The Institute
The IUEM is supported and financed by
3 complementary missions
Research
IUEM has seven laboratories (joint research units involving the UBO, CNRS, IRD, Ifremer and UBS) employing nearly 500 permanent and contract researchers, teacher-researchers, engineers, technicians and administrative staff.
Training
As an internal school of Université de Bretagne Occidentale (UBO), IUEM offers eight master’s programmes in the field of Marine and Coastal Sciences (SML), very closely associated with its laboratories, and also hosts the Doctoral School of Marine and Coastal Sciences (EDSML), a multidisciplinary school with 25 laboratories, within and outside the IUEM.
Observation
IUEM, as an Observatory of Universe Sciences (OSU), contributes to a national observation mission supported by a dedicated service unit. The Ocean is observed from the coast to the offshore, from the surface to the deep sea and in all its aspects: living and Physical Ocean, coastal and bottom interfaces, human use and management.
A few numbers
Scientific, technical and administrative staff
Masters students
PhD students
25 years
in marine and coastal sciences
1997
IUEM creation
Six years after the launch of IUEM by Paul Tréguer in 1991, the Institute was officially created in 1997. The personnel working in marine sciences at UBO are housed in new offices at the Plouzané Technopole.
iuem_1997
1998
Appointment of Paul Tréguer as Director
The Ministry appoints Paul Tréguer, founder of the Institute, as the first Director for a period of 5 years. He was reappointed in 2003 for a second term.
2000
IUEM is recognized as a research federation
The CNRS recognizes IUEM as a Research Federation. The Institute also integrates the “National Network of Marine Stations”.
2004
SML master creation
Unique in France, the SML Master’s degree aims to train researchers and managers capable of understanding current scientific issues and providing appropriate responses to problems related to marine and coastal areas.
2005
IUEM becomes an Observatory of Universe Sciences
Authorized by the CNRS, the primary mission of a Universe Science Observa tory (OSU) is to observe the Earth system in the service of a large national and international community and to host master’s and doctoral courses.
2007
The "Europôle Mer" becomes a GIS
Created in 2004 to promote synergy on high-flying joint research projects in Western France, the Europôle Mer is recognised by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research as a Group of Scientific Interest (GIS) and has a budget of €4 million. David Nelson, from Oregon State University, is appointed Director.
2008
The IRD becomes the guardian of two laboratories
The IRD becomes a supervisor of LEMAR and LOPS. The IRD is a multidisciplinary body dedicated to research in the field of development and scientific cooperation with Southern countries. Yves-Marie Paulet takes over the management of the Institute.
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2010
Albert Lucas inauguration
As an IUEM and Iroise Marine Natural Park station ship , it is mobilized to support various observation, research and teaching activities.
2011
LabexMER creation
Coordinated and managed by IUEM, the LabexMER has a 10-year action plan and is endowed with 11 million euros. It brings together 12 research units in the Great West specialized in science and technology.
2012
Labelling of the Zone Atelier Brest-Iroise (ZABrI)
Coordinated by LEMAR and LETG, its objective is to improve understanding of the functioning and evolution of the coastal socio-ecosystem in a context of change and from an integrated management perspective.
2013
First edition of the Mer-Éducation Summer School
This one is intended to train secondary level teachers on societal themes related to the sea and the coast. Every year, it brings together more and more teachers from all over France and abroad.
2014
IUEM hosts the European Marine Board
This scientific cooperation organisation brings together European research organisations and university consortia in the field of marine science and technology. Anne Marie Tréguier becomes director.
2015
IUEM in Paris for the COP 21
Until then, the ocean was not very much involved in discussions on climate change, but it was at the heart of the negotiations. IUEM was there to take part in the debate, by organizing an exhibition “Ocean and climate connected in change”, by participating in the climate train and other events organized in Paris.
2016
New IUEM building inauguration
It was built to house the LOPS and AMURE laboratories, which were previously shared between the university campus and the Ifremer. Bringing all the laboratories together in the same place makes it possible to encourage exchanges between scientists.
2017
Obtaining the label of University School of Research, ISblue.
The ISblue “Interdisciplinary School for the blue planet” University Research School (EUR) project is selected. It is endowed with €11.1 million for a period of 10 years.
2019
IUEM Open Day
As it does every 2 years, the Institute opened its doors to the general public. The aim was to give potential future students an insight into the 8 Masters courses and the research activities of the 6 on-site laboratories.
2022
Launch of the State-Region Plan Contract (CPER) GLAZ
To build a world-class research infrastructure capable of detecting, anticipating and supporting the socio-environmental transitions that terrestrial and coastal ecosystems will undergo over the coming decades. This is the objective of the CPER 2021 – 2026 GLAZ research project, led by the IUEM, an internal school of the UBO, theOSUR, theOSUNA, theINRAE and the Maison des Sciences de l’Homme en Bretagne (MSHB).
2023
Fred Jean has been appointed by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research for a further five-year term. He was appointed for the 1st time in 2018.
Want to know more?
European Institute for Marine Studies – 2018
The IUEM is member of the Interdisciplinary graduate School for the Blue planet ISblue
