Ecole et Observatoire des Sciences de la Terre
Encyclopedia
The Ecole et Observatoire des Sciences de la Terre (in English, School and Observatory for Earth Sciences) is a French Grande Ecole specialized in Earth sciences and accredited to deliver European University degrees, such as the Licence
/Master
/Doctorat
, but also the French Diplôme d'Ingénieur
. The school is a component of the University of Strasbourg
.
Professors and researchers of the EOST are either affiliated with the Institut de Physique du Globe de Strasbourg (IPGS) or with the Laboratoire d'Hydrologie et de Géochimie de Strasbourg (LHyGeS). External keynote speakers from the industry and various research organisms also contribute extensively to teaching at the EOST.
In addition to its academic functions, the EOST is also a geophysical observatory (gravimetry
, geodesy
, seismology
, geomagnetism), and has two museums.
. The origin of the Geology Institute is even older and is linked to the French development of the University during the first half of the 19th century.
After the annexation of Alsace by Germany
, the Imperial University pursued a policy of elitism, basing its excellence on fundamental research as practiced at the University of Wilhelm von Humboldt (early 19th century). The same model was used when the French Grandes Ecoles were built.
Since 1920, the IPGS and the IPGP (Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris) conducted research and geophysical observations non-stop, without interruption during the War
. Between 1939 and 1945, the IPGS was relocated in Clermont-Ferrand
, were the Diplômes d'Ingénieurs were signed by Louis Cagnard, a famous French geophysicist.
, students take part into a national competitive examination. According to their results and ranking, they may apply to the EOST:
The classes are distributed as follows (as of 2011/2012):
After the first semester of their third year, students need to complete an internship in the industry or in a research organism in order to obtain their degree.
In parallel, the top students who want to pursue in the academy can enroll in a Master's degree - one in Earth Sciences (delivered by the University of Strasbourg
), and one in Environmental Sciences and Engineering (co-delivered by the University of Strasbourg
and the Ecole Nationale du Génie de l'Eau et de l'Environnement).
s in partnership with
Moreover, student exchanges are highly encouraged and partnerships with the following universities have been established through the Erasmus
student exchange program
The EOST is also a member of
A more extensive list of alumni can be found on.
Licentiate
Licentiate is the title of a person who holds an academic degree called a licence. The term may derive from the Latin licentia docendi, meaning permission to teach. The term may also derive from the Latin licentia ad practicandum, which signified someone who held a certificate of competence to...
/Master
Master's degree in Europe
This page refers to types of Master's degrees in Europe. Please see Master's degree for more information.In order to facilitate the movement of students between European countries, a standardized schedule of higher education diplomas, also known as the Bologna process, was proposed: an...
/Doctorat
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
, but also the French Diplôme d'Ingénieur
Diplôme d'Ingénieur
The diplôme d'ingénieur is a French diploma of higher education awarded by French Écoles d'Ingénieurs which can be independent schools of engineering or universities with internal school of engineering . This diploma confers the academic title of Ingénieur diplômé de [name of the awarding...
. The school is a component of the University of Strasbourg
University of Strasbourg
The University of Strasbourg in Strasbourg, Alsace, France, is the largest university in France, with about 43,000 students and over 4,000 researchers....
.
Professors and researchers of the EOST are either affiliated with the Institut de Physique du Globe de Strasbourg (IPGS) or with the Laboratoire d'Hydrologie et de Géochimie de Strasbourg (LHyGeS). External keynote speakers from the industry and various research organisms also contribute extensively to teaching at the EOST.
In addition to its academic functions, the EOST is also a geophysical observatory (gravimetry
Gravimetry
Gravimetry is the measurement of the strength of a gravitational field. Gravimetry may be used when either the magnitude of gravitational field or the properties of matter responsible for its creation are of interest...
, geodesy
Geodesy
Geodesy , also named geodetics, a branch of earth sciences, is the scientific discipline that deals with the measurement and representation of the Earth, including its gravitational field, in a three-dimensional time-varying space. Geodesists also study geodynamical phenomena such as crustal...
, seismology
Seismology
Seismology is the scientific study of earthquakes and the propagation of elastic waves through the Earth or through other planet-like bodies. The field also includes studies of earthquake effects, such as tsunamis as well as diverse seismic sources such as volcanic, tectonic, oceanic,...
, geomagnetism), and has two museums.
