the problems are approached in different ways: order-of-magnitude analyses, analytical resolutions, discussion of the informations provided by observations, contributions from numerical simulations and experimental studies.

Teaching language: english

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In every fields of science (economy, health, physics, chemistry,..), we measure/collect data or observations and try to understand and interpret them.
To interpret these complex data, we propose "simple" models, for example:

- in meteorology, data are temperature, humidity, etc, models are collection of boxes/cells linked through physical relationships.
- in earth-science, data are collected from satellites, ground instruments, and models propose a simplified view of earth dynamic

In the first case we are more interested in the data (what is the forecast for next week?) than in the model (cells),
In the second case we focus on the interpretation of the data rather than the data themselves.

The relation model->data is called the direct problem, the reverse is called the inverse problem.

Solving an inverse problem is answering the question: Given some data, how can we retrieve the model and parameters that explain them?

The course explores the solution of linear inversion problems and how to solve iteratively non linear inverse problems.
This is done by using a light theoretical background and playing on computer with applications.

prerequisite: basic knowledge of linear algebra (vector, matrices, transposition, dot product, etc...), some python (or matlab) programming experience

Language: english or french

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The aim of this module is to provide a basic understanding of the physics of magmatic and eruptive processes occurring in volcanoes and of the main methods of volcanological study and monitoring. In particular, the forces and parameters controlling the transport and storage of magma from the production zones to the surface will be explained and illustrated with the help of tutorials. In the context of the study of eruptive dynamics, the different modes of eruption of volcanic products (plume, pyroclastic flow, dome, lava flow) and their physical mechanisms will be discussed. The most commonly used geophysical monitoring methods (seismology, deformation, gas emission studies) will be presented, showing their contribution to the prediction of eruptions and the knowledge of volcanic processes. The different remote sensing methods used in this field (optical, thermal and radar imagery) will be described, with emphasis on the specificities of these techniques for their application to volcanology and monitoring. Teaching language: English.

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The objective of "Environmental Records" is to understand the principles and implementation of classical methods of sedimentology, isotope chemistry, mineralogy and biology (DNA, pollen, chironomids, diatoms) applied to the study of various paleoenvironnemental records (sediment, peat, loess,..) to reconstruct Holocene landscape, plant and human migration, climate change.
The aim is to reconstruct the quality of water, the biology of the catchment area, landscapes, water and air pollution, the direction of marine currents and winds throughout the Holocene and thus to reconstruct the advent of the Anthropocene since the Bronze Age

The module is based on a series of applied lectures/examples and includes a personal project on a topic chosen from a wide range of themes, or on another topic defined with the student and the supervisors, with a written report and an oral presentation.

Recommended prerequisites: Basic geochemistry, and notions of geology and sedimentology

Language of teaching: In French, with slides in English

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The objective of this module is to acquire the principles of the basic methods of scientific computing and their implementation in computer codes. The methods are presented in a simplified way, insisting on the ideas behind them, then they are implemented in computer programs (in Python or Matlab) on simple examples related to geosciences.

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L’objectif de cette UE est de donner un cadre épistémologique solide à nos connaissances pour circonscrire les pseudosciences et les intrusions spiritualistes et religieuses comme les créationnismes. En étudiant des éléments de méthode de la pensée critique (6h) et en menant des études de cas (6h), nous documenterons ce qu’est le contrat laïc de la recherche et la responsabilité sociale des chercheurs/ses à le défendre.

Un travail d’enquête sur une « théorie » controversée (à choisir) sera mené en binôme, avec l’objectif d’en rendre public le résultat (Wikipédia, publication en ligne, etc.)

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The objective of this course is to examine the behavior of the lithosphere and of the crust, at spatial scales ranging from the global Earth to the mountain range. An important part of the course is meant to place plate tectonics in the broad context of mantle convection. Similarly, the evolution of mountain ranges is understood within the general geodynamic framework. Surface deformation is explained by the cumulative effects of crustal and lithospheric tectonics, mantle convection, and surface processes. The development of the course is largely based on the analysis of Cenozoic tectonics, using multiple regional examples. A multidisciplinary approach is developed, in order to use analytical tools and geodynamic modeling to interpret observations from geophysical datasets or from the geological record.

