Planetary Geosciences in the DF: Third edition of the Erasmus Mundus GeoPlaNet joint master's program begins in September
Photo of the group of students from the first edition of EMJM-GeoPlaNet, taken on June 20 at the Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géosciences (LPGP) in Nantes, where the students defended their master's theses. From left to right: John Pereira (Brazil), Nahuel Bigeard (France), Amna Shafquat (Pakistan), Maria Kefa (Greece), Nhat-Le Vo (Vietnam), Dilawaiz Saghir (Pakistan), Faris Beg (India), Maxime Fatzaun (Belgium), Victor Hugo Bautista (Mexico), Sarah Cader (India), Clara Guth (France), Demur Merviladze (Georgia), Jakub Morawski (Poland), Eli Djomekou (Gana), Alejandro Andrés Escorihuela (Spain), Michele Colantoni (Italy), Gabriel Maynard Hernández (Costa Rica). João Fernandes (DM) and Alexandra Pais (DF) from FCTUC/UC were present at the defenses as members of the EMJM-GeoPlaNet coordination team and members of the juries.
The Physics Department is preparing to welcome 18 new students to the third edition of the EMJM-GeoPlaNet master's program in early September.
The GeoPlaNet master's program responds to the growing demand for qualified professionals for research and technology development projects in the field of space. For students with degrees in physics, engineering physics, or astrophysics/astronomy, it represents a unique opportunity to pursue their dream of one day joining the team of a space mission. Last June, students from the first edition of EMJM-GeoPlaNet took another step towards realizing that dream at the thesis defense session held in Nantes. Studies developed by students on the Internal Dynamics of Venus through Numerical Simulations and Geophysical Modeling, Development of a Python Simulator to evaluate the Performance of Stereo Imaging Channel (STC) aboard BepiColombo, and a Global Circulation Model to Evaluate Precipitation and Temperature Patterns on Mars, show how EMJM-GeoPlaNet master's projects seek to contribute to relevant issues in the current space exploration landscape.
To provide students with broader career prospects, the consortium includes the Pedro Nunes Institute (IPN) as an associate partner, and in particular its European Space Agency Business Incubation Center (ESA BIC Portugal), which will welcome the new EMJM-GeoPlaNet students to the Coimbra Space Summer School in September. This is an opportunity to show how entrepreneurship and innovation combine to create a business model linked to space. The theme of this year's school, ‘Living and Working in Space: From Imagination to Infrastructure’, could not be more topical and motivating for new EMJM-GeoPlaNet students. The school will take place in Coimbra, at IPN and OGAUC, from September 3 to 5, and will be part of the program to welcome new EMJM-GeoPlaNet students to UC, organized by the course coordinators at FCTUC.