“Thanks to the individual expertise from each university in the consortium I acquired a multidisciplinary and complementary understanding of marine sciences”
I performed my master studies in the field of oceanography within this Master program in 2013-2015. I feel very lucky to have had a first-hand experience in such a short-period (2 years). The acquisition of multidisciplinary and complementary understanding in all fields of marine sciences has been possible thanks to the individual expertise from each university in the consortium. From biological cell behavior and biomarkers to population dynamics and environmental quality assessment tools, we are able at the end of the master to identify and evaluate, within a geographical context and appropriate statistical back-ups, the historical, present and future trends of coastal ecosystems and human-related interaction effects (impacts on fisheries, etc.). Such evaluation does not lack the physical considerations from atmospheric, oceanic or fluvial circulation dynamics nor the knowledge on chemical interactions from gaseous atmospheric-ocean transfers, natural biogeochemical cycles to anthropogenic pollution sources. All of this is possible because we learnt how to quantify these items using various survey techniques (is situ oceanographic campaigns, teledetection, etc.), and how to determine related processes and potential impacts using analytical methods for organic or inorganic trace level compounds.
Moreover, each student can follow his own path within the subjects provided by each university, constituting a flexible and adapted program in accordance with each student’s preferences, generating a diversified cohort every year. From my personal point of view, the international context of the program also enriched my knowledge on diverse human cultural habits and allowed me to further develop my language skills and my mobility competences (for administration and accommodation purposes). The upgraded Master MER+ program has given a step further, evolving towards a full education focused on both coastal and transition waters research tools and real-life applications, adapting to current society requirements and greatly supporting graduate students’ future employment in public and private sectors. If I had the chance again, I would repeat the experience without hesitation as it has broadened my horizons, both personally and for my research career, providing me with the opportunity to perform my master research project. It is still today thanks to this master programme that I can continue my studies with a PhD on radionuclide dispersion scenarios in aquatic environments within a French national project at the University of Bordeaux.