News from the SGM department
Further Education Day
As every year, institutional partners attended the JPE (careers fair) organized by the SGM department of the IUT (University Institute of Technology) in Nîmes to assist second-year students in their search for further education opportunities. These partners represent an interesting opportunity for the students' professional future: this is the case for ISPA, Seatech, Ensaciet, the Polytech network, Ensait, Pagora, and EEIGM, for example, but also the professional bachelor's degrees in aerospace composites, MMS, QHSSE (Nîmes), MCMC (Limoges), and dual-skills programs such as IAE, which sent representatives this year and captured the attention of future graduates. A big thank you to everyone who attended—great opportunities for our students!
Launch of a professional degree program in September 2020: "Expertise and Maintenance of Composite Materials" at the University Institute of Technology (IUT) in Nîmes.
The aerospace industry continues its shift toward all-composite construction. An A320 was made up of 13% composite material by weight, while the A350 contains 53%. The race for profitability involves making aircraft lighter in order to increase payload capacity.
Composite materials are highly complex. They require mastery of the chemistry involved in the matrix and management of the mechanics of a heterogeneous and anisotropic part. However, when properly mastered, they allow for optimization of the shapes and performance of parts.
The aviation industry faces multiple challenges:
- Increase in air traffic. In 2018, 4.3 billion passengers boarded one of the 1,300 airlines worldwide. By 2037, this figure is expected to reach 8 billion.
- The global aircraft fleet is set to double by 2037, necessitating a drastic increase in production rates.
- Need to reduce environmental impact within a short timeframe,
- Recruitment difficulties for companies in the sector. The aerospace industry inspires dreams, but at the same time causes concern.
In order to meet these various challenges, it is necessary to have technicians trained in the field of composite materials.
The E2MCA training program will therefore be divided into three main areas:
- Knowledge of composite materials,
- Reconstruction of a composite piece: methodology and practical work,
- Expertise and quality control of a part using non-destructive testing
Nîmes is supporting this movement with the creation of an aeronautical hub at Nîmes Garons Airport and the establishment of a training program: vocational baccalaureate, advanced vocational diploma, and now a professional bachelor's degree.
All information about theproE2MCA license
Entrepreneurial hackathon at the IUT, March 27 and 28
On March 27 and 28, the first entrepreneurial Hackathon took place at the IUT. Organized as part of the Entretiens de Nîmes Alès, it challenged 12 teams of students from the SGM and GEA departments to find a technical solution and draw up a business plan for a problem set by the SDIS 30 fire department. Our 120 students worked on the subject for 24 hours, supervised and supported by around twenty coaches and teachers: collaborative work, creativity, coffee, pizza, and relaxing games were all on the agenda. The competition ended with the teams pitching their ideas to a jury composed of teachers, Ms. Catherine Peyroux (representative of PEPITE – student entrepreneurs), Mr. Jean-François Dubé (director of the IUT), SDIS 30, Mr. Jacky Raymond (Nîmes Métropole), and Mr. Jean-Patrick Respaut (Vice President in charge of Training and University Life at the University of Montpellier).
Congratulations to the two winning teams: Cador's Crew (best project) and the Avengers (jury's favorite).
2019 Open House at SGM: Materials are edible too!!!
Because it was around hundreds of delicious crêpes that no fewer than 130 visitors came to discover our department on Saturday, February 19, during the Open House at the University Institute of Technology in Nîmes.
High school students were able to discover the department and all its facilities, but also see students in class and working on projects, guided through the activities organized for them that day. It was wonderful to see our students sharing their passion for materials, their implementation, and their applications.
And to show that SGM also uses new teaching techniques, they were able to take part in an Escape Game on the theme of "discovering and characterizing aeronautical composite materials."
So thank you to all the students who took part in this day and to all the teachers who got involved!
And if you have the desire and the opportunity to come and study with us, we say to you: "See you next fall!"
An escape game about materials used in aeronautics
Article published on the Montpellier Academy website/News Promotion of Science and Technology – Aeronautical Training – February 17, 2019
Now, as everywhere else in Europe, the whole of France is getting excited about escape rooms, with a new opening. The IUT in Nîmes has understood this and has just created an Escape Game based on discovering the materials used in aeronautics.
With no game board or controllers, but played by several people, this Escape Game requires thought and teamwork. A scenario was devised by students in the Materials Science and Engineering Department under the guidance of Philippe Depeyre, head of the department.
Resources should then be examined and used to overcome the proposed difficulties step by step.
Players take on the role of investigators. They must solve a mystery by drawing on all their curiosity and ingenuity and using technical methods worthy of forensic science, such as code-breaking and black light. They develop their own investigative methods and conduct scientific experiments on the resistance of materials, working as a team, which is essential for success.
