Introduction
Role
The importance of biology to society is growing, as evidenced by the development of personalized medicine, the ecological impacts of climate change and the fast evolving biotechnologies. Having citizens trained in biology is a need and an asset to our society. The School of Biology's mission is to provide higher education in biology leading to the ranks of Bachelor and Master. This teaching takes place at the Faculty of Biology and Medicine, a unique place for collaborations, synergy of complementary approaches and cultures. Biology is a multidisciplinary research burgeoning field; its study offers exciting knowledge and universally useful skills in the profession worldwide.
Objectives
- To promote a broad integrative knowledge of the biological sciences extending from the molecules within our cells to organisms in their ecosytems
- To develop skills in observation and scientific research at the frontiers of knowledge
- To acquire teamworking skills
- To learn to communicate in French and English languages
- To develop analytical and critical minds capable of learning independently
- To appreciate the role of biology in society
Short History
In 2003, following the transfer of mathematics physics and chemistry institutes from Faculty of Sciences of UNIL to EPFL, two new Faculties were created at UNIL: the Faculty of Biology and Medicine (FBM) and the Faculty of Geosciences and environment (FGSE)
The Faculty of Biology and Medicine results from the fusion of the old section of Biology of the ex Faculty of Sciences with the Faculty of Medicine. This fusion generates an original synergy in Switzerland which allows to propose curriculum focused on mystery of life - its origin, its basic mechanisms, its evolution and its conservation- and to develop skills from fundamental research in labs to the daily practice at the patient's bed.
Simultaneously with the FBM foundation, 3 schools were created: the School of Biology, the School of Medicine and the Doctoral School. The Schools of Biology and Medicine are responsible for the education of the students of the 1st and 2nd cycle (= Bachelor and Master) and the Doctoral School for the students of 3rd cycle (PHD, MD-PHD...). Since then, a fourth unit was created at the FBM: Institut universitaire de formation et de recherche en soins (IUFRS).
Since 2003 the curriculum proposed by the School of Biology have substantially evolved firstly to satisfy to the Bologna process and then with a reform of the programme of the Bachelor in Biology initiated in 2005 and achieved in 2010. Maintaining the quality of training is a constant task, supported by a regular self-evaluation process of our programmes.
Directions
- From its creation on October 1st 2003 to 2009: Director Nicole Galland
- From 2009 to 2015: Director Winship Herr, Vice-director Liliane Michalik
- From 2015 to 2019: Director Nicolas Mermod, Vice-director Liliane Michalik
- From 2019 to 2021: Director Liliane Michalik, Vice-director Angela Ciuffi
- Since 2021: Director Angela Ciuffi, Vice-director Justine Collier
Some datas
The School of Biology manages the programme of Bachelor in Biology (3 years-180 ECTS) the first year of the programme of the Bachelor in Pharmacy (1 year - 60 ECTS) and three Masters of Sciences in Biology (1.5 to 2 years - 90 to 120 ECTS).
The number of students registered in these programmes has been increasing constantly for two years and the level of 900 students has been outnumbered for the first time at the academic start 2021.
To achieve the training and the support of the students, the School of Biology works with about 200 teachers. These teachers are distributed among the majority of the 10 research departments of the section of fundamental sciences of the FBM and in the some of the departments of clinical sciences of the CHUV and UNISANTÉ. The Microbiology Institue (IMU), the Ludwig Institut for Cancer Research (LICR), and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) are also involved .
These departments are located on four different geographic sites in Lausanne : Dorigny, Bugnon, Epalinges and Cery.
A tight collaboration exists also for the teaching and the Master thesis with the other schools of the FBM, the CHUV and the EPFL.
The university studies are composed of two stages
- Bachelor of Science in Biology
180 ECTS credits, 6 semesters - Master of Science in Biology
90 to 120 ECTS credits, 3 to 4 semesters
Three specific Master of Science in Biology are provided by the School of Biology :
Master of Science in Behaviour Evolution and Conservation
Master of Science in Medical Biology
Master of Science in Molecular Life Sciences
- First year of study of the Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences is also organised by the School of Biology - 60 ECTS credits, 2 semesters
Training programmes in biology at other Swiss universities can be reached via the website swissuniversities.
The School of Biology also organises
A summer research programme (SUR Programme) for undergraduate students from around the world
