Science at UM [S04-ep20]: Conquering the Waves
This week on "Science at UM," Frédéric Bouchette and Garance Marlier, researchers at Géosciences Montpellier explain their work to combat coastal erosion. The report follows the steps involved in creating a hologram during an optics lab, and our last-minute guest presents a lecture by Jean-Baptiste Fressoz. A program broadcast on Divergence every Wednesday at 6 p.m.
In 1946, Trenet sang, “The sea we see dancing”; in 2046, others might sing of the sea we see rising. For the reality is undeniable: centimeter by centimeter, what we call the coastline is receding. The residents of the Hérault coastline are already facing this situation and are trying to prepare for it, whether they like it or not. The dismantling of the beach huts at Grand Travers and Grande Motte, ordered last year by the administrative court following a complaint from environmental protection groups, is one example.
In an effort to save his “Atlantis,” the mayor of Palavas-les-Flots is playing a different set of cards. While he told the press last year thathedid notfeel “that the sea is invading us and did not want to panic people,” he simultaneously launched the Palavas Horizon 2050 program, aimed at preserving the beach and restoring the coastline by drawing on the expertise of researchers and experts.
Our guests today are among the researchers working to develop solutions for local governments. Frédéric Bouchette is a researcher at the Géosciences Montpellier laboratory, and Garance Marlier has just completed her dissertation. They tested a biomimetic solution in Palavas-les-Flots to limit sediment transport. Their work was published in the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering.
Read:
Spectral Water Wave Dissipation by Biomimetic Soft Structure
When the Sea Rises, LUM 17.
In the second half of the program, we continue our tour of the College of Sciences, heading to Triolet to observe an optics lab session with Thierry Guillet and Steeve Cronenberg, Professors the University of Marseille. For this session, we’re joining two third-year students majoring in fundamental physics. Today’s goal: to imprint a hologram onto a glass plate.
Our last-minute guest will be Anne Coudrain, Vice President for Occitanie of the Society of Engineers and Scientists of France (IESF) and Honorary Research Director at IRD. She will present a lecture organized by the IESF in collaboration with Polytech Montpellier to mark National Engineers’ Day. The event will take place on March 20 at 2:30 p.m. at the Institute of Botany. Science historian Jean-Baptiste Fressoz will give a lecture on the topic “Climate and Energy: A History Without Transition.” Open to all upon registration.
At UM Science, you’ve got the program—let’s get started!
Co-production: Divergence FM / University of Montpellier
Host: Lucie Lecherbonnier
Interview: Lucie Lecherbonnier / Aline Périault
Reporting and editing: Lucie Lecherbonnier / Aline Périault
Director: Alice Rollet
Tune in to the show “A l’UM la science” on Divergence FM 93.9