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This course is on the interactions and feedback relationships between tectonics and climatically controlled surface processes, with a particular emphasis on evolution of mountain belts such as the Alps, Andes or Himalayas. In this context, the timescales on which geological processes shape the surface of the Earth are of great importance. Therefore, the determining the timing and quantifying geological processes through wide range dating techniques are at the core of this course with the objective of modelling landscape evolution. Half of the course will be based on practical exercises, case studies and presentations, so that the students will actively participate in the teaching of this course.The course will be in English.

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Students will learn to recognise and interpret markers of ductile deformation in different structural and metamorphic contexts. 

Field workshop offered every other year, alternating with the Field Workshop Petrology.. This module is available in even-numbered years (2018, 2020, etc.)

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Active faults are those producing earthquakes. Their knowledge is thus a prerequisite to any seismic hazard analysis. The objective of the ‘active faults’ class is to make the students familiar with these structures, and establish the links and common properties between long‐term geological faults and instantaneous earthquake ruptures. We start reminding a few basics in rock and fracture mechanics that allow understanding why the Earth crust and lithosphere break through faulting and earthquakes. We then see on which criteria most active faults can be identified in the surface morphology. The modern tools allowing such identification are described. We show that faults are organized features that form hierarchical, larger‐scale systems, whose geometry brings information on long‐term fault evolution, kinematics and mechanics. The long‐term kinematics and evolution can then be more precisely quantified using data such as geomorphology and geochronology. We discuss these methods of quantification, the assumptions on which they rely, their implications in terms of long‐term fault slip rates, earthquake sizes and recurrence times, etc... Then, we go back to earthquake ruptures, which we analyze with a ‘geological eye’ (analysis of static parameters). Doing so, we point out the differences and similarities between earthquake ruptures and long‐term faults, and discuss the properties of faults which most control the earthquake behavior. We also characterize how faults behave during a single, then multiple seismic cycles, and introduce the recently discovered complexities of both the seismic cycle and its repetitions. Combining the present knowledge on long‐term faults and earthquakes, we then try to understand how faults may grow in time, i.e., accumulate slip and propagate laterally through the repetition of large earthquakes. We eventually suggest how that understanding may help anticipating the occurrence and size of the future earthquakes.

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This course focuses on the structure and dynamics of planets and satellites of the solar system and exoplanets. We will first describe the observables relevant to the study of the structure and dynamics of planets, whether they are accessible from Earth (dimensions, mass, moment of inertia, average density) or through space missions (surface topography and morphology, gravity field, magnetic field, seismology, heat flux, surface chemical/mineral composition). Space missions (the James Webb Space Telescope or the Insight mission, for example) bring a harvest of astonishing observations indicating an unsuspected richness of behavior. These observables and the questions they raise will be discussed in a comparative planetology perspective, and confronted with models from high pressure mineralogy, fluid and solid mechanics, and electromagnetism. Why do the Earth and Venus - of similar masses and compositions - have such different dynamic behaviors (plate tectonics and magnetic field for the Earth, absence of tectonics and magnetic field for Venus)? What factors determine the presence or absence of a planetary magnetic field? How to explain the hemispheric asymmetry observed on Mars or the Moon? The varied dynamics - volcanism and cryovolcanism, tectonics - of satellites of Jupiter and Saturn such as Io or Encélade? Will we find an Earth twin planet among the exoplanets, and how to determine if it is habitable?

Teaching will be held in french or english

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Les écoulements dans l’atmosphère, dans les océans, dans les atmosphères des planètes géantes, dans le noyau liquide de la Terre, et même dans les étoiles, présentent deux ingrédients communs essentiels pour leur dynamique: (1) la rotation globale à laquelle ils sont soumis, qui se traduit par la force de Coriolis; et (2) la stratification du fluide en couches de densité variable, soumis à un champ de gravité. Ces deux caractéristiques changent radicalement la dynamique des fluides, donnant naissance à de nouveaux équilibres et à de nouvelles ondes ou instabilités.

