Montpellier 2 University
Encyclopedia
Montpellier 2 University is a French university in the académie of Montpellier. It is one of the three universities formed in 1970 from the original University of Montpellier
. Its main campus neighbors the Montpellier 3 University
's main campus, and for this reason the nearest tramway station
is named "Universities of Sciences and Literature" rather than "University of Sciences".
by Napoleon I
in 1808 stimulated the
formation of a number of faculties
of Humanities and of Science in the main cities of the French Empire
.
At that time, Montpellier
had already a long-established medical college and a school of Pharmacy
, but also a respected Royal Society of Sciences created in 1706. In 1810, a Faculty of Science started with initially seven chair
s: mathematics
, astronomy
, physics
, chemistry
, zoology, botany, and mineralogy
.
In 1879, the faculty created a research station of marine biology in Sète
, and, twelve years later, and Institute of Botany
(which is still part of University Montpellier 2). The Institute of Chemistry, created in the same period, became the Ecole Nationale Supérieure of Chemistry of Montpellier in 1941.
In 1964, the faculty left the centre of Montpellier to settle in a 30 hectare campus to the north of the city on which 146 000 m2 of buildings for teaching and research were built.
), which is close to the botanical garden of University Montpellier 1. Partly demolished after World War II, most of the buildings date from 1956. The building houses a prestigious herbarium
, the largest in France after the national museum of natural history
, with approximately 4 million samples and an important collection of botany vellum
s, and research laboratories in the fields of ecology
and parasitology
.
The station of marine biology in Sète
has been part of the University since 1879.
In addition to these collections, the university's media library brings together its old collections of printed works, manuscripts, and iconography (including, for example, the library of the work of Felix Dunal, bequeathed to the Faculty of Science in 1856). These collections are publicly accessible given a reasonable request.
The university is also the seat of the Pôle universitaire de Montpellier which collectively represents the higher education establishments in the Languedoc-Roussillon
region.
It currently has:
University of Montpellier
The University of Montpellier was a French university in Montpellier in the Languedoc-Roussillon région of the south of France. Its present-day successor universities are the University of Montpellier 1, Montpellier 2 University and Paul Valéry University, Montpellier III.-History:The university...
. Its main campus neighbors the Montpellier 3 University
Paul Valéry University, Montpellier III
University of Montpellier III Paul Valéry is a French university in the Academy of Montpellier. It is one of the three successor universities to the University of Montpellier, specialising in the arts, languages and social sciences.- History :...
's main campus, and for this reason the nearest tramway station
Trams in Montpellier
The city of Montpellier, France has a network of two tram lines currently in service, with a third line in construction. Responsibility for trams is held by the agglomeration community of the Montpellier agglomeration , and trams are operated by the Transports de l'agglomération de Montpellier ...
is named "Universities of Sciences and Literature" rather than "University of Sciences".
History
The creation of the imperial UniversityUniversity of France
The University of France was a highly centralized educational state organization founded by Napoleon I in 1808 and given authority not only over the individual, previously independent, universities, but also over primary and secondary education. The former individual universities were henceforth...
by Napoleon I
Napoleon I
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
in 1808 stimulated the
formation of a number of faculties
Faculty (university)
A faculty is a division within a university comprising one subject area, or a number of related subject areas...
of Humanities and of Science in the main cities of the French Empire
First French Empire
The First French Empire , also known as the Greater French Empire or Napoleonic Empire, was the empire of Napoleon I of France...
.
At that time, Montpellier
Montpellier
-Neighbourhoods:Since 2001, Montpellier has been divided into seven official neighbourhoods, themselves divided into sub-neighbourhoods. Each of them possesses a neighbourhood council....
had already a long-established medical college and a school of Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
, but also a respected Royal Society of Sciences created in 1706. In 1810, a Faculty of Science started with initially seven chair
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
s: mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
, physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
, chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
, zoology, botany, and mineralogy
Mineralogy
Mineralogy is the study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals. Specific studies within mineralogy include the processes of mineral origin and formation, classification of minerals, their geographical distribution, as well as their utilization.-History:Early writing...