A few minutes before the final countdown, after opening multiple padlocks, racking their brains, and working up a sweat, the team solved the puzzle while gaining knowledge and skills about the materials used in aeronautics.
The entire Escape Game, contained in a suitcase, was donated to the D.A.F.A. in Montpellier so that all aeronautics teachers and their students in our academy could benefit from it in the form of loans. The IUT in Nîmes, and more specifically the students in the "Materials Science and Engineering" department, in partnership with the Gard departmental coordinator for aeronautics and space activities for the Montpellier academy and the company AIRBUS, have been developing tools and materials for several years now to help people discover materials and their properties in relation to their uses in aeronautics, all of which is, of course, for educational purposes.
There is no doubt that Escape Game, an innovative and highly appealing teaching method for our middle and high school students, will enable them to actively and enthusiastically acquire knowledge and skills through teamwork, motivation, and a desire to learn!
SGM at the 4th aeronautics careers and training fair
The theme of the 4th aeronautics careers and training fair in 2018 was "aeronautics serving the regions." This event is organized each year by Nîmes Airport, in conjunction with the Montpellier Academy.The fair enables middle and high school students in the region who wish to pursue a career in aeronautics to meet professionals from this promising sector.
The pouring rain that fell on the Nîmes-Garons airport site did not discourage hundreds of visitors from coming.
A lull in the weather allowed the flight demonstration program to go ahead as planned, including a water drop maneuver by a Canadair aircraft, a helicopter winch rescue operation, and aerobatics performed by model aircraft.
The SGM department, present at the show, invited the public to discover the applications of certain materials, such as fiberglass and carbon fiber, which are used in the design of many aircraft parts.It was a special year, and perhaps even a turning point, because in addition to the traditional materials information booth, the department organized an escape game, taking a step forward in how it envisions the future of teaching and welcoming the next generation of students.
The next aeronautical events will take place in spring 2019 in Pérols (Hérault).
SGM Challenge in Nantes: competition, good spirits, and exhaustion!
From June 21 to 23, the SGM Challenge took place, an annual competition between students from various Materials Science and Engineering departments in France.
Organized this year by students from the SGM department at the Nantes University Institute of Technology, it enabled nearly 350 students, accompanied by 25 teachers, to compete in sporting and intellectual challenges in a friendly atmosphere: radio-controlled sailboat regatta, soapbox races (also known as Dévale-Pente), uncontrollable boules games, quizzes on materials, and surprise challenges.
Forty students and teachers from the SGM department of the IUT in Nîmes set off early on June 21 and arrived in Nantes for two days of meetings, competitions, and exchanges under bright sunshine.
Mixed results, but trials conducted with flying colors!
The soapbox design created by our students, featuring the colors and emblems of Nîmes—palm trees and crocodiles—was a huge hit, but unfortunately it didn't perform well because its aerodynamics were compromised.
Fortunately, honor was saved during the uncontrollable ball event! In fact, none of the opposing teams managed to score a single point on the target... The secret? This year, our students designed a ball that never stops rolling, thanks to an internal movement triggered by the throw.
In terms of the quiz, Nîmes fought hard, making a steady comeback after a slow start during the 40 questions on the topics of materials and eco-design.
After two days of challenges, a canoe race, and two sleepless nights—due to parties and other festivities—the SGM students, tired but delighted, only regained their energy after traveling some 800 km on the bus ride home!
Congratulations to the organizers and participants, see you next year!
Materials on the agenda at the IT careers forum
The Materials Science and Engineering Department was present at the Montpellier aeronautics career fair. More than 2,400 students were registered, from 10th to 12th grade. Numerous stands presented all the professions related to aviation and space. It was an ambitious undertaking, as it took place across three sites: the Emile Zola media library, Montpellier airport, and Candillargue aerodrome.
The department's stand was greatly appreciated for helping visitors understand composite materials such as carbon, glass, and flax. This year, we innovated by introducing visitors to some fun physical properties, such as the optical illusions generated by a Fresnel lens and a rheo-thickening liquid.
The day ended with two conferences on "innovation in plastics and composites" led by Philippe Depeyre. This was a special opportunity for discussion with high school students studying science and industrial science and technology.
HydroContest, the dream continues!
The University of Montpellier, which has been participating in the HydroContest competition for two years now, will be presenting a high-quality catamaran in Saint Tropez on September 2 and 3.
SGM students produced two carbon fiber hulls and four foils. They sought to minimize weight by reducing every possible gram. Mission accomplished: their target was 2.5 kg, and they made hulls weighing less than 2 kg.
All that remains is for the Montpellier students to assemble the two hulls and install the electric motors.
We will see them again in September in Saint Tropez.