Program Customization

The objective of this TU is to understand the links between medicines and society from an economic, regulatory, environmental, and societal perspective.

Overview of the role of medicines in society: pharmacoeconomics, medicines as social objects, links between medicines and public health, regulatory aspects and health care systems around the world, and environmental issues.

Maximum capacity: 15 students

Dates:
1. Pharmaceutical forms: classification, route of administration, and bioavailability
Laurianne SIMON

S 1: Icebreaker – September 30 (6:00–7:00 p.m.)
S 2: Class – October 12 (5:00–7:00 p.m.)
S 3: Class – October 21 (5:00 PM–7:00 PM)
S 4: Laboratory activity – October 23 (4:00 PM–6:00 PM)

2. Counterfeit drugs and pharmaceuticals: a major issue
Baptiste ROBIN

The date will be set in consultation with the instructor.

3. Environmental impact of drugs? A societal challenge and strategies
Hélène FENET

The date will be set in consultation with the instructor.

4. International issues in pharmacoeconomics throughout the life cycle of medicines Géraldine LEGUELIN

The date will be set in consultation with the instructor.

5. Comparative evolution of requirements for marketing a medical product worldwide
Virginie RAGE

November 12 (5:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.)


–Checkthe IDIL CALENDAR for specific classroom locations
- Visit the Moodle page before the first class here

Climate change affects us all!

It is the greatest public crisis affecting our environment, our security, our food supply, our health…

In this course, you will study the impact of human activities on climate change and identify some potential future effects. The goal is to encourage you to develop action plans and collaboratively create a visual aid to help raise public awareness.

Capacity : 4–20 students

Dates:
First session: September 26 (9:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.)

The remaining dates will be set by consensus with the instructor

–Checkthe IDIL CALENDAR for specific room assignments
–Visit the Moodle page before the first class here

We talk constantly about democracy, usually in negative terms, by criticizing an idea, a regime, or an action by our own government as being “undemocratic” or even “anti-democratic.” But what do we really mean by that?

In this course, we will take a closer look at the fundamental elements we generally associate with the ideal of democracy: sovereignty, freedom, equality, and participation. We will trace the origins of these concepts in the Western political tradition and examine the extent to which they are complementary or, in some cases, contradictory. We will reflect on how these principles can be put into practice. Finally, we will also examine alternative ideals and political systems and seek to understand the fundamental reasons why they differ from democratic systems.

Maximum capacity: 20 students

Dates:
First session:


Workshop 1 date:


Workshop 2 date:


–Checkthe IDIL CALENDAR for specific room assignments
-Visit the Moodle page before the first class here

The goal of this course is to help students navigate the modern environment rife withbullshitby identifyingit, recognizing it, and combating it through effective analysis and argumentation.

Bullshit involves language, statistical figures, data graphs, and other forms of presentation intended to persuade by impressing and captivating a reader or listener, with blatant disregard for truth and logical consistency.

The phrase “calling bullshit” is a performative expression in which one publicly rejects something reprehensible.

Maximum capacity: 20 students

Dates:

Tentative schedule—subject to change


–Checkthe IDIL CALENDAR for specific room assignments
-Visit the Moodle page before the first class here

Plastic pollution, particularly that associated with micro- and nanoparticles (MNPs), poses a growing threat to ecosystems and human health. Originating primarily from synthetic textiles and the degradation of plastic waste, MNPs accumulate in the environment and can be toxic on their own while also carrying other pollutants. Despite recent research, their actual impacts remain poorly understood, and tools such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) still do not adequately account for these risks.

In this context, assessing theplastic footprint—based on the quantity of persistent plastics—provides a practical approach to guide decision-making. This non-core course TU offers an interdisciplinary approach to plastic pollution in fields such as pharmacy, medicine, agriculture, and chemistry. Students will explore key concepts such as plastic toxicity debt,essential use, and the precautionary principle, as well as the fundamentals of toxicology and ecotoxicology. Finally, practical tools and case studies will enable students to assess plastic footprints and discuss alternatives to plastic.

