News from the SGM department
Continuing Studies Day
As in previous years, institutional partners were on hand to help second-year students in their search for further study. These partners represent an interesting opening for the students' professional future: ISPA, Seatech, Ensaciet, Polytech network, Ensait, Pagora, EEIGM, for example, but also the aerocomposite, MMS, QHSSE (Nîmes), MCMC (Limoges) and dual-skills training courses such as IAE, which sent representatives this year and captured the attention of future graduates. A big thank you to all those who attended - great opportunities for our students!
Opening of a professional degree in "Expertise and Maintenance of Composite Materials" at the Nîmes IUT in September 2020.
The aerospace industry continues its shift towards all-composite materials. An A320 was 13% composite by weight, the A350 is 53%. The race for profitability means making aircraft lighter, to the benefit of the payload.
Composite materials are highly complex. They require mastery of the chemistry of the matrix, and management of the mechanics of a heterogeneous, anisotropic part. However, when properly mastered, they enable optimization of part shape and performance.
The aeronautics industry faces many challenges:
- Increasing air traffic. In 2018, 4.3 billion passengers boarded one of the world's 1,300 airlines. By 2037, this figure is expected to reach 8 billion,
- The world's air fleet is set to double in size by 2037, which means we need to drastically increase production rates,
- The need to reduce environmental impact within a short timeframe,
- Difficult recruitment for companies in the sector. Aeronautics is a dream, but also a source of concern.
To meet these challenges, we need technicians trained in the field of composite materials.
The E2MCA training program is divided into three main areas:
- Knowledge of composite materials,
- Reconstruction of a composite part: methodology and practical work,
- Expertise and quality control of a non-destructive testing part
Nîmes has followed this trend with the creation of an aeronautics cluster at Nîmes Garons airport, and the creation of a training program: Bac Pro, BTS and now Licence pro.
Find out more about the proE2MCA bachelor's degree
Entrepreneurial Hackathon at 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 to a problem posed by the SDIS 30 fire department. Our 120 students spent 24 hours working on the subject, supervised and supported by around twenty coaches and teachers: collaborative work, creativity, coffee, pizza and games were all on the program. The event ended with the teams giving their pitches to a jury made up 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 2 winning teams: the Cador's Crew (best project) and the Avengers (jury's favorite).
Open Day 2019 in SGM: materials can be eaten too!!!
No fewer than 130 visitors came to discover our department over hundreds of delicious crèpes on Saturday February 19, during the Open Day at the Nîmes IUT.
The high-school students were able to discover the department and all its facilities, as well as see students in class and working on projects, as they were guided through the activities organized for them that day. It was a wonderful way for our students to share their passion for materials, their processing and their applications.
And to show that SGM is also about 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 and to all the teachers who rallied round!
And if you have the desire and the chance to come and study with us, we say, "See you next fall!!!!"
An escape game on materials used in aeronautics
Article published on the Académie de Montpellier website/Actualités Promotion des sciences et Technologies - Formation aéronautique - 17/02/2019
Now, just like everywhere else in Europe, the whole of France is going crazy for escapism behind closed doors, with a new opening. The IUT in Nîmes has understood this and has just created an Escape Game on the discovery of materials used in aeronautics.
With no game board or joysticks, but with several players, this Escape Game requires reflection and teamwork. The scenario was devised by students in the "Materials Science and Engineering" department, under the guidance of department head Philippe Depeyre.
Resources are then available for you to examine and use to overcome the proposed difficulties step by step.
Players take on the role of investigators. They have to solve an enigma using all their curiosity and ingenuity, as well as technical means worthy of the forensic police: a code to find, a black light... They construct their own method of investigation, and carry out scientific experiments on the resistance of materials, in a team spirit that is essential to success.
A few minutes before the final countdown, after multiple padlock openings, a good deal of brainwork and a heat stroke, the team unravels the proposed riddle, having acquired knowledge and skills concerning the materials used in aeronautics.
