Why choose the ORION pathway?
- Possibility of accessing internship funding through the ORION clubs
- Possibility of accessing international mobility funding through the ORION clubs
- Attainment of a national certification of excellence in creativity
- Develop skills in creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking
- Grow your personal and professional network
- Possibility of obtaining an ORION excellence scholarship for your Master 2 (€7,000 per year + internship funding)
What does the pathway involve?
Programme
Each year of your track comprises three parts to obtain the required 6 ECTS credits: modules (courses – UE) and participation in free activities within an ORION club.
Semester 3 (2025–26)
- Critical Thinking (8h in-person + 2h remote)
- Free activities within an ORION club of your choice
- Optional: Workshop “48h to bring ideas to life”
Semester 4 (2025–26)
- Exploring an Object (16h in-person + 10h remote + 4h independent work)
- Free activities within an ORION club of your choice
Semester 5 (2025–26)
- Scientific Controversies and Public Debates (14h in-person + 5h remote + 9h independent work)
- Free activities within an ORION club of your choice
Semester 6 (2025–26)
- Continuation of Scientific Controversies and Public Debates (13h in-person + 5h remote + 7h independent work)
- Free activities within an ORION club of your choice
- Optional: Workshop “48h to awaken dormant patents“
Assessment
The modules (courses):
- UE Critical Thinking: A participation grade will be awarded depending on the module
- UE Exploring an Object: An oral presentation will take place during the final session, and you will also submit a written report
- UE Scientific Controversies and Public Debates: Continuous assessment only
Free activities in an ORION club: club supervisors will assess students’ contribution to activities and will consult the records kept in their Compact e-portfolio.
Participation in the workshops is recommended but not compulsory.
Learn more
ORION Clubs
Do I need to choose a club when I register for the pathway?
If you already know which club you wish to join, you can register now, but it is not mandatory.
If you are unsure or do not yet know which one to choose, you will have the opportunity to meet them during an afternoon dedicated to the pathway (on 10/10/2025, a slot that will be reserved in your timetable), where the clubs will present themselves.
Modules
Critical Thinking course : building an informed judgement
Develop your critical thinking!
Acquiring a “critical” intellectual attitude means knowing how to practise methodological doubt in order to build an informed and as reliable as possible judgement about claims and information.
The course will illustrate common biases and pitfalls and provide tools to address them.
When?
Semester 3
- Friday 10/10/2025: Introduction to the track and meeting with ORION clubs
- Fridays 24/10/2025, 07/11/2025 and 05/12/2025
Where?
- Metz (UFR SciFA – Bridoux Campus)
- Nancy (Faculty of Science and Technology – Aiguillettes Campus)
Coordinators
Vincent Laurain (Nancy) and Emmanuel Lamouroux (Metz)
Exploring an Object course
Discover the “objects” of your daily life from a new angle!
Appreciate the different dimensions associated with a material or immaterial object. Working in groups and drawing on literature research, students will examine notions of social, societal, and legal acceptance related to the object under consideration, as well as the scientific and technological concepts associated with its manufacture, use, and recycling. For example, students may reflect on dimensions associated with objects such as the mobile phone, energy sources, etc.
When?
- Fridays 06/02/2026, 20/02/2026, 13/03/2026, and 27/03/2026 (duration per session: 4h)
- Friday 10/04/2026: Activities in the ORION clubs (4h)
Where?
- Metz (UFR SciFA – Bridoux Campus)
- Nancy (Faculty of Science and Technology – Aiguillettes Campus)
Coordinators
Dominique Petitjean (Nancy) and Solène Faupin (Metz)
Scientific Controversies and Public Debates course
Take part in scientific battles!
Gain hands-on initiation into scientific controversies and acquire knowledge, interpersonal skills, and practical abilities to fully grasp the objects, processes, and stakes of these controversies, and to be able to observe/participate/lead and analyse debates around divisive—even controversial—(scientific and/or social) topics.
When?
Semester 5:
- Friday 03/10/2025 (3h lecture)
- Friday 17/10/2025 and 07/11/2025 (2h lecture + 2h tutorial)
- Friday 21/11/2025 (3h tutorial)
Semester 6:
- Friday 30/01/2026 (3h tutorial)
- Friday 13/02/2026 (2h lecture + 2h tutorial)
- Friday 06/03/2026 and 20/03/2026 (3h tutorial)
Where?
- Metz (UFR SciFA – Bridoux Campus)
- Nancy (Faculty of Science and
Technology – Aiguillettes Campus)
Coordinators
Anna Zielinska (Nancy)
and Cyrille Imbert (Metz)
Interested in the ORION pathway?
Are you a student and would like to know more about the ORION pathway? Contact us!
