Earth surface processes & paleobiosphere (ESPP)

This new doctoral school, funded since 2010 by the CUSO, unites the doctoral students (around 60 in 2009) and senior teaching scientists (about 20) of the disciplines of sedimentology, stratigraphy, basin analysis, paleontology, surface processes, hydrogeology, limnology, paleoclimatology, paleoceanography, paleology, sedimentary / environmental geochemistry, biogeosciences and soil sciences from all six CUSO universities (Basel, Berne, Fribourg, Geneva, Lausanne, Neuchâtel). Doctoral students and research scientists of this community study a wide array of different objects. They apply, however, similar methods and deal with complex systems in which physical-chemical processes interact with life, both in ancient and modern environments. These disciplines share a similar scientific approach: to physically, chemically and biologically characterise the studied materials and environmental systems, in order to understand and to model their formation and functioning.

This doctoral school aims at fostering scientific quality, creativity and communication within the scientific community as well as with the professional world. It also promotes mobility and soft skills competence. It offers a variety of courses to doctoral students, which will enable them to efficiently organise their research and produce high-quality results. It will promote their general ability to deal with challenges in contemporary academic, administrative, and business environments.

The education and training offer comprises acquirement of scientific tools (field and laboratory analytical methods), soft skills, and a broad scientific background, partly using courses that have been organised within the '3ème cycle CUSO "Coodination romande en sciences de la Terre". Furthermore, the proposed school will enhance collaboration and synergies between the research groups of the CUSO sites and allow for an efficient usage of costly analytical techniques.

Annual meetings, such as SwissSed, the participation in the offered courses, and active participation of individual students in national and international meetings can be subsidised by the ESPP doctoral school.