Our ATHENA partner, the University of Orléans (France), organises for the fourth year in a row a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) in Digital Environmental Geosciences. This year’s theme, WEMP, stands for Water resources, Energy resources, Mining resources and Pollution mitigation.
The week in Orléans introduces four simulation techniques widely used in environmental geosciences: Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Digital Rock Physics and Microfluidics (DRP & MF), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Reactive Transport Modelling (RTM). Morning lectures and seminars by experts from academia and industry show how they are applied to real systems, and afternoons are spent on hands-on sessions. Online collaborative group projects follow later in the semester.
Key information
- Who: Master’s and PhD students studying IT, geology, engineering, fluid mechanics, geography or physics (maximum 30 participants)
- Physical week: 11 – 15 January 2027, at Hôtel Dupanloup in central Orléans, with the last day at the Observatory of Sciences of the Universe (OSUC)
- Virtual part: online group projects later in the spring semester; attending both parts is mandatory
- Credits: 3 ECTS on completion
- Funding: HMU students can apply for an Erasmus+ grant for short-term mobility through the International Relations Office
- Also: intercultural activities in Orléans and the region, including a guided city tour and a treasure hunt
The week at a glance
| Day | Morning | Afternoon |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 11 Jan | Opening, introductory lectures on GIS and DRP & MF | Hands-on GIS or DRP & MF, guided city tour |
| Tue 12 Jan | GIS and DRP & MF lectures, invited seminar on GIS | Hands-on GIS or DRP & MF, treasure hunt |
| Wed 13 Jan | CFD and RTM lectures, invited seminar on DRP & MF | Hands-on RTM or CFD, group project brainstorming |
| Thu 14 Jan | CFD and RTM lectures, invited seminar on RTM | Hands-on RTM or CFD, group project brainstorming |
| Fri 15 Jan | Lab visits at OSUC, invited seminar on RTM | Hands-on RTM or CFD, closing |
How to apply
Apply through the University of Orléans application form by 31 October 2026 (extended deadline), and contact the International Relations Office about an Erasmus+ grant for your mobility.
More information on the University of Orléans BIP page. Questions about the programme: bip.wemp@univ-orleans.fr. Questions about Erasmus+ funding at HMU: International Relations Office.