Maximum capacity: 5–12 students

Dates:

1. Course Introduction and Program Overview
October 19 (6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.)

2. What Are the Solutions for Reducing Plastic Pollution?
October 22 (6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.)

3. The concept of “essential use”: application to plastic food packaging
November 5 (6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.)

4. The concept of the plastic footprint, calculation, and application to case studies (p. 1)
November 9 (6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.)

5. The concept of the plastic footprint, its calculation, and its application to case studies ()
November 12 (6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.)

6. Fundamentals of Risk Assessment and Management: Approaches and Tools
, November 16 (6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.)

7. Extraction, Characterization, and Quantification of Microplastics
November 23 (6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.)

8. Hands-on lab session
, November 30 (6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.)

9. Regulatory Framework: REACH definition, exposure assessment, the concept of threshold levels applied to water and food, plastic recycling, and health
, December 7 (6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.)

10. Final class and assessment: discussion
December 14 (6:00–7:30 p.m.)


–Checkthe IDIL CALENDAR for specific room assignments
- Visit the Moodle page before the first class here

Climate change presents agriculture with the challenge of balancing resilience, emissions reduction, and food security as part of an agroecological transition that integrates economic, environmental, and social performance.Agrobiodiversity is a key driver: in ecology, it promotes ecosystem productivity and stability; in evolutionary science, it provides genetic resources that enable plants to adapt; in the social sciences, it embodies cultural, heritage, and relational values that influence farmers’ choices—sometimes in harmony with, and sometimes in tension with, objectives such as yield or food security.

This “ TU ” offers a multidisciplinary approach combining introductory lectures (7 hours), meetings with industry stakeholders (3 hours), a role-playing exercise simulating the management of an agroecosystem in the face of climate change (3 hours), and a public awareness activity designed to convey the key issues (3 hours). The goal is to explore the central role of agrobiodiversity in the agroecological transition.

Capacity: 6–20 students

Dates:
1: Introduction
Thursday, October 1 (6:30–7:30 p.m.)

2: History of Cultures
, Tuesday, October 5 (1:15–2:15 p.m.)

3: Adaptation and Evolution of Crops
, Thursday, October 8 (5:00–6:00 p.m.)

4: Climate and Agriculture
, Monday, October 12 (1:15–2:15 p.m.)

5: Agroecology
, Friday, October 16 (1:15–2:15 p.m.)

6: Agriculture and Social Sciences
1-hour class available via videoconference to be taken during the week of October 19

7: Food Systems
, Thursday, October 22 (6:30–7:30 p.m.)

8: Speed Dating — Agricultural Sector Stakeholders
Thursday, November 6 (4:45 p.m.–7:45 p.m.)

9: Role-playing game
, Thursday, November 12 (4:45 p.m.–7:45 p.m.)

10: Assessment – Part I
, Thursday, November 26 (6:30 p.m.–8:00 p.m.)

11: Evaluation – Part II
, Thursday, December 3 (6:30 p.m.–8:00 p.m.)

Tentative schedule—subject to change


–Checkthe IDIL CALENDAR for specific room assignments
-Visit the Moodle page before the first class here

Biomarkers are becoming increasingly important in medicine, particularly in the field of personalized medicine, where they contribute to diagnosis, prognosis, patient monitoring, and the development of companion diagnostics. In recent years, medical and biotechnological technologies have made considerable advances, generating an increasing amount of biological, genomic, clinical, and lifestyle-related data. Integrating and interpreting this data is now a major challenge in developing prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies tailored to each patient.

In this course, you will learn about the key concepts related to biomarkers and biotechnological innovations, as well as their current and future applications in personalized medicine. You will explore the diversity of available data and the challenges associated with its management, integration, sharing, and security. Through concrete examples and future perspectives, you will develop the ability to synthesize information and apply critical thinking to the possibilities, limitations, and scientific and ethical issues of personalized medicine.

