CULTURE OCEAN
Learn. Think. Create.|Enable. Engage. Enjoy.
At Culture Océan, we’re committed to deepening an understanding of the Ocean and its key role in our planet’s ecosystem. To bridge the gap between academia and the wider public, reveal a rich yet often little-known marine heritage, and make current scientific research more accessible, our team creates a wide array of educational and cultural activities.
Learn, Think, Create – Growing knowledge together, spark new ideas and innovative solutions, and open up new perspectives for the future.
Enable, Engage, Enjoy – Empowering action, fostering curiosity, cultivating the pleasure of learning and celebrating the joy of discovery.
Our mission is built on three key pillars
Advance
Ocean Literacy
Share knowledge and uncover the Ocean’s hidden heritage to help better understand and protect our Ocean.
Raise Awareness of Environmental and Societal Challenges
Explore the Ocean’s richness and fragility in a changing world.
Encourage
responsible behavior
Inspire concrete actions and encourage informed, responsible choices for a healthier, more resilient future.
Our Missions
Share Knowledge, Raise Awareness, Inspire ChangeEDUCATING AND INSPIRING THROUGH SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATION AND MEDIATION
"Culture Océan" is committed to projects that bring science closer to a wide audience, with young people at the heart of its mission.The Ocean Collection
Two members of the Culture Océan team, Carolyn Scheurle and Hervé Claustre, initiated "The Ocean" Collection in 2019. Since then, together with Sanae Chiba, Emily King and Laura Lorenzoni, they co-edit this Collection of the online magazine Frontiers for Young Minds. The Collection will run throughout the “Ocean Decade” and its broad scope covers numerous ocean-related scientific fields. It provides resources that explain key ideas that are fundamental to understand (core concept) and highlights new research on the cutting edge (new discovery) in Ocean sciences. Published articles are written by scientists for kids and teens aged 8 to 15 years. And, for all articles the review of the manuscript is done by kids/teens with the help of a science mentor...
adopt a float
This multidisciplinary educational program invites school students and teachers from all over the world to explore the Ocean through a scientific, cultural and civic approach
"Succeed with Science" an educational scheme
The "Succeed with Science (FR: Cordées de la réussite)" scheme promotes equal opportunities by guiding students toward excellence in education. As part of a national effort, and of its regional implementation, we partner with secondary schools to implement a project on a scientific theme. Each school year, we support students in their career choices and thus open educational and professional perspectives.
Plankton Chronicles
The "Plankton Chronicles" combine arts and sciences, revealing the diversity and beauty of marine organisms that drift along with ocean currents.
mon océan & moi
Oceanographers share their research here to deepen our understanding of the Ocean and its challenges facing environmental changes.
Blue Schools Med
Within the network of Blue Schools, this project (Blue Schools Mediterranean, 2020-2023, Erasmus+) embarked schools from France, Italy, Greece and Malta on a journey to develop marine educational activities within the classrooms. These "Blue Challenges" invited students to "Find the blue" and their links with the Ocean.
MEDITES
MEDITES (Méditerranée Diffusion des Techniques et des Sciences, 2014-2018, Investment for the Future Program) was a regional structuration and innovation project promoting the development of technical scientific culture as well as equal opportunities for all. Two courses on ocean-related topics have been developed and proposed to school-children.Science Outreach
connect people, science and educationNATIONAL AND EUROPEAN PROJECTS
THAT COMPRISE SCIENCE-BASED OUTREACH AND MEDIATION ACTIVITIES
For the past ten years and more, the « Culture Océan » team has been involved in scientific projects. The team enjoys working together and is very grateful for all the support received.
