Launch of the Master's Program in Wood Science
The first class of the Master’s in Wood Sciences program will begin in September 2021 at the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Montpellier to train executives, engineers, and future researchers who will serve as a source of ideas for development and innovation in companies within the forestry and wood industry and in research laboratories.
This master's program is supported by MUSE as part of its Take 0ff #3 Program to Support the Creation of New Degrees.
Training for careers that address today's environmental challenges
The program covers wood as a material, from its formation within the tree to its uses as materials or molecules. Particular emphasis is placed on cross-disciplinary skills that provide a comprehensive overview and understanding of the wood sector (upstream/downstream, resources, markets, and value creation), thereby enabling the design of innovative and competitive wood-based products and services in line with sustainable development principles. “In light of climate and environmental challenges, a transition is needed in our production and consumption patterns. What is true for energy and food is also true for materials. Wood clearly addresses these major challenges, and its uses will grow significantly in the coming years,” says Bruno Clair, Research Director at the CNRS and co-founder of the master’s program.
An Innovative Approach to Learning
The master’s program is based on active learning methods such as problem-based learning (PBL), business and laboratory case studies, a cross-cutting project, and the development of independence and personal projects. Sandrine Bardet, Associate Professor and co-founder of the program, explains: “We designed this master’s program to be interdisciplinary and to rely on active learning methods that foster each student’s personal project in a spirit of cooperation.”
Internships and apprenticeships for hands-on experience in the field
The master’s program is available as a traditional degree program or through an apprenticeship. For all students, the program begins with a week-long “It All Starts in the Forest” session, which offers an immersion in the world of wood through forest visits led by environmental experts and forestry professionals, as well as company tours.
Finally, students will complete internships lasting at least 4 months each year—one in a company and one in academic research.
Applications will open on March 15, 2021, to form a class of 20 students.
To learn about the admission requirements, visit the master's program website: