Bioceb Graduation Day of the Fourth Intake

Hosted in the elegant setting of the Degermann Salon in Reims, this ceremony marked the achievement of the cohort that embarked on their Bioceb adventure in September 2023. After intensive training at partner universities across Europe, the graduates and their loved ones gathered to commemorate their accomplishments.

The event was organized by the University of Reims Champagne‐Ardenne (URCA)—which welcomed all students for the joint first semester—and AgroParisTech, the coordinating institution. The ceremony wove together recognition, conviviality, and connection, and also gave the newly graduated class the opportunity to meet their predecessors, fostering a spirit of continuity and mentorship.

This graduation was more than an academic milestone: it was a celebration of international bonds, shared projects, and the collective growth of a community. Around 100 participants were present, including graduates and their families, students from previous cohorts, faculty members, administrative staff, and representatives from the consortium and the city of Reims.

To start with, the guests were warmly welcomed at 4 pm by the two ceremony moderators, Stéphanie Baumberger, professor in green chemistry at AgroParisTech and Bioceb coordinator, and Caroline Rémond, professor in biotechnology and Bioceb local coordinator at URCA.

Then, the ceremony proceeded with official speeches delivered by:
– Pr. Christophe Clément, President of University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne
– Mrs Patricia Durin, Vice-President in charge of Higher Education and Research Communauté urbaine du Grand Reims

– Pr. Étienne Verrier, Deputy Director General in charge of Academic Affairs and Development, AgroParisTech
– Pr. Eero Kontturi, Professor in Bio-based Materials, Aalto University
– Pr. Fjodor Sergejev, Dean of the School of Engineering, Tallinn University of Technology

Messages of solidarity and humility were conveyed in the speeches, along with acknowledgement of Bioceb’s success in being selected by the European Union for a second round.

Several members of the consortium also travelled to Reims. From TalTech: Jaan Kers (professor, polymer sciences), Yevgen Karpichev (Senior Research Scientist, sustainable chemistry) and Fjodor Sergejev. From ULiège: Manon Genva (lecturer, chemistry of natural substances). From Aalto: Eero Kontturi and Ibrahim Abousharabia (PhD student). The URCA delegation included Christophe Clément, Caroline Remond, Marie-Charlotte Belhomme (lecturer in chemistry), and the team from the International Relations Office, including Philippine Henry, Alpin Charbaut, Pascale Cliquot, Priscilla Ebaka —all of whom play pivotal roles in the Bioceb program at URCA. From AgroParisTech, attendees included Étienne Verrier, Stéphanie Baumberger, Jeanne Beyrand (Bioceb projet manager), Ana Karen Sánchez Castañeda (lecturer in microbiology), and Ghislaine Tamisier (intercultural trainer). Likewise, the European Office was represented by Elodie Popenda (Head of European Affairs), Clémence Rotolo, Victoria Tallarita and Ioannis Kogias.

The highlight of the evening came when students were invited, track by track, to the stage to receive their diplomas, and then delivered a speech. Each Bioceb graduate earned multiple national master’s degrees. Diploma calls were led by academics associated with each track:
-For Track 1 (“Bioproducts, Green Chemistry, Biomass Engineering” – URCA, TalTech, AgroParisTech), Yevgen Karpichev and Jaan Kers addressed students.

-For Track 2 (“Bioproducts, Green Chemistry, Bioprocesses” – URCA, TalTech, ULiège), Manon Genva offered her congratulations

-For Track 3 (“Bioproducts, Green Chemistry, Materials, Polymers” – URCA, TalTech, Aalto), Eero Kontturi spoke to each student & for track 5 (“Agro-resources, Value-chain Assessment, Materials, Polymers” – URCA, AgroParisTech, Aalto), Marie-Charlotte Belhomme recalled their earliest days at URCA

-For Track 4 (“Agro-resources, Value-chain Assessment, Bioprocesses” – URCA, AgroParisTech, ULiège), Ana Karen Sánchez Castañeda emphasized their scientific drive

One standout moment was the cultural performances by the students themselves—ranging from emotional songs to piano pieces—that reflected the strong cohesion and creative spirit of the cohort. The ceremony closed on a joyful note.

Guests mingled over a delightful buffet while a DJ turned the venue into a dance floor. Laughter, hugs, and warm congratulations filled the air as everyone celebrated the graduates’ achievements and welcomed the new cohort beginning their Bioceb journey. Congratulations to the 4th cohort!

All the pictures are available here: https://jdieppedalle.wixstudio.com/bioceb-2025