BIOGEOCHEMICAL-ARGO - An extension of the Argo program to include biogeochemical observations
EURO-ARGO ONE - Euro-Argo ERIC scaling up for OneArgo Network Extension
REFINE - Robots Explore plankton-driven Fluxes in the marine twIlight zoNE - #ERC_REFINE
TRICUSO - Three Research Infrastructures together: Carbon Uptake Southern Ocean
ANR Iso2MET - ISOtopes of Metal Elements for Tracing marine METabolism
EURO-ARGO RISE - EURO-ARGO Research Infrastructure Sustainability and Enhancement
TONGA - shallow hydroThermal sOurces of trace elemeNts potential impacts on the bioloGicAl pump
pH BIOGEOCHEMICAL-ARGO - implementing pH measurements into BGC-Argo
MOBYDICK - Marine Ecosystem Biodiversity and Dynamics of Carbon around Kerguelen: an integrated view
PEACETIME PROJECT - ProcEss studies at the Air-sEa Interface after dust deposition in the MEditerranean sea
SOCLIM - Southern Ocean And Climate - Field studies with innovative tools
BRIDGES - Bringing together Research and Industry for the Development of Glider Environmental Services
remOcean - remotely-sensed biogeochemical cycles in the Ocean
GROOM - Gliders for Research, Ocean Observation and Management
SIDERI - Strengthening International Dimension of Euro-Argo Research Initiative
OSS2015 - Ocean Strategic Services beyond 2015
They support us ...
Département des Alpes-Maritimes
ERC - European Research Council
Fondation BNP Paribas
Fondation Crédit Agricole
Fondation Groupe EDF
Région Sud Provence-Alpes-Côte d'azur
They supported us ...
ANRU, PIA Agence Nationale pour la Rénovation Urbaine, Programmes d’Investissement d’Avenir
ANR - Agence Nationale de la Recherche
Erasmus+ - Programme pour l'éducation, la formation, la jeunesse et le sport
Fondation Prince Albert II Monaco
Horizon 2020 - FP7 - European Commission
Métropole Nice Côte d’Azur
Ministère de la Culture
CDMM - Centre de Découverte Mer & Montagne
CNES - Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales, Direction de la Communication, Projets éducatifs d’étude de l’environnement
DAAC : Délégation académique à l'éducation artistique et culturelle
Rectorat de l’académie de Nice
Explorations de Monaco - Réconcilier l’humanité et la mer
IFREMER - Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer
Musée Océanographique de Monaco - Institut Océanographique de Monaco, Fondation Albert 1er
PETITS DÉBROUILLARDS PACA - Aux sciences citoyens!
UCA - Université Côte d’Azur, Cellule Culture Scientifique et Technique
ASLO - Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography
IOC-UNESCO - Ocean Literacy Group of Experts
Science Azur - Partager la science et la recherche avec le territoire azuréen
SOUND - SOrbonne Université for a New Deal
The Ocean Observers Network
Ocean Literacy
An understanding of the ocean's influence on usand our influence on the oceanOther science outreach activities
SCIENCES-SUR-MER
2025, a year specifically dedicated to the Ocean
Dive into the heart of the ocean and meet the people who, every day, decipher its mysteries, monitor its evolution and explore our deepest links with this vital ecosystem. Sciences-sur-Mer is a unique initiative born of collaboration between the Institut de la Mer de Villefranche and the Mairie de Villefranche-sur-Mer. The aim? Raising public awareness of key ocean science challenges through a series of events leading up to the third United Nations Ocean Conference. At the same time, dedicated meetings and discussions are organized for experts in the field, fostering knowledge exchange and dialogue on scientific advancements and future challenges.Science Festival
Village of Sciences
Each year, the (national) Science Festival represents a new opportunity for the Institut de la Mer de Villefranche to open the doors of its "Village of Sciences". Several booths, thematic exhibits and hands-on experiments guide the visitors during their discovery of the marine world.
ASTEP
Science and technology in primary schools
The ASTEP has a specific role as a support for science and technology in primary schools, aiming to develop education based on an investigation approach. The Institut de la Mer de Villefranche wishes to accompany teachers and classes in this commitment.
Knowledge of the sea
For classes of local primary schools
Each year, the Institut de la Mer de Villefranche participates in the single-day event "Knowledge of the sea" organized by the Association of the Boatmen and Sailors of Villefranche-sur-Mer for classes of local primary schools.
Aquaparadox
The Aquaparadox gallery contains images of marine planktonic organisms illustrating the tremendous diversity in plankton in the bay of Villefranche and elsewhere.
The Copepods website
The Copepods website provides information and images about these small crustaceans that are a very abundant part of marine plankton.