L’objectif de cette UE est de définir les concepts clés, de donner les outils nécessaires à l’étude de ces systèmes, et de donner un sens physique à ces écoulements qui défient souvent l’intuition forgée par la vie quotidienne.

Après une introduction à la dynamique des fluides, une première partie se focalise sur l’effet de la rotation, de manière générale puis dans le cas particulier d’écoulements en couches minces, pertinente pour la modélisation des écoulements océaniques et atmosphériques. Une part importante de ces enseignements est dédiée à l’étude d’ondes rencontrées dans les écoulements géophysiques (ondes inertielles et de gravité, ondes de Rossby). Une seconde partie se focalise sur l’effet de variations de densité : convection thermique (instabilité de Rayleigh-Bénard), instabilités des écoulements parallèles cisaillés stratifiés, courants de densité visqueux (glaciers, coulées volcaniques) ou turbulents (courants de densité atmosphériques, courants de turbidité, coulées pyroclastiques). Pour chaque phénomène, des exemples spécifiques sont donnés et la théorie est détaillée.

Langue d’enseignement: Français ou anglais

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The flows in the atmosphere, in the oceans, in the atmospheres of the giant planets, in the liquid core of the Earth, and even in stars are specific essentially by two aspects: (1) the global rotation to which they are subjected, which is reflected in the Coriolis force; and (2) the stratification of the fluid into layers of varying density, subject to a gravity field. These two characteristics radically change the behavior of fluids. The objective of this course is to define the key concepts, to give the necessary tools to study these systems, and to give a physical meaning to these flows which often defy intuition.

After an introduction to fluid dynamics, a first part focuses on the effect of rotation, in a general way and then in the particular case of thin layers, relevant for the modeling of oceanic and atmospheric flows. An important part of the course is dedicated to the study of waves encountered in geophysical flows (inertial and gravity waves, Rossby waves). A second part focuses on the effect of density variations: thermal convection, viscous density currents (glaciers, volcanic flows) or turbulent currents (atmospheric density currents, turbidity currents, pyroclastic flows). For each phenomenon, specific examples are given and the theory is detailed.

Teaching language: French or english

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This course takes the form of a two-week school, bringing together master students from Grenoble and Lyon with french and international PhD students. This course benefits from the favourable environment of the Ecole de Physique des Houches, and is in line with the historical filiation of the place. This course includes 50 to 60 hours of lectures by international professors, in English. These lectures are often accompanied by more specific seminars, and a field trip. The courses and teachers change each year, but cover most aspects related to the interior of the Earth (seismology, geodynamics, mineralogy, geochemistry), from the surface of the Earth to the core.

Teaching anguage: English

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This course is given in English (or in French if all students are french speaking).

The course is a physical approach of the climatic change at the global level, in line with the Working group I of the IPCC .

The lectures (about 33-36h) give an overview of climate change causes and mechanisms at the global level. They are given by researchers of the IGE laboratory (**), and some visitors if any. Topics covered by these lectures are the following (they may slightly change depending on researchers availability):

- A global view of the surface warming, and its relationship with climatic forcings;

- Climatic sensitivities; scenarios of future warming;

- Extreme climatic events;

- Paleoclimatic variations and what they tell us on mechanisms;

- Modelling climate, from 1D to 3D models;

- A regional model, application to the mountain climate.

Students have a practical project to discuss a dataset, with the goal to get some grasp on what the data can tell us, their uncertainty, bias, etc. Outputs are both a written and an oral presentations of the results.

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Cette UE est proposée en partenariat avec le Master BEE (Biodiversité, écologie, évolution)

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This course, is offered in partnership with the BEE (Biodiversity, Ecology, Evolution) Master's degree

Cours Magistraux :

Les intervenants sont des spécialistes des thématiques traitées dans l’UE, chercheurs et ingénieurs de recherche. Les interventions concernent :

- Théorie de la niche et écologie fonctionnelle
- Écologie du paysage et analyse des patrons de diversité des communautés
- Modélisation et analyse des distributions des espèces et écosystèmes, selon les conditions environnementales présentes et futures
- Macroécologie et théorie neutre de la biogéographie
- Réseaux écologiques
- Dynamique des écosystèmes
- Théorie de la coexistence
- Test d'hypothèses et inférence de processus d'assemblage
- Ecologie du paysage et modèles de métapopulations

Travaux Dirigés :

L’UE comporte plusieurs séances de travaux dirigés mettant en application les concepts et méthodes abordés en cours à l’application de données réelles :

- Modélisation et analyses de données de biodiversité avec R
- Modèles de Distribution d’Espèces (SDM) avec BIOMOD
- Modèles de métapopulation

Par ailleurs les étudiants effectuent l’analyse critique d’un article scientifique portant sur une des thématiques abordées dans l’UE. Ils présentent à l’oral le contenu de l’article et leur analyse.

L’objectif de l’UE est d’appréhender le fonctionnement et la dynamique de la biodiversité à de larges échelles spatiales et temporelles. Dans cette logique, l’UE s’appuie sur les connaissances et compétences acquises dans les domaines de l’écologie et de la biologie évolutive, et poursuit l’apprentissage des théories et méthodes développées en biogéographie, macroécologie, et évolution.

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In this field course we will study the impact of geodynamics and climate on the development of biodiversity. The creation of mountain belts and sedimentary basins via geodynamic processes leads to changes in the environment at the earth’s surface particularly along active plate boundaries. Organisms living in these environments adapt to these changes through evolution and migration. Phylogenetic studies as well as the fossil record show that evolution occurs at a timescale comparable to the timescale of geological processes. Surface renewal through geodynamic processes also significantly impacts on the interconnectedness of environmental niches, which means it can stimulate the isolation of populations or trigger sudden mixing between populations that were formerly disconnected. The climate also impacts on the physical parameters of environments at the earth’s surface and changes in climate can thus equally stimulate evolutionary adaptations, trigger extinctions or enhance the radiation of certain taxa better adapted to the environments new conditions. In this field course we will use a case-study from the Africa-Eurasia collision zone to study how geodynamics and climate can drive speciation, migration and extinction of living organisms and hence impact biodiversity. We will use field observations as well as analytical data to lay the link between processes acting in the interior of the earth, those acting in the earth’s external envelopes and the biosphere. The course will be graded through a written field report. It is generally taught in English

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The objective is to provide an overview of the coupling between the solid Earth (the geosphere) and the external spheres (hydrosphere, atmosphere, cryosphere, biosphere), and to understand the physico-chemical processes that are at work. The behavior of these spheres is examined in the context of the Earth System (and not independently of it).
This course is based on a reversed pedagogy, i.e. the courses are prepared by the students beforehand in the framework of tutored projects.

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The objective is to explore to what extent geomorphological archives (landscape features and associated sedimentary deposits) can inform us about past climates, as well as associated environmental conditions and earth surface processes/natural hazards. This course adresses this question with a multisciplinary approach (geomorphology, sedimentology, paleoclimatology) with the aim to reconstruct past landscapes and use them as archives. A special focus will be on the Alps and their evolution during the Plio-Quaternary, but other environments/periods will also be considered, especially key transition periods from glacials to interglacials or changes in amospheric circulations (monsoon). The proposed course is organised around lectures and interactive group sessions.
A field excursion around Grenoble is also planned. Some background in paleoclimatology and/or geomorphology would be advantageous but not mandatory. Teaching can be performed in french or english.

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This internship must be carried out for at least 6 weeks. It aims to discover the professional environment, business or research laboratory, whose themes are linked to the objectives of each course. 

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This internship has a minimum duration of 4 months and constitutes the finalization of each student's master's project. It can serve as a gateway to the professional world or preparatory to a doctorate. It must be closely linked to the chosen master's course.

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