Basile Fauconnier

Hello everyone,

I am Basile, a Master’s student in Space Sciences at the Université de Liège, specializing in Astrophysics and Astrobiology, from Belgium. I had the opportunity to complete an internship through the PermaIntern/SEDNA program during the autumn session 2025 at the Université de Sherbrooke, under the supervision of Prof. Myriam Lemelin and with the guidance of Prof. Frédéric Bouchard from the Department of Applied Geomatics. This internship is part of my master’s thesis entitled: Characterization of the geochemistry and organic content of Martian analog environments (reactive gossans) in the Canadian Arctic to assess their astrobiological potential.

As a bioengineer by training and a space sciences student, the complementary nature of these disciplines enabled me to undertake this internship and put my knowledge to use in a fascinating field of research: the search for extraterrestrial life. It all began with the T-MARS (Terrestrial Mineral Analysis by Remote Sensing) project, which aims to provide additional information to better understand the geological past and the processes that shaped the surface of terrestrial planets, their natural satellites, and asteroids. In this context, we focused more specifically on the study of gossans in the Canadian Arctic, which are considered to be Martian analog environments of great astrobiological interest.

My work with Professor Myriam Lemelin's team consisted of quantifying various characteristics of these specific soils, sampled in 2023 on Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut, Canada. Sample preparation, measurements, and experiments were carried out at the University of Sherbrooke, notably at the PRAM, the Department of Chemistry, and the applied geomatics laboratories. This quantification included pH measurements in aqueous phase and saline solution, determination of organic and inorganic carbon by the loss on ignition method, and elemental analysis of total carbon (C), sulfur (S), and nitrogen (N). In addition to these quantitative methods, a qualitative approach was used to verify the presence of organic carbon upstream, using Raman spectrometry. In addition, in order to optimize the processing and interpretation of spectra, I developed an analysis method based on artificial intelligence, using an autoencoder architecture, which reduces noise and removes the baseline from raw data, thereby significantly improving the quality and reliability of the signals used. The data collected and processed enabled us to begin the necessary in-depth study of the quantities of the various oxides and minerals constituting the soils studied, paving the way for a better understanding of local geochemistry and their hypothetical contribution as a source of energy for chemotrophic organisms.

This experience allowed me to meet and collaborate with fascinating people, whether they were my colleagues at the office or participants I met during the NASA Space Apps Challenge. It opened up new perspectives for me and represents a real launch pad for my professional future. Finally, this adventure strengthened my attachment to Canada, and particularly to Quebec, since it was my second experience here. I have only positive things to say about it: rewarding work, accomplishments, and encounters that will stay with me for the rest of my life.