Culture Océan

ˈkʌlʧər ˈoʊʃən

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 Change

EDUCATING 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 - Frontiers for Young Minds - 1
The Ocean Collection - Frontiers for Young Minds - 2

The Ocean Collection
Frontiers for Young Minds

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
adopt a float

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
Cordée - Réussir avec les sciences
Cordée - Réussir avec les sciences

"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
plankton chronicles

Plankton Chronicles

The "Plankton Chronicles" combine arts and sciences, revealing the diversity and beauty of marine organisms that drift along with ocean currents.
mon ocean et moi
mon ocean et moi

mon océan & moi

Oceanographers share their research here to deepen our understanding of the Ocean and its challenges facing environmental changes.
Blue Schools Med

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

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.
s

Science Outreach

connect people, science and education

NATIONAL 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.
ARGO DOME

ARGO DOME - Explore the Thermal Dome offshore Central America

https://argo-dome.org 2024 - 2027
BIOGEOCHEMICAL-ARGO

BIOGEOCHEMICAL-ARGO - An extension of the Argo program to include biogeochemical observations

http://biogeochemical-argo.org since 2016
EURO-ARGO ONE

EURO-ARGO ONE - Euro-Argo ERIC scaling up for OneArgo Network Extension

https://www.euro-argo.eu/EU-Projects/Euro-Argo-ONE-2025-2027 2025 - 2027
REFINE

REFINE - Robots Explore plankton-driven Fluxes in the marine twIlight zoNE - #ERC_REFINE

https://erc-refine.eu 2019 - 2026
TRICUSO

TRICUSO - Three Research Infrastructures together: Carbon Uptake Southern Ocean

https://tricuso.eu 2025 - 2028
Iso2Met

ANR Iso2MET - ISOtopes of Metal Elements for Tracing marine METabolism

https://www.iso2met-project.fr 2019 - 2023
EURO-ARGO RISE

EURO-ARGO RISE - EURO-ARGO Research Infrastructure Sustainability and Enhancement

2019 - 2022
TONGA

TONGA - shallow hydroThermal sOurces of trace elemeNts potential impacts on the bioloGicAl pump

http://tonga-project.org 2018 - 2024
PH BIOGEOCHEMICAL-ARGO

pH BIOGEOCHEMICAL-ARGO - implementing pH measurements into BGC-Argo

http://ph.bgc-argo.org 2018 - 2021
MOBYDICK

MOBYDICK - Marine Ecosystem Biodiversity and Dynamics of Carbon around Kerguelen: an integrated view

https://mobydick.mio.osupytheas.fr 2018 - 2022
EvoCELL

EvoCELL - Animal evolution from a cell type perspective

https://www.evocell-itn.eu 2018 - 2021
PEACETIME PROJECT

PEACETIME PROJECT - ProcEss studies at the Air-sEa Interface after dust deposition in the MEditerranean sea

2016 - 2020
SOCLIM

SOCLIM - Southern Ocean And Climate - Field studies with innovative tools

http://soclim.com 2014 - 2017
BRIDGES

BRIDGES - Bringing together Research and Industry for the Development of Glider Environmental Services

2013 - 2017
remOcean

remOcean - remotely-sensed biogeochemical cycles in the Ocean

2010 - 2016
GROOM

GROOM - Gliders for Research, Ocean Observation and Management

2011 - 2014
SIDERI

SIDERI - Strengthening International Dimension of Euro-Argo Research Initiative

2011 - 2013
OSS2015

OSS2015 - Ocean Strategic Services beyond 2015

2011 - 2014

They support us ...

Conseil Départemental 06

Département des Alpes-Maritimes

https://www.departement06.fr
European Research Council

ERC - European Research Council

https://erc.europa.eu
Fondation Crédit Agricole

Fondation Crédit Agricole

https://www.fondation-capca.com
Fondation Groupe EDF

Fondation Groupe EDF

https://fondation.edf.com
Région Sud/PACA

Région Sud Provence-Alpes-Côte d'azur

https://www.maregionsud.fr

They supported us ...

ANRU/PIA

ANRU, PIA Agence Nationale pour la Rénovation Urbaine, Programmes d’Investissement d’Avenir

https://www.anru.fr/les-programmes-dinvestissement-davenir
Agence Nationale de la Recherche

ANR - Agence Nationale de la Recherche

https://anr.fr/fr/
Erasmus +

Erasmus+ - Programme pour l'éducation, la formation, la jeunesse et le sport

https://info.erasmusplus.fr/
Fondation Prince Albert II Monaco

Fondation Prince Albert II Monaco

https://www.fpa2.org
European Commission-Horizon 2020-FP7

Horizon 2020 - FP7 - European Commission

https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/en
Métropole Nice Côte d’Azur

Métropole Nice Côte d’Azur

https://www.nicecotedazur.org
Ministère de la Culture

Ministère de la Culture

https://www.culture.gouv.fr
CDMM

CDMM - Centre de Découverte Mer & Montagne

https://www.mermontagne.org
CNES

CNES - Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales, Direction de la Communication, Projets éducatifs d’étude de l’environnement

https://enseignants-mediateurs.cnes.fr/fr/enseignants-et-mediateurs/projets/argonautica
DAAC Académie de Nice

DAAC : Délégation académique à l'éducation artistique et culturelle
Rectorat de l’académie de Nice

https://www.ac-nice.fr/education-artistique-et-culturelle
Explorations de Monaco

Explorations de Monaco - Réconcilier l’humanité et la mer

https://www.monacoexplorations.org/
IFREMER

IFREMER - Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer

https://wwz.ifremer.fr/ @Ifremer_fr
Musée Océanographique de Monaco

Musée Océanographique de Monaco - Institut Océanographique de Monaco, Fondation Albert 1er

https://www.oceano.org @OceanoMonaco
PETITS DÉBROUILLARDS PACA

PETITS DÉBROUILLARDS PACA - Aux sciences citoyens!

https://www.lespetitsdebrouillardspaca.org
Université Côte d’Azur, Cellule Culture Scientifique et Technique

UCA - Université Côte d’Azur, Cellule Culture Scientifique et Technique

https://csti.univ-cotedazur.fr
ASLO

ASLO - Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography

https://www.aslo.org
IOC-UNESCO

IOC-UNESCO - Ocean Literacy Group of Experts

https://www.unesco.org/...
Science Azur

Science Azur - Partager la science et la recherche avec le territoire azuréen

https://science-societe.univ-cotedazur.fr/ ...
SOUND

SOUND - SOrbonne Université for a New Deal

https://www.sorbonne-universite.fr/ ...
The Ocean Observers Network

The Ocean Observers Network

https://www.oceanobservers.org
The Oceanography Society, TOS

TOS - The Oceanography Society

https://tos.org @TOSOceanography

Ocean Literacy

An understanding of the ocean's influence on us
and our influence on the ocean

Other 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 oceanographers

STORIES

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 dialogue

COMMUNICATIONS

