Licence Sciences de la Vie et de la Terre, Parcours : Mer

After a first year in the Louis Pasteur scientific portal, the last two years of the Life and Earth Sciences degree course (SVT Mer) develop the learning of a multidisciplinary approach to understanding an ecosystem, an organism or a process in the marine environment. This integrated approach is based, on the one hand, on the acquisition of a knowledge base in biology, ecology, physics, marine chemistry, mathematics and training in observation techniques implemented in the laboratory or during campaigns at sea and, on the other hand, on an introduction to digital modelling.

This course aims to train future experts in marine sciences. Its multidisciplinary nature prepares students for entry into various Masters programmes. For example, among those offered by AMU, we can cite the masters in 'Marine Sciences', 'Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution', 'MEEF', 'Environmental Management', 'Geography, Planning, Environment and Development'. It also offers the possibility of entering certain engineering schools or a professional degree.

The Mer course is open to all L1 students (having acquired their 60 ECTS) from the Louis Pasteur portal of Aix-Marseille University. For students from other universities or from BTS or DUT type courses, an examination of the skills acquired will be carried out on the basis of the application file.

It is recommended that students coming from other courses have a basic knowledge of biology (e.g. cell biology, biochemistry, ecology), statistics, physics (optics, mechanics, thermodynamics) and mathematics.

The teachers of the Sea course carry out their research in the three major laboratories of the Institut Pytheas (Aix-Marseille University) in the field of Marine Sciences (MIO, IMBE, CEREGE). The courses taught in this programme are therefore based on the most recent advances in the field of Marine Sciences.

At the end of the course, the student :

can mobilise a base of fundamental knowledge in marine sciences in order to solve a simple problem in the marine environment.
Can observe, describe, identify, discriminate or classify organisms and marine ecosystems, and characterise the oceanic dynamics and chemistry of a given marine environment.
Can implement a protocol and a sampling strategy to measure and acquire data in the marine environment.
Know how to use scientific field and laboratory equipment, as well as acquisition software commonly used in marine science.
Can analyse, interpret and synthesise data with a view to their use and modelling.
Can use software (mathematical, statistical) to process, map, visualise or simulate experimental data or processes.
Can compare a model with observations and experimental data and appreciate its limits of validity.
Can identify sources of error or variability to estimate the uncertainty and validity of an experimental or numerical result.

The tutored project approach plays a major role in the Sea course. This type of project, carried out individually or in small groups, enables students to learn how to synthesise a bibliographical subject, a set of data from the field or modelling. An optional internship lasting at least two weeks in a laboratory or company is offered during the last semester of the course.

Students attend lectures which are illustrated in a concrete manner during tutorials and practical work sessions - outings at sea and on the coast, sessions in the computer room. The acquisition of knowledge is evaluated through continuous assessments (mid-term exams, reports on practical work and field trips, presentations) and a final exam. The evaluation of skills is carried out throughout the course through an e-portfolio evaluated and validated at the end of the third year.

The teaching of the MER course takes place exclusively on the Luminy campus in Marseille.

• A1303 Ingénierie en agriculture et environnement naturel (fr)
• K2107 Enseignement général du second degré (fr)
• K2108 Enseignement supérieur (fr)
• K2402 Recherche en sciences de l'univers, de la matière et du vivant (fr)
• M1809 Information météorologique (fr)

• 111G Physique-chimie de l'environnement (fr)
• 113G Sciences (biologie-géologie) de l'environnement, des écosystèmes (fr)
• 114C Mathématiques de la physique, de la chimie, de la biologie (fr)

The Mer course is open to all students from the Louis Pasteur portal of Aix-Marseille University. For candidates from BTS, IUT or L1 from other universities, applications and registrations are made through the eCandidat application of Aix-Marseille University.