.
In 1879, the faculty created a research station of marine biology in Sète
Sète
Sète is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France. Its inhabitants are called Sétois....
, and, twelve years later, and Institute of Botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
(which is still part of University Montpellier 2). The Institute of Chemistry, created in the same period, became the Ecole Nationale Supérieure of Chemistry of Montpellier in 1941.
In 1964, the faculty left the centre of Montpellier to settle in a 30 hectare campus to the north of the city on which 146 000 m2 of buildings for teaching and research were built.
Heritage
The University Montpellier 2 retains the Institute of Botany of Montpellier (created in 1889 by Professor Charles FlahaultCharles Flahault
Charles Henri Marie Flahault was a French botanist, among the early pioneers of phytogeography, phytosociology and forest ecology...
), which is close to the botanical garden of University Montpellier 1. Partly demolished after World War II, most of the buildings date from 1956. The building houses a prestigious herbarium
Herbarium
In botany, a herbarium – sometimes known by the Anglicized term herbar – is a collection of preserved plant specimens. These specimens may be whole plants or plant parts: these will usually be in a dried form, mounted on a sheet, but depending upon the material may also be kept in...
, the largest in France after the national museum of natural history
Muséum national d'histoire naturelle
The Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle is the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, France.- History :The museum was formally founded on 10 June 1793, during the French Revolution...
, with approximately 4 million samples and an important collection of botany vellum
Vellum
Vellum is mammal skin prepared for writing or printing on, to produce single pages, scrolls, codices or books. It is generally smooth and durable, although there are great variations depending on preparation, the quality of the skin and the type of animal used...
s, and research laboratories in the fields of ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
and parasitology
Parasitology
Parasitology is the study of parasites, their hosts, and the relationship between them. As a biological discipline, the scope of parasitology is not determined by the organism or environment in question, but by their way of life...
.
The station of marine biology in Sète
Sète
Sète is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France. Its inhabitants are called Sétois....
has been part of the University since 1879.
In addition to these collections, the university's media library brings together its old collections of printed works, manuscripts, and iconography (including, for example, the library of the work of Felix Dunal, bequeathed to the Faculty of Science in 1856). These collections are publicly accessible given a reasonable request.
The university is also the seat of the Pôle universitaire de Montpellier which collectively represents the higher education establishments in the Languedoc-Roussillon
Languedoc-Roussillon
Languedoc-Roussillon is one of the 27 regions of France. It comprises five departments, and borders the other French regions of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Rhône-Alpes, Auvergne, Midi-Pyrénées on the one side, and Spain, Andorra and the Mediterranean sea on the other side.-Geography:The region is...
region.
Overview of University Montpellier 2
The University Montpellier 2 (called Université des Sciences & Techniques) is a multi-discipline university whose teaching and research centre on the sciences and technological research.It currently has:
- Over 16 000 students (2011 entry).
- 921 attached teacher-researchers
- 581 researchers funded by large research organizations
- 954 support staff
- 262 692 m2 of buildings
- €52 million annual budget (as of January 2006)
- more than 50 research teams, mostly associated with large research organizations (CNRS, INSERM, INRAInstitut National de la Recherche AgronomiqueThe Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique is a French public research institute dedicated to scientific studies surrounding the problems of agriculture...
, IRDInstitut de recherche pour le développementThe Institut de recherche pour le développement is a French public science and technology research institute under the joint authority of the French ministries in charge of research and overseas development....
, CIRAD etc.), grouped into 10 departments
See also
- University of MontpellierUniversity of MontpellierThe University of Montpellier was a French university in Montpellier in the Languedoc-Roussillon région of the south of France. Its present-day successor universities are the University of Montpellier 1, Montpellier 2 University and Paul Valéry University, Montpellier III.-History:The university...
- List of public universities in France by academy