The entire Escape Game, contained in a suitcase, was donated to the Montpellier D.A.F.A. for loan to all aeronautics teachers and their students in our academy.For several years now, the Nîmes IUT and, more specifically, the students in the "Materials Science and Engineering" department, in partnership with the Gard departmental coordinator of aeronautics and space activities for the Montpellier academy and the AIRBUS company, have been developing tools and equipment to help students discover materials and their properties in relation to their use in aeronautics, all in the service of education, of course.
There's no doubt that the Escape Game, an innovative teaching method that is highly attractive to our young middle and high school students, will enable them to acquire knowledge and skills in an active and involved way, with motivation and a desire to learn as a team!
SGM at the 4th salon des métiers et formations de l'aéronautique
This year's theme for the 4 th aeronautical trades and training fair (2018) was "aeronautics at the service of the territories".This event is organized every year by Nîmes airport, in conjunction with the Montpellier academy.This fair gives students from the region's middle and high schools, wishing to orient their course of study towards the aeronautical theme, the opportunity to meet professionals in this sector, which is a source of employment.
The downpour at Nîmes-Garons airport didn't deter the hundreds of visitors who turned out.
A lull in the weather allowed us to keep to the schedule of flight demonstrations, including a Canadianair jettison maneuver, a heli-towing 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 feature in the design of many parts dedicated to aircraft.It was a special year, and perhaps even a pivotal one, because alongside the traditional materials information stand, the department organized an escape game, and is thus taking a step ahead in the way it envisages the teaching of the future and welcomes the new generation of students.
The next aeronautical events will take place in spring 2019 in Pérols (Hérault).
Challenge SGM in Nantes: competition, good spirits and big fatique!
From June 21 to 23, the annual Défi SGM competition took place, pitting students from different Materials Science and Engineering departments in France against each other.
Organized this year by students from the Nantes IUT's SGM department, the event enabled some 350 students and 25 teachers to compete in sporting and intellectual events in a convivial atmosphere: radio-controlled sailboat regatta, soapbox race (also known as Dévale-Pente), uncontrollable boules game, materials quiz and surprise challenge.
After an early start on June 21, 40 students and teachers from the Nîmes IUT's SGM department made their way to Nantes for 2 days of meetings, competition and exchanges in glorious sunshine.
Mixed results, but tests passed with flying colors!
The decoration of the soapbox, designed by our students in the colors and emblems of Nîmes - palm tree and crocodile - was all the rage, but unfortunately did not allow it to perform well, as the aerodynamics were degraded.
Fortunately, honor was saved in the uncontrollable balls challenge! In fact, none of the opposing teams managed to center a single point on the target... The secret? This year, our students had designed a ball that doesn't stop, thanks to an internal movement driven by the throw.
Nîmes put up a good fight in the quiz, making a steady comeback after a slow start to the 40 questions on materials and eco-design.
After 2 days of challenge, a canoe race, and two all-nighters - due to parties and other festivities - the SGM students, tired but delighted, only got back into shape after covering some 800 km on the bus ride home!
Well done to the organizers and participants, and see you next year!
Materials on the menu at the IT careers forum
The Materials Science and Engineering department was present at the Salon des métiers de l'aéronautique in Montpellier. Over 2,400 students registered, from the 4th to the 12th grades. Numerous stands showcasing all the careers related to aviation and space. An ambitious organization, spanning 3 sites: the Emile Zola media library, Montpellier airport and the Candillargue airfield.
The department's stand was a popular way of learning about composite materials, whether carbon, glass or linen. This year, we innovated by showing some amusing 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 processing and composites", led by Philippe Depeyre. A privileged moment of exchange with S and STI high school students.
HydroContest, the dream continues!
The University of Montpellier, which has been taking part in the HydroContest competition "the boat laboratory of tomorrow" for the past 2 years, will be able to present a top-quality catamaran in Saint Tropez on September 2 and 3.
The SGM students created two carbon fiber hulls and 4 foils. They hunted for grams in order to be as light as possible. Their target was 2.5 kg, and they managed to produce hulls weighing less than 2 kg.
The Montpellier students now have to assemble the 2 hulls, and fit the electric motors.
We'll see them again in September, in Saint Tropez.