On 18 November 2024, the annual Brest-Iroise Workshop Zone (ZABrI ) Day was held at the Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer (IUEM) in Plouzané. Attended by 60 participants, the central theme of the event was co-construction between scientists and local stakeholders. The aim was to explore and strengthen collaboration to improve understanding and management of socio-ecosystems.

Enriching discussions on co-construction

The day began with an introduction and presentations of projects illustrating the diversity of multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches. Participants were able to discover, among other things, the ETICS project on the development of innovative methods based on molecular biology for trophic ecology and the DYNARADE project, focusing on the shared management of coastal environments in the Brest harbour, with the example of the Spartina.
Three thematic sessions followed, offering a variety of perspectives on co-construction. The presentations highlighted the importance of close cooperation between researchers, local authorities, associations and other stakeholders in tackling environmental issues. Inspiring examples, highlighting, for example, the role of biosphere reserves in strengthening partnerships, participatory observation approaches, the involvement of local authorities in governance, the importance and methods of mediation in sharing knowledge and transforming practices, illustrated the diversity of projects and partnership dynamics carried out in the ZABrI and the other Workshop Zones.

Collaborative workshops to build the future

The second part of the afternoon was devoted to workshops. Divided into groups, the participants considered co-construction approaches in conjunction with different types of stakeholder: local authorities, civil society and natural environment managers. These discussions helped to identify levers for action to enhance collaboration and improve existing practices.

An action-oriented conclusion

At the end of the day, the workshops were summed up in a summary of the discussions and proposals, confirming the participants’ commitment to continuing this collaborative dynamic. Fred Jean, Director of the IUEM, brought the event to a close by stressing the importance of strengthening the links between science and territory in the face of environmental challenges.
The day’s events were a great success, providing food for thought on how to build close, lasting partnerships to serve socio-ecosystems. The cross-disciplinary approach adopted by ZABrI illustrates how research can be part of a collective approach to meeting local and global environmental challenges.

 

The IUEM Director and his team wish all the Institute’s staff and students an excellent year 2025!

On Tuesday 19 November 2024, the CNRS medals ceremony for the Brittany and Pays de la Loire delegation was held at the Mabilay in Rennes. 5 medals and a collective crystal were awarded ‘to those who, through the originality, quality and importance of their work, have enhanced the reputation of the region and made an exceptional contribution to the dynamism and renown of the institution’. The winners include Damien Desbruyères, an Ifremer researcher in oceanography at LOPS, and the ‘national oceanographic instrumentation park’ team from the INSU Technical Division. Congratulations to them all! Here is the list of medal winners:

Bronze medals:

• David CHIRON (CRCI2NA) – CNRS Biology
• Damien DESBRUYERES (LOPS) – CNRS Earth & Universe
• Morgane VACHER (CEISAM) – CNRS Chemistry

Crystal medals:

• Damien GENDRY (Géosciences Rennes) – CNRS Earth & Universe
• Karine ROBIN (ISCR) – CNRS Chemistry

Collective Crystal Medal: ‘Parc national instrumentation océanographique’ team (DT INSU) – CNRS Terre & Univers – Representatives : Emmanuel DE SAINT-LEGER and Arnaud LE RIDANT
A fuller article is available on the CNRS regional delegation website.

Pictures : Pierre Theiller/ CNRS Bretagne et Pays de la Loire

The SILICAMICS interdisciplinary conference series, launched in 2015, aims to better understand biosilicification and the nature and importance of siliceous organisms in past, contemporary and future oceans. It is developing an integrative approach that includes physics, chemistry, biogeochemistry, biochemistry, physiology, ecology and genomics. The fourth conference, held at Moulin Mer (Logonna-Daoulas, France), brought together more than 50 scientists from America, Asia, Oceania, the Middle East and Europe.

The conference revealed the progress made in understanding the molecular basis of silicification and the transfer of dissolved silica from the environment to intracellular organs via SIT proteins. Planet Earth is rich in silica-containing plants. It acts as a biotic or abiotic stress attenuator. With regard to the oceans, in addition to the key role played by diatoms in the surface layers, the development of which is encouraged by the formation of small-scale physical structures, the role of radiolarians in the deep layers has been highlighted. In the benthic domain, siliceous sponges, dominant in ancient times, are widespread in both coastal and abyssal zones. Their role in coastal ecosystems is beginning to be better understood. Among the flows that contribute to the biogeochemical cycle of silicon in the oceans, the importance ofreverse weathering has been confirmed and that of sand dissolution questioned. Evidence of the direct impact of climate change on polar marine ecosystems was provided, particularly for the Arctic Ocean, where the rapid decrease in sea ice cover is affecting the functioning of pelagic and benthic ecosystems, as well as that of the sea ice biome.

 

 

Download the conference programme