Maximum capacity: 20 students

Dates:

1. Introduction
, Tuesday, September 29, 2026 (6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.)

2. Visit to the IRMB
, Wednesday, October 7, 2025 (6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.)

3. Genetic Testing
, Friday, October 16 (6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.)

4. Theranos
, Friday, October 23 (6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.)

5. Covid-
, Friday, November 6 (6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.)

6. AI and Health
, Friday, November 13 (6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.)

7. Final session
, Friday, November 20 (6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.)

–Checkthe IDIL CALENDAR for specific classroom assignments:
-Visit the Moodle page before the first class here

Many are well hidden in cells, blood vessels, and intestines, or among hair, feathers, or scales; others camouflage themselves, transforming to the point of resembling anything but a foreign invader; still others manipulate behaviors and food chains. To exploit living beings—their flesh, their labor, their parental care…—parasites and pathogens go unnoticed as long as they have no negative effect on the organisms that host them. They become painfully visible when they kill, cripple, or weaken their hosts, but remain invisible the rest of the time—to such an extent that we forget their role in the functioning of ecosystems, as selective forces that shape biodiversity, as well as their major importance in evolution and human history.

This non-core unit is dedicated to exploring the diversity of parasites, as well as their ecological and evolutionary functions in the living world, with a particular focus on their effects on the biology and history of our species.

Maximum capacity: 6–20 students

Dates:

1. Introduction
, October 10 (9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.)

2. Practical session – Observations
, October 17 (9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.)

3. Adaptation
, November 7 (9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.)

4. Humanities
, November 14 (9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.)

5. Final assessment
, November 28 (9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.)

–Checkthe IDIL CALENDAR for specific classroom assignments:
-Visit the Moodle page before the first class here

Today, the “bionic man” is equipped with sensors capable of measuring a wide variety of biological, physiological, and environmental parameters in real time. After an introduction to the main electronic and photonic sensors used in the fields of health and the environment, you will learn about their operating principles, applications, and limitations. You will then be guided to explore, through an independent project, the possible applications of these technologies in your own field of expertise.

Fundamental experiments can be conducted to illustrate, in a concrete and educational manner, the advantages, limitations, and challenges associated with the use of these sensors within your area of expertise. This work will enable you to develop your ability to apply innovative technologies, critically analyze the data obtained, and assess their potential in real-world applications. Your project will ultimately be presented and evaluated before a panel consisting of faculty members and students.

Maximum capacity: 20 students

Dates:

1. Introduction – Tour ofthe IES, St. Priest Campus
, on October 15 (3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.)

2. Basic Theory of Photonic Sensors – Demonstrations
, November 5 (4:45 p.m.–7:45 p.m.)

3. Presentation
, November 12 (6:30 p.m.–8:00 p.m. max.)

4. Presentation
, November 26 (6:30 p.m.–8:00 p.m. max.)

5. Evaluation
, December 10 (3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.)

–Checkthe IDIL CALENDAR for specific classroom assignments:
-Visit the Moodle page before the first class here

The goal of this TU is to introduce non-specialists to the major managerial challenges related to sustainable development and their integration into organizational strategies and practices. Taking environmental and social issues into account is gradually transforming the way companies define their performance, make decisions, and assess their impact. It raises new challenges in terms of governance, strategy, innovation, and accountability, but can also serve as a catalyst for transformation and long-term value creation.

In this course TU, you will explore the key challenges organizations face in integrating sustainability into their operations. In particular, you will consider how to reconcile the sometimes conflicting expectations of various stakeholders—employees, customers, suppliers, shareholders, government agencies, and local authorities—while taking into account economic, social, and environmental constraints. Through examples and case studies, you will develop a critical understanding of the trade-offs required among the three pillars of sustainable development and discover how companies can adapt their management and performance models to address the current and future challenges of the sustainable transition.

Maximum capacity: 20 students

Dates:

1st Class: September 24 at 5:00 p.m.

Content:

Course: Circular Economy
October 2 at 5:00 p.m.

Course: Sustainability, Marketing, and Organization
October 15 at 5:00 p.m.

Course: CSRD Performance and Reporting
November 19 at 5:00 p.m.

Course: Strategic vs. Operational Challenges
November 24 at 5:00 p.m.


Final debate: December 17 at 5:00 p.m.

–Checkthe IDIL CALENDAR for specific classroom assignments:
-Visit the Moodle page before the first class here