Tremble. Feel the earth move beneath your feet. That’s the power of the Ecole et Observatoire des Sciences de la Terre. EOST for short.
Here before you stands a powerhouse of Earth science. It wasn’t always this way. EOST’s roots stretch back to around 1880. That’s when interest in seismology and meteorology took off in Germany. Alsace was under German rule then. The Imperial University focused on fundamental research. This is much like the early 19th-century University of Wilhelm von Humboldt. It also mimicked the French Grandes Ecoles model.
The Geology Institute’s history goes further back. It connects to the growth of French universities in the early 1800s. Then came World War II. The IPGS the predecessor to EOST moved to Clermont-Ferrand. Diplômes d’Ingénieurs were signed by the famous Louis Cagnard. A geophysicist of note.
EOST officially formed in 1997. It merged the University of Strasbourg’s Geology and Earth Physics institutes. It’s supervised by the University of Strasbourg and CNRS-INSU. The National Center for Scientific Research and the National Institute of Science of the Universe. EOST educates researchers and observes Earth’s processes. It shares this knowledge too.
Over 150 people work at EOST. It is housed in two buildings on Strasbourg’s central campus. The school offers several degrees. It delivers the Diplôme d’Ingénieur. This is like a Master’s in Geophysical Engineering. Students may also get European degrees. Licences Masters and Doctorats are all possible.
The curriculum is intense. First-year students study math computer science and various Earth sciences. They even do fieldwork in the Alps. Years two and three delve deeper into specialized areas. These include seismology geodesy and geophysics. Students choose between natural resource applications and civil engineering. A final internship finishes the process. Top students can go on to Masters degrees. The University of Strasbourg provides these in Earth or Environmental Sciences.
EOST has strong partnerships. These include the ENSG in Nancy. Students can also study abroad via the Erasmus program. Imperial College London and others welcome EOST students. Student life is vibrant. The BDE organizes events. The BDS holds sports competitions. The SUGS focuses on geophysical and archaeological work in Alsace.
EOST also houses a remarkable museum. It displays seismic and magnetic measuring instruments. Its collection shows how these devices have evolved. The mineralogy museum boasts over 30000 samples. Many are frequently shown around the world. The building itself is a historic monument.
So stand here. Marvel at the history. Feel the legacy of EOST pulse beneath your feet. It’s more than just a school. It is the beating heart of Earth science in Strasbourg.