Classic Taxonomic Monographs
Classic Taxonomic Monographs provides dozens of downloadable monographs about planktonic micro-organisms. It is a virtual library with a collection of noteworthy historical studies. Most of them comprise classical observations of species that are magnificently illustrated.
e-marin’lab
The Institut de la Mer de Villefranche is a partner of the e-marin'lab project, that was initiated at the Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls. This project aimed at the creation of a virtual and educational marine research station for Bachelor's degree students.
Ocean & Climate
The Ocean and Climate Platform was created to highlight the importance of the ocean among issues and challenges discussed in the context of climate negotiations. Scientists of the l'Institut de la Mer de Villefranche participated actively, i.e. to prepare the 21st United Nations Climate Conference Paris, 25 dec. 2016).
Oceanographic Museum of Monaco
The Institut de la Mer de Villefranche coordinates collaborative interactions with the educational department of the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco.
Tara Expeditions
Tara organizes expeditions to study and better understand the impact of climate change on our oceans. Several members of the l’Institut de la Mer de Villefranche undertake this initiative with commitment and are very actively involved in educational and cultural operations.
MovinCell
MovinCell - Multi-dimensional marine organism dataviewer. The Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-Mer/ Institut de la Mer de Villefranche is developing a gallery of images, videos and 3D/4D/5D image series / 4D / 5D in order to highlight the diversity and the beauty of the marine organisms that are studied.
Shadow theatre
At the interface between research and art, the Institut de la Mer de Villefranche has been involved in several activities. In a shadow play theater, for example, school children put on stage the ocean topics they are concerned of. This project was an adaptation of the interactive installation "Species Encounter Dive In !" in which visitors are invited to create and/or animate forms of endangered marine species in a large shadow theater.
66° Sentinels of the Polar Ocean
In the context of global concerns about climate change, our scientific initiative aimed to meet two challenges: 1/ Initiate a network of scientific robots in the Southern Ocean, particularly during extreme winter and under sea-ice conditions and 2/ disseminate and share new knowledge to the general public.
Les sciences en 21 expériences
This booklet of educational activities offers you to approach scientific notions and concepts through hands-on and fun experiences : to share with young and less young explorers!
Ho Hisse! La trinquette: aborde les sciences
The scientific outreach team of the l’Institut de la Mer de Villefranche, in partnership with the bar-restaurant La Trinquette, proposes science events in the evening.
SOCLIM channel
Discover and explore the SOCLIM Vimeo channel. Find differents videos (ordered by topic) which cover all steps of the SOCLIM scientific project, like: SOCLIM Project #, SOCLIM Mission #, SOCLIM WebTV #, and SOCLIM 66° #. Enjoy, and Share.
Timioche, le petit poisson qui racontait des histoires
This activity kit is based on the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. For children aged 3 to 7, the kit offers activities to develop imagination and observation skills, expand knowledge of the marine environment and improve verbal language.
European Reserchers Night 2020
In 2020, the Université Côte d'Azur and Côte d'Azur researchers, including those from IMEV, invited the public to take part in this event in an immersive virtual space. Participants were able to talk to researchers from many scientific disciplines and discover their daily lives through anecdotes and confidences.
European Reserchers Night 2021
For the second edition of this event in Nice, the Université Côte d'Azur and Côte d'Azur researchers, including those from IMEV, offered an evening of meetings and exchanges. They took the public on a scientific journey in a festive atmosphere that was perfect to satisfy it’s wanderlust!
Monaco Ocean Week
Since 2017, Monaco Ocean Week has been providing great opportunities for exchange and sharing! Each year, many important initiatives and commitments in favor of the Ocean are highlighted and the Culture Océan team is happy to make a modest contribution.
KURA : Pas de lumière ? Pas de problème !
Exploring the ocean is not without its difficulties, but the scientific community now has better technology than in the past, allowing us to discover new species and better understand the ocean. Dive with Kura, an explorer turtle, into the depths of the ocean, and discover the different pelagic levels, chemosynthesis, photosynthesis, ...
Science & you - LBDV
Among the marine models in biology, discover the favorite organisms of the teams at the Developmental Biology Laboratory of Villefranche-sur-Mer (LBDV) and fascinating images!
Movindive
MovinDive – Scientific Diving Images. Together with the EMBRC, the Developmental Biology Laboratory of Villefranche-sur-Mer (LBDV)/Institut de la Mer de Villefranche proposes a gallery of images that shows for example oceanographic equipment from a different angle and that zooms on several marine species.
