Course Units (UE) are designed to:
- broaden your knowledge
- develop your skills
- expand your personal & professional network
Target audience: BUT2 & L2, ORION club members (from year 2 undergraduate to Master’s level), and the doctoral community
Find the information sessions on the Course Units at this link
Critical Thinking: developing an informed opinion
Strengthen your critical thinking!
Acquiring a “critical” intellectual stance means knowing how to doubt methodically in order to build the most reliable and informed opinion possible about claims and information.
The course will illustrate common biases and pitfalls and provide tools to remedy them.
When?
Semester 3
- Friday 10/10/2025: Introduction to the pathway and meeting with ORION clubs
- Friday 24/10/2025: Club activities and science communication
- Friday 14/11/2025: Critical Thinking lecture
- Friday 5/12/2025: Critical Thinking tutorial
Where?
- Metz (UFR MIM – Bridoux Campus)
- Nancy (Faculty of Science and Technology – Aiguillettes Campus)
Coordinators
Jérôme Gleize (Metz) and Emmanuel Lamouroux (Nancy)
Registration
Online registration from 4/09 to 24/09/2025 via ipweb.univ-lorraine.fr
Module exclusively reserved for students enrolled in the ORION pathway.
Exploring an Object
Look at everyday “objects” differently!
Measure the different dimensions associated with a material or immaterial object. Working in groups and drawing on desk research, students will examine issues of social, societal and legal acceptance of the object in question, as well as the scientific and technological concepts related to its manufacture, use and recycling. For example, students may explore dimensions associated with objects such as mobile phones, energy sources, etc.
When?
Semester 4:
- Fridays 06/02/2026, 20/02/2026, 13/03/2026, and 27/03/2026 (4 hours per session)
- Friday 10/04/2026: ORION club activities (4 hours)
Where?
Metz and Nancy
COORDINATORS
Dominique Petitjean (Nancy) and Solène Faupin (Metz)
Registration
Online registration from 4/09 to 24/09/2025 via ipweb.univ-lorraine.fr
Course exclusively reserved for students enrolled in the ORION pathway.
Scientific Controversies and Public Debates
Take part in scientific debates! Course : Scientific Controversies and Public Debates
Gain hands-on exposure to scientific controversies and acquire knowledge, attitudes and skills to fully grasp the objects, processes and stakes of these controversies, and to be able to observe/participate/lead and analyze debates around divisive—even contentious—(scientific and/or social) issues.
When?
Semester 5:
- Friday 03/10/2025 – Lecture 2–5 pm
- Friday 17/10/2025 – Lecture 2–4 pm, then Tutorial 4–6 pm
- Friday 07/11/2025 – Lecture 2–4 pm, then Tutorial 4–6 pm
- Friday 21/11/2025 – Tutorial 2–5 pm
Semester 6:
- Friday 30/01/2026 – Tutorial 2–5 pm
- Friday 13/02/2026 – Lecture 2–4 pm, then Tutorial 4–6 pm
- Friday 06/03/2026 – Tutorial 2–5 pm
- Friday 20/03/2026 – Tutorial 2–5 pm
Where?
- Metz (UFR SciFA – Bridoux Campus)
- Nancy (Faculty of Science and Technology – Aiguillettes Campus)
Coordinators
Anna Zielinska (Nancy) and Cyrille Imbert (Metz)
Registration
Online registration from 4/09 to 24/09/2025 via ipweb.univ-lorraine.fr
Course exclusively reserved for students enrolled in the ORION pathway.
Science & Start-ups: Entrepreneurship Course
This Unit aims to train ORION-labelled doctoral candidates and students in entrepreneurship.
Course exclusively reserved for ORION club members and for all doctoral candidates of the University of Lorraine and its partners.