Looking back at the summer school on research organised by the Geosciences laboratory and the Environmental Science Observatory of Rennes, as part of the European University Alliance EDUC
A European seminar dedicated to Earth sciences
From June 30 to July 4, 2025, the Environmental Science Observatory of Rennes (OSEREN) and the Geosciences laboratory hosted a summer school that brought together 19 participants and 8 speakers from across Europe, within the framework of the European University Alliance EDUC. This seminar focused on a major scientific challenge: reconstructing the Earth system and its environmental conditions through geological time in order to better understand the history of our planet and anticipate its future.
A rich and diverse programme
Throughout this intensive week, students and speakers from the University of Cagliari, GFZ Potsdam, the University of Western Brittany, and Ifremer, as well as from other European institutions (CNRS, Roma Tre, Göttingen, Nazarbayev…), took part in a programme that combined:
- Lectures on plate tectonics, paleogeography, and landscape evolution;
- Hands-on workshops using specialised digital tools;
- A case study on animal dispersal between Africa and Madagascar, linked to the formation of a now-vanished land bridge.
Laboratory visits and field excursions
Participants visited the Geosciences laboratories, where advanced instruments are used to measure environmental changes with high precision. A full-day excursion to Mont Saint-Michel offered the chance to study sedimentary formations in an area with extreme tidal variations, blending scientific rigour with wonder. The visit to the abbey and a tasting of Breton specialities enriched the experience further.
A geological tour of Rennes
A geo-historical walk through the city of Rennes shed light on the region’s geological history, as seen through the stones used to build the city's iconic monuments over the centuries.
International collaboration in support of the energy transition
Organised in partnership with the Universities of Cagliari, Potsdam, Bretagne Occidentale, and Ifremer, this summer school highlighted the importance of palaeogeographic reconstructions for both the energy transition and environmental research.
A success driven by participant enthusiasm
The energy and enthusiasm of the participants were key to the success of this edition. They now form a close-knit group, grateful to EDUC for this unique experience and eager to take part in future scientific adventures.
A week of sharing, discovery, and experimentation at the heart of Earth sciences, to better understand our past and shape our future.
Photos by Claire Le Graet, Eline Le Breton and Guillaume Dupont-Nivet
