The bio department working remotely

From the room known as the "Café des sports", one of the virtual videoconferencing rooms of the biology department accessible from the Study portal, François Roudier, Director of the department and Nathalie Alazard, Assistant Director, tell us about almost 4 weeks of intense remote work. Four weeks, three phases, a first assessment and a constant optimism despite the complexity of an ever-changing situation. A comprehensive list of French and foreign students enrolled in the department has been drawn up from several databases (including ENSCOL) and the strong mobilization of teaching staff and educational tutors quickly made it possible to take stock of each student's situation and to set up individual support for them, says François Roudier. "Special attention has been paid to the many students working abroad, whom we have strongly encouraged to come back home," he adds. The IDD and the Covid19 monitoring unit have done an outstanding job in connection with embassies and host institutions to advise these foreign students and help them return home as quickly as possible. Today, almost all of the students have returned home; however, a few have chosen to stay there: for example, one student is in lockdown on an experimental farm in Togo, so we communicate regularly on a satellite phone. Another student is waiting at the border between Uruguay and Argentina, while continuing his exploration of biodiversity.