As part of the education program, we will be using a number of innovative teaching tools set up within OSUC, as well as those made available by the Université d’Orléans, in particular the X-Labs of the MINERVE project, FacLab, SimLab and the BRGM’s GeodataLab.
Within OSUC, we have the OSUC-Lab, a ‘fablab’ for work on project-based on design/deployment of sensors and data acquisition in the geo-environment. The new Project-Center (2023) is a modern room dedicated to independent students work. Several computer rooms are equipped for learning programming and geomatics.
Versatile Training Observatory
For 2024 academic year, we will inaugurate the OSUC Versatile Training Observatory (Observatoire Pédagogique Incrémental de l’OSUC), which will be located on the OSUC campus and will be used for GEODATA training. This will provide real-life experience of scientific observation in non-conventional natural setting, and students will be trained from data acquisition to publication. Equipped with solar panels to supply energy and a wifi antenna for data transmission, this educational observatory will be one of the pillars of the training programme. A soil pit will also be dug close to the observatory, to be monitored by the students by instruments.
The data obtained in this educational observatory will be inserted into an OSUC_Formation database, based on Firebase, for complete control of the data life chain.
OSUC-Lab
The fablab of OSUC (OSUC-Lab) is a room dedicated to digital teaching and project-based instrument development. In operation since 2021, it has been used to introduce OSUC students (Earth Sciences) to project-based instrument development for environmental metrology. This fablab will be a part of the University of Orléans’ network of fablabs. Projects can also be pursued within the other future Minerve Fablabs.
Project-center of OSUC
This new room, which will open at the beginning of the 2023 academic year, will enable all students to work outside of classrooms in a pleasant and appropriate environment. This modular space will offer the opportunity to work in groups of 2 to 8, depending on the configurations needed, ideal for work of group projects.
GeodataLab of BRGM
This is a fully-equipped computer room located at BRGM, enabling independent projects to be carried out on environmental data (geoscience databases). BRGM staff and university teaching staff provide scientific and technical supervision for the projects.
X-Labs of MINERVE projet and digital tools of PRO3 projet of the University of Orléans
As part of the MINERVE project, several training labs will be brought into service. A shared FABLAB will be created in 2025, enabling even more ambitious projects than those carried out in the OSUC_Lab. The FACLAB will be used in Semester 3 to create media and digital content to showcase the instrumental projects. The SIMLAB will also be used for projects requiring immersion in virtual or augmented reality.