Ocean Twilight Zone
To unravel some of the mysteries of the depths of the Twilight Zone, the ERC REFINE science project deploys profiling floats that observe many properties of the ocean. In parallel, the project team is involved in the design of educational resources and activities for all audiences to allow them to better understand the research on this oceanic zone as well as the Biological Carbon Pump.
Océan 21
For the World Ocean Day, the Raoul Mille library in Nice (France) offers an opportunity to discover the natural and cultural marine heritage. During the "Ocean21" event, the general public and schoolchildren are made aware of current issues. Each year, the Institut de la Mer de Villefranche takes part in the animations and conferences.
French Science Festival
Every year, the Institut de la Mer de Villefranche takes part in this key event in the field of scientific mediation. Through a variety of activities, a science village in Villefranche-sur-Mer and/or digital editions, the institute highlights current interdisciplinary research, associated technological advances and our links with the Ocean.
Ocean Stories
Travel with oceanographersSTORIES
Follow the Culture Ocean's stories and immerse yourself in the missions of oceanographers through their travel stories.
OCEAN STORIES
Travel with oceanographers
In its " Ocean Stories ", Culture Océan invites you to discover the travel stories of oceanographers: embark with them, immerse yourself in their scientific missions and share their daily lives.The first "Ocean Stories" take you to the Southern Hemisphere, to discover the Southern Ocean: read the logbook of a scientist on a mission to the Kerguelen Islands or listen to the adventures of an underwater robot floating in this perilous ocean.
Through these stories, young and old alike can catch a glimpse of "the end of the world".
Science communication
informs, connects and encourages dialogueCOMMUNICATIONS
L’Institut de la Mer de Villefranche participatesin conferences and workshops to :
present its work and
actions in science-based outreach
exchange in an interdisciplinary way
with the colleagues of other organizations
Ocean education drives meaningful transformations
by engaging targeted audiences and fostering(future) science careers
Training
Courses on Ocean Literacy and Education
The International Master of Science in Marine Biological Resources (IMBRSea) program includes a specific module that allows students to learn how to reach others to spread marine knowledge.
Outreach training
For the staff and masters/doctoral students, different teaching activities are proposed in order to communicate how to disseminate and interact with non-scientists.
Training courses for school teachers
Proposed by the « Culture Océan » team, these courses join the framework of continuing training and are accompanied by the local educational authority.
VIDEO : TRAINING COURSES FOR SCHOOL TEACHERS
A replay of a selection of training courses is available via the mon océan & moi Vimeo channel See videos
Teamwork
is the basis for effective science-based outreachOrganisation & contact
Team "Culture Océan"
The pole "Culture Océan" of the Institut de la Mer de Villefranche (IMEV), Sorbonne Université - CNRS, federates the dissemination and outreach actions of the Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche (LOV) and the Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-Mer (Developmental Biology Laboratory, LBDV).
Carolyn Scheurle
"Culture Océan" CoordinatorInstitut de la Mer de Villefranche (IMEV)
Hervé Claustre
Scientific CoordinatorLaboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche (LOV/IMEV)
Thomas Boniface
Scientific Outreach OfficerLaboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche (LOV/IMEV)
Manon Audax
Scientific Outreach OfficerInstitut de la Mer de Villefranche (IMEV)
Sophie Woolcock
Event Project ManagerInstitut de la Mer de Villefranche (IMEV)
Thomas Jessin
WebdesignMultimedia development
Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche (LOV/IMEV)
Lisa Picatto
Teaching Assistantdu 09/2023 au 11/2023
Institut de la Mer de Villefranche (IMEV)
Théo Sciandra
Scientific Outreach Officerfrom 05/2023 to 12/2023, halftime
Institut de la Mer de Villefranche (IMEV)
Quentin Branchereau
Scientific Outreach Officerfrom 11/2017 to 06/2020, halftime
Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche (LOV/IMEV)
Martina Ferraris
Scientific Outreach Officerfrom 02/2014 to 08/2017, halftime
Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche (LOV/IMEV)
Géraldine Williaume
Doctoral mission of scientific dissemination and mediationfrom 10/2017 to 10/2018, part-time
Sorbonne Université