The School
History
The School and Observatory for Earth Sciences was created by decree in 1997 from the fusion of the Geology and Earth Physics institutes of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Strasbourg. Interests in Earth Physics arose around 1880 in Germany with the birth of seismology and meteorologyMeteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
. The origin of the Geology Institute is even older and is linked to the French development of the University during the first half of the 19th century.
After the annexation of Alsace by Germany
Alsace-Lorraine
The Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine was a territory created by the German Empire in 1871 after it annexed most of Alsace and the Moselle region of Lorraine following its victory in the Franco-Prussian War. The Alsatian part lay in the Rhine Valley on the west bank of the Rhine River and east...
, the Imperial University pursued a policy of elitism, basing its excellence on fundamental research as practiced at the University of Wilhelm von Humboldt (early 19th century). The same model was used when the French Grandes Ecoles were built.
Since 1920, the IPGS and the IPGP (Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris) conducted research and geophysical observations non-stop, without interruption during the War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Between 1939 and 1945, the IPGS was relocated in Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand is a city and commune of France, in the Auvergne region, with a population of 140,700 . Its metropolitan area had 409,558 inhabitants at the 1999 census. It is the prefecture of the Puy-de-Dôme department...
, were the Diplômes d'Ingénieurs were signed by Louis Cagnard, a famous French geophysicist.
Application Process
After two years of Classes Préparatoires aux Grandes EcolesClasse Préparatoire aux Grandes Écoles
The classes préparatoires aux grandes écoles , commonly called classes prépas or prépas, are part of the French post-secondary education system. They consist in two very selective years , acting as a prep course with the main goal of training undergraduate students for enrolment in one of the...
, students take part into a national competitive examination. According to their results and ranking, they may apply to the EOST:
- 11 places for students majoring in Mathematics and Physics
- 12 places for students majoring in Physics and Chemistry
- 2 places for students majoring in Physics and Engineering Sciences
- 8 places for students majoring in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Earth Sciences
- 8 places for students coming from the university system, majoring either in Mathematics, Physics or Earth Sciences
Curriculum
The school delivers the Diplôme d'Ingénieur de l'Ecole et Observatoire des Sciences de la Terre de l'Université de Strasbourg, which is equivalent to a Master's degree in Geophysical Engineering.The classes are distributed as follows (as of 2011/2012):
- First year: MathematicsMathematicsMathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, Computer ScienceComputer scienceComputer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
, Continuum MechanicsContinuum mechanicsContinuum mechanics is a branch of mechanics that deals with the analysis of the kinematics and the mechanical behavior of materials modelled as a continuous mass rather than as discrete particles...
, Earth PhysicsPhysics of the Earth and Planetary InteriorsPhysics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, established in October 1967, is a biweekly, peer reviewed, scientific journal published by Elsevier. The co-editors are G. Helffrich , K. Hirose , M. Jellinek , and K...
, ElectromagnetismElectromagnetismElectromagnetism is one of the four fundamental interactions in nature. The other three are the strong interaction, the weak interaction and gravitation...
, TectonicsTectonicsTectonics is a field of study within geology concerned generally with the structures within the lithosphere of the Earth and particularly with the forces and movements that have operated in a region to create these structures.Tectonics is concerned with the orogenies and tectonic development of...
, Signal ProcessingSignal processingSignal processing is an area of systems engineering, electrical engineering and applied mathematics that deals with operations on or analysis of signals, in either discrete or continuous time...
, Seismic WavesSeismic waveSeismic waves are waves of energy that travel through the earth, and are a result of an earthquake, explosion, or a volcano that imparts low-frequency acoustic energy. Many other natural and anthropogenic sources create low amplitude waves commonly referred to as ambient vibrations. Seismic waves...
, Physical Geodesy, Fracturation of Rocks, Fluid MechanicsFluid mechanicsFluid mechanics is the study of fluids and the forces on them. Fluid mechanics can be divided into fluid statics, the study of fluids at rest; fluid kinematics, the study of fluids in motion; and fluid dynamics, the study of the effect of forces on fluid motion...
, Sedimentary Petrology, Introduction to GIS, Field Work in the Alps, Computer Science project, Geophysics Laboratory, Industrial Economics, English, Second language (optional) - Second year: Signal ProcessingSignal processingSignal processing is an area of systems engineering, electrical engineering and applied mathematics that deals with operations on or analysis of signals, in either discrete or continuous time...
, Numerical AnalysisNumerical analysisNumerical analysis is the study of algorithms that use numerical approximation for the problems of mathematical analysis ....
, Seismology (Earth models), Spatial Geodesy, Rock Physics, Dynamics of the Earth, Tectonics and Sedimentation, Inverse MethodsInverse methodThe inverse method can refer to:* The inverse transform sampling method.* The inverse method in automated reasoning....
, Seismology (earthquakes), Potential Fields, Seismic Imaging, HydrologyHydrologyHydrology is the study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth and other planets, including the hydrologic cycle, water resources and environmental watershed sustainability...
, Geomagnetism, Geophysics Laboratory, Geophysical Research Project, Well-logging, Seismic Acquisition and GeostatisticsGeostatisticsGeostatistics is a branch of statistics focusing on spatial or spatiotemporal datasets. Developed originally to predict probability distributions of ore grades for mining operations, it is currently applied in diverse disciplines including petroleum geology, hydrogeology, hydrology, meteorology,...
, BoreholeBoreholeA borehole is the generalized term for any narrow shaft bored in the ground, either vertically or horizontally. A borehole may be constructed for many different purposes, including the extraction of water or other liquid or gases , as part of a geotechnical investigation, environmental site...
Geophysics Field Camp, Sustainable development and Quality-Health-Security Environment, Accounting and Finance, Intellectual Property, Business Choices and Management, English, Second language (optional) - Third year: Geophysics Field Camp, English, Economics of Energy, Business Organization and Strategy + choice between two different options:
- Geophysics applied to exploration and production of natural resources: Seismic Reservoir Characterization, Reservoir Hydrodynamics, PetrophysicsPetrophysicsPetrophysics is the study of the physical and chemical properties that describe the occurrence and behavior of rocks, soils and fluids . Petrophysics mainly studies reservoirs of resources, including ore deposits and oil or natural gas reservoirs...
for Reservoir Simulation, Seismic Processing and Inversion, Potentials Fields, Seismic StratigraphyStratigraphyStratigraphy, a branch of geology, studies rock layers and layering . It is primarily used in the study of sedimentary and layered volcanic rocks.... - Geophysics applied to civil engineeringCivil engineeringCivil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
and environmental studies: GeotechnicsGeotechnicsGeotechnics is the application of scientific methods and engineering principles to the acquisition, interpretation, and use of knowledge of materials of the Earth's crust and earth materials for the solution of engineering problems...
, Strength of Materials applied to Civil Engineering, GeomechanicsGeomechanicsGeomechanics is the geologic study of the behavior of soil and rock. The two main disciplines of geomechanics are soil mechanics and rock mechanics. The former deals with the behaviour of soil from a small scale to a landslide scale...
, Hydrogeophysics, Electromagnetic Methods, Seismic HazardsSeismic hazardSeismic hazard refers to the study of expected earthquake ground motions at the earth's surface, and its likely effects on existing natural conditions and man-made structures for public safety considerations; the results of such studies are published as seismic hazard maps, which identify the...
- Geophysics applied to exploration and production of natural resources: Seismic Reservoir Characterization, Reservoir Hydrodynamics, Petrophysics
After the first semester of their third year, students need to complete an internship in the industry or in a research organism in order to obtain their degree.
In parallel, the top students who want to pursue in the academy can enroll in a Master's degree - one in Earth Sciences (delivered by the University of Strasbourg
University of Strasbourg
The University of Strasbourg in Strasbourg, Alsace, France, is the largest university in France, with about 43,000 students and over 4,000 researchers....
), and one in Environmental Sciences and Engineering (co-delivered by the University of Strasbourg
University of Strasbourg
The University of Strasbourg in Strasbourg, Alsace, France, is the largest university in France, with about 43,000 students and over 4,000 researchers....
and the Ecole Nationale du Génie de l'Eau et de l'Environnement).
National and International partnerships
The EOST can deliver two different double degreeDouble degree
A double-degree program, sometimes called a combined degree, conjoint degree, dual degree, or simultaneous degree program, involves a student's working for two different university degrees in parallel, either at the same institution or at different institutions , completing them in less time than...
s in partnership with
- the Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Géologie (ENSG) in Nancy, France
- the Ecole Nationale des Sciences Géographiques
Moreover, student exchanges are highly encouraged and partnerships with the following universities have been established through the Erasmus
Erasmus Programme
The Erasmus Programme , a.k.a. Erasmus Project is a European Union student exchange programme established in 1987...
student exchange program
- Imperial College, London, UK
- Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
- Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyNorwegian University of Science and TechnologyThe Norwegian University of Science and Technology , commonly known as NTNU, is located in Trondheim. NTNU is the second largest of the eight universities in Norway, and, as its name suggests, has the main national responsibility for higher education in engineering and technology...
(NTNU), Trondheim, Norway - University of BarcelonaUniversity of BarcelonaThe University of Barcelona is a public university located in the city of Barcelona, Catalonia in Spain. It is a member of the Coimbra Group, LERU, European University Association, Mediterranean Universities Union, International Research Universities Network and Vives Network...
, Barcelona, Spain - University of BergenUniversity of BergenThe University of Bergen is located in Bergen, Norway. Although founded as late as 1946, academic activity had taken place at Bergen Museum as far back as 1825. The university today serves more than 14,500 students...
, Bergen, Norway - Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
- University of OsloUniversity of OsloThe University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
, Oslo, Norway
Student Organizations
Several organizations are based in the EOST buildings:- the Bureau des Elèves de l'EOST (BDE, litterally "Board of Students"), organizing student life and cultural events
- the Bureau des Sports de l'EOST (BDS, litterally "Board of Sports"), organizing sport events against teams from other engineering schools
- the Strasbourg University Geophysical Society (SUGS), French student component of the SEGSociety of Exploration GeophysicistsThe Society of Exploration Geophysicists is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the science of geophysics and the education of exploration geophysicists. The Society fosters the expert and ethical practice of geophysics in the exploration and development of natural resources, in...
, organizing geophysical and archeological campaigns in Alsace - Geophyse, the Alumni association
The EOST is also a member of
- the Poly, an association of the Engineering students of Strasbourg
- the Alsace Tech network, the network of Engineering and Management Grandes Ecoles of Alsace
- the BNEI, the National Board of Engineering Students
Seismic surveillance
Global geophysics
- Gravimetric observatories
- Magnetic observatories
- Seismological observatories
- Geodesy observatories
- Landslide observatories (Observatoire Multidisciplinaire des Instabilités de Versants, OMIV)
Environmental surveillance
- Hydrology and Geochemistry observatories (Observatoire Hydro-Géochimique de l'Environnement, OHGE)
Scientific archives
- Centre for Archiving and Processing of Seismic Data (Centre d'Archivage et de Traitement Sismique, CATS)
The Museums and collections
The buildings of the EOST host two museums and an extensive rock and fossils collection.- Museum of Seismology and Earth Magnetism
- Museum of Mineralogy
- Lithotèque
Notable Alumni and Professors
- Philippe Louis Voltz (1785–1840), founder of the Société d'Histoire Naturelle de Strasbourg (Strasbourg Society of Natural HistoryNatural HistoryNatural history is the scientific study of plants or animals.Natural History may also refer to:In science and medicine:* Natural History , Naturalis Historia, a 1st-century work by Pliny the Elder...
). - Auguste Daubrée (1814–1896), Chair of MineralogyMineralogyMineralogy is the study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals. Specific studies within mineralogy include the processes of mineral origin and formation, classification of minerals, their geographical distribution, as well as their utilization.-History:Early writing...
and Geology (1838). - Guillaume Philippe Schimper (1808–1880), botanistBotanyBotany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
and paleontologist. Chair of Mineralogy and Geology (1862). Author of the first treatise of paleobotanyPaleobotanyPaleobotany, also spelled as palaeobotany , is the branch of paleontology or paleobiology dealing with the recovery and identification of plant remains from geological contexts, and their use for the biological reconstruction of past environments , and both the evolutionary history of plants, with a...
. - Ernst Wilhelm Benecke (1838–1917), Chair of Geology and PaleontologyPaleontologyPaleontology "old, ancient", ὄν, ὀντ- "being, creature", and λόγος "speech, thought") is the study of prehistoric life. It includes the study of fossils to determine organisms' evolution and interactions with each other and their environments...
. - Paul Groth (1843–1927), Chair of Mineralogy and PetrographyPetrographyPetrography is a branch of petrology that focuses on detailed descriptions of rocks. Someone who studies petrography is called a petrographer. The mineral content and the textural relationships within the rock are described in detail. Petrographic descriptions start with the field notes at the...
. - Georg Gerland (1833–1919), founder of the first journal of geophysics in 1887 ("Beiträge zur Geophysik"). Creator of both the German Central Station of Seismology and the International Central Bureau of Seismology.
- Oskar Hecker (1864–1938), seismologist.
- August Sieberg (1875–1945), seismologist.
- Beno GutenbergBeno GutenbergBeno Gutenberg was a German-American seismologist who made several important contributions to the science...
(1889–1960), seismologist. Creator and first director (1947) of the Seismological LaboratoryCaltech Seismological LaboratoryThe Caltech Seismological Laboratory is an arm of the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences of the California Institute of Technology. Known as the Seismo Lab, it has been a world center for seismology research since the 1920s, and was for many decades a go-to source for rapid commentary...
of the California Institute of Technology. - Georg Friedel (1865–1933), crystallographerCrystallographyCrystallography is the experimental science of the arrangement of atoms in solids. The word "crystallography" derives from the Greek words crystallon = cold drop / frozen drop, with its meaning extending to all solids with some degree of transparency, and grapho = write.Before the development of...
. - Jacques de Lapparent (1883–1948), author of the first treatise of petrography in French.
- Maurice Gignoux (1881–1955), alpine geologists and stratigrapherStratigraphyStratigraphy, a branch of geology, studies rock layers and layering . It is primarily used in the study of sedimentary and layered volcanic rocks....
. - Léon Moret (1890–1970), paleontologist.
- Georges Dubois (1890–1953), palynologistPalynologyPalynology is the science that studies contemporary and fossil palynomorphs, including pollen, spores, orbicules, dinoflagellate cysts, acritarchs, chitinozoans and scolecodonts, together with particulate organic matter and kerogen found in sedimentary rocks and sediments...
. - Emmanuel de Margerie (1862–1953), Director of the Service de la Carte Géologique d'Alsace et de Lorraine (Alsace-Lorraine Geological Survey).
- Edmond Rothé (1873–1942), Director of both the Institute and the Bureau Central Sismologique pour la France et ses Colonies (Seismological Central Bureau of France and its Colonies)
- Xavier Le PichonXavier Le PichonXavier Le Pichon is a French geophysicist. Among many other contributions, he is known for his comprehensive model of plate tectonics .He is professor at the Collège de France.-Biography:Le Pichon holds a doctorate in physics....
(1937-), Chair of Geodynamics at the Collège de FranceCollège de FranceThe Collège de France is a higher education and research establishment located in Paris, France, in the 5th arrondissement, or Latin Quarter, across the street from the historical campus of La Sorbonne at the intersection of Rue Saint-Jacques and Rue des Écoles...
, pioneer of plate tectonicsPlate tectonicsPlate tectonics is a scientific theory that describes the large scale motions of Earth's lithosphere...
for which he proposed a model in 1968. - Luis Riviera, alumni and currently Professor of Seismology.
- Michel Cara, currently Professor of Seismology.
- François-Henri Cornet, currently Professor of GeomechanicsGeomechanicsGeomechanics is the geologic study of the behavior of soil and rock. The two main disciplines of geomechanics are soil mechanics and rock mechanics. The former deals with the behaviour of soil from a small scale to a landslide scale...
. - Karel Schulmann, currently head of the LithosphereLithosphereThe lithosphere is the rigid outermost shell of a rocky planet. On Earth, it comprises the crust and the portion of the upper mantle that behaves elastically on time scales of thousands of years or greater.- Earth's lithosphere :...
and Sedimentary BasinsSedimentary basinThe term sedimentary basin is used to refer to any geographical feature exhibiting subsidence and consequent infilling by sedimentation. As the sediments are buried, they are subjected to increasing pressure and begin the process of lithification...
Dynamics team.
A more extensive list of alumni can be found on.
External links
See also
- University of StrasbourgUniversity of StrasbourgThe University of Strasbourg in Strasbourg, Alsace, France, is the largest university in France, with about 43,000 students and over 4,000 researchers....
- Universities in France
- Education in FranceEducation in FranceThe French educational system is highly centralized, organized, and ramified. It is divided into three different stages:* the primary education ;* secondary education ;...
- League of European Research UniversitiesLeague of European Research UniversitiesThe League of European Research Universities is a consortium of Europe's most prominent and renowned research universities.-History and Overview:...