Interdisciplinary projects: a week to explore the engineering profession in a different way at Centrale Nantes

At the end of semester 5, 1st year engineering programme students have an entire week set aside for interdisciplinary projects.

Working in teams of around ten students, the students had a whole week to respond to the problem and present their vision of the project.

This year, four projects were devised by teams of teachers to give students the opportunity to reflect on subjects involving several disciplines. These projects enable them to tackle complex problems and apply the fundamentals of team management.

One week, four diverse projects: ethics, art, modelling and the environment

Environmental ethics for engineers

The aim: to explore technical and societal controversies that engineers may face (AI and the environment, carbon offsetting, the St-Colomban sand quarries, etc.). Students mapped out the debates, identified the key players and weighed up the arguments, presenting their findings in poster form.

Art and engineering in the service of life

The goal: to design works combining art and engineering to reveal biodiversity on campus, in collaboration with the Culture and Initiatives Department of Nantes University and artists from ASSOC LE COLLECTIF DE LA MEUTE. The results were then presented at an exhibition at Centralab – Centrale Nantes' Fablab.

Modelling and simulation of a rowing machine 

The aim: to simulate the movement of a rowing machine as accurately as possible by modelling it in 3D, combining mechanics, digital simulation and a detailed understanding of the movement.

Air quality on campus

The goal: to measure temperature, humidity and CO₂ in different areas of the school in order to produce concrete results directly related to health and campus usage.

At the end of the week, the groups presented their work to the Centrale Nantes community through several exhibitions on campus.