Global Climate change, Arctic sustainability and Environment” UVSQ – Université Paris-Saclay
The University of Versailles Saint-Quentin (UVSQ) invites you to participate in the summer school France Excellence “Global Climate change, Arctic sustainability and Environment”
The University of Versailles Saint-Quentin (UVSQ) invites you to participate in the summer school France Excellence “Global Climate change, Arctic sustainability and Environment”. The summer school will offer courses based on the forefront of interdisciplinary environmental and climate research in relation to the Arctic, the ‘hothouse’ of global warming. The courses are a sample of the Master in interdisciplinary Arctic and climate studies labelled Université Paris-Saclay. They are focused on three key subjects: climate, environment and Arctic humanities, and taught by a team of internationally-recognized professors and researchers. Building on previous experience, the summer school will be held at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines campus, near Paris, and at the Haute-Provence Observatory. You will have the unique opportunity to discover the world of French research through an insight in several outstanding laboratories and research infrastructures, through courses including a supervised individual project experiencing the latest research methodologies.
1 - FACILITIES
ARRIVAL IN FRANCE
Participants will be welcomed at Charles-de-Gaulle airport in Paris by members of the International Relations Office, on Monday, the 6th of July 2020. A shuttle bus will be waiting for you to go to Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. The residence can also be reached with the suburb train “RER B” (direct train from airport to Saint-Michel Notre-Dame), and then another train “RER C” (direct train from Saint-Michel Notre-Dame to Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines).
Courses will start on Tuesday, the 7th of July 2020.
ACCOMODATION
The school will provide accommodation for all the participants in a residence offering single studios with private bathroom and kitchen. The residence will be on campus.
MEALS
All weekly meals are included in the programme (breakfast, lunches and dinners) and will be taken at university restaurants. Buffets will also be organized in other places (restaurants, castles…) for special events. As for the weekends, you will have the opportunity to buy your own food at the supermarket, as you will have a kitchen in your studio.
TRANSPORTATION
A transport card for Paris and its Region will be provided for the 4 weeks. Valid for the whole of the Paris region, it will guarantee you access to all the places you want to visit.
RETURN TO CHINA
Your return to China will take place on the 24th of July, 2020 from Paris Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle Airport. A shuttle will take you from the student residence hall to the airport.
2 - SCIENTIFIC SYLLABUS
LECTURES
Environmental Science for the Arctic (8h): This unit presents fundamental aspects of environmental science in the Arctic, from atmospheric pollution and the ozone stratosphere to the climate. Three main themes will be looked at: pollution in the Arctic, Arctic climate, and the Arctic atmosphere. Several scientists involved in arctic environmental research will present an overview of their activities.
Arctic anthropology (5.5h): This unit analyses classic and current anthropology and the remarkable contribution of indigenous peoples to Arctic exploration whose traditional knowledge and viewpoint are now taken into account in research projects. This circumpolar approach, based on case studies in Greenland, Canada, Alaska, Siberia and Fennoscandia covers impacts of climate change, pollution, and new maritime routes; traditional lifestyles and sustainable development; indigenous governance issues; education, identity, ritual and religious phenomena; cultural and linguistic transmission and revitalisation; adaptation to new digital items.
Arctic climate and meteorology (11h): This unit examines three central themes: cataclysms in the Arctic, the consequences of climate change in the Arctic and the role of Polar Regions in comparative planetology. Group work exploits weather archive data and the UVSQ’s own weather station. Most of the courses will take place at the Haute-Provence Observatory during the second week. The scientific experience will also include space-based observation and launching of a weather balloon.
Arctic travel writing (4.5h): The unit offers a survey of the history of Arctic exploration narratives, narrative ethnography and travel accounts from the 16th to the 21st century. A number of historical sources, as well as contemporary texts will be discussed in detail.
Arctic governance (7.5h): Science-based policy approaches are introduced to the legal framework, driving forces of social, economic and environmental change, environmental services, and mixed anthropogenic stressors. Initiation to decision support procedures for sustainability, where economic viability, social justice and cultural integrity are placed alongside procedures for environmental impact assessment of ecosystem change and stability.
SIMO-INT (3 x 8 h): Stage d'Initiation aux Méthodes d'Observation – for Internationnal students : Students spend 4 days at the Observatoire de Haute-Provence, south of France accompanied by 3 speakers. In the field, the instruments of sounding the atmosphere and astronomy, in operation and inactive phase will be presented in small groups. They will therefore be able to observe these instruments, learn about their operation, ask questions to operators and scientists, and thus see the applications of the theoretical knowledge they have received. These visits are complemented by a series of lectures on experimental devices and measurement methods. Presentations will address scientific themes and results from an overview of the OHP geophysical station and its operational observation mission within the Network for Detection of Network (NDACC) network.
Level: Master and senior under-graduate students
OTHER SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES
Scientific Visits: LSCE Laboratory, LATMOS Laboratory, OVSQ Observatory and its PIT Platform (Platform d'Intégration et de test)
Scientific Excursion: Haute-Provence Observatory
Student Research Presentations
3- CULTURAL SYLLABUS
Initiation to French Language and Culture (20h)
VISITS
Guided Tour of the Palace of Versailles and Park
Guided Tours in Paris
Cultural Excursion in the Haute-Provence Region
4- RESUME
Welcome date the 6th of July 2020.
From the 6th to the 24th of July 2020 at the University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines.
The total number of places is limited to 25.
Price : 28 000 RMB
The price does not include the trip from China to Paris.
Accommodation, meals and local transportation are all included.
The summer school will deliver 6 ECTS.
The summer school is open to master and senior under-graduate students.
Price:
To apply, please follow the application procedure described on the main page