ENS de Lyon has become the coordinator of Nanomer, its first Erasmus+ Capacity Building project. Nanomer is a great initiative in the field of nanoscience which involves both research and education. It also aims at sharing knowledge and building a lasting partnership between Latin America and Europe. With 16 partner institutions from France, Spain and Latin America, this project carries strong human and academic values.
Nanoscience: an interdisciplinary field
Nanoscience is the study of materials and phenomena at the nanoscale, it allows to manipulate and understand matter on an atomic and molecular scale. This field was chosen as the heart of this project because of its cross-disciplinary nature, with a wide range of applications including medicine, energy, electronics, and the environment. This interdisciplinarity combines principles from physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering. This means that training in nanoscience opens doors for students to many fields where innovation is key. For students and faculty members, being part of the Nanomer project means developing new perspectives, and contributing to cutting-edge research with real-world impact. By bringing together specialists from Europe and Latin America, the project creates a space for scientific curiosity to flourish.
From Nano Andes to Nanomer
This interdisciplinary field called for a strong network of scholars, thus creating the Nano Andes network which is a spontaneous assembly of nanoscience scholars motivated by the training of new generations of scientists. Historically, France was at the origin of its consolidation, through initial funding by the Regional Cooperation Agency for Andean nations of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2010 until 2015. Later on, the CNRS network contributed to the organization of one nanoscience-centered summer school per year in Latin America, with the aim of improving the teaching of the different disciplines involved in the nanoscience domain. But while Nano Andes focused on scientific workshops and collaborations, it was essential to expand the exchange between teachers and students as well as to develop in greater depth the pedagogical aspects and acquire greater international visibility. The Nanomer project aims to fill in this gap and bridge the needs of the different target groups.
Both Latin America and Europe have much to gain from this cooperation. By fostering cooperation rather than competition, this partnership is based on mutual respect and the understanding that knowledge should be shared.
Partners of the Nanomer project
France
- Sorbonne Université
- Université grenoble alpes
Espagne
- Complutense de madrid
- Universitat Politecnica de Valencia
- Universitat Jaume I de Castellon
Bolivie
- Universidad Mayor de San Andres
- Escuela Militar de Ingenieria
Argentine
- Universidad Nacional de Cuyo
- Universidad de Buenos Aires
- Universidad Nacional de San Martin
Chili
- Universidad de Talca
- Universidad de San Sebastian
- Universidad de Chile
Equador
- Universidad Tecnica Particular de Loja
- Escuela Politecnica Nacional de Quito
Building a Community of Scholars
Beyond academic goals, Nanomer is about creating a network of professors, scholars and students who can support each other. This project is about mentorship, collaboration, and passing knowledge from one person to another. By combining nanoscience with pedagogical innovation, it ensures that education remains at the center of scientific progress. New teaching methods will be explored, making learning more interactive and accessible. The goal is not only to advance research but also to rethink the way science is taught, making it more engaging and inclusive for students in both Europe and Latin America.
Key Initiatives
To bring this collaboration to life, Nanomer offers dynamic initiatives which connect students and faculty members creating opportunities for learning, exchange and innovation.
Mobility
Students and international relations staff from Latin America will have the opportunity to travel to Europe. These short stays up to three months will allow them to develop new skills, build new work relationship and enrich their academic and professional paths.
Workshop
To maintain continuous exchange between continents, online workshops will be organized. These sessions will provide participants with a platform to share their research, discuss advancements and explore more about teaching methods.
Summer School in Latin America
The Summer Schools will bring together, professors and students from both Latin America and Europe for specialized training on new pedagogical approaches. With the contribution of learning specialists these events will offer hands-on experience with innovative methods.
Photo credit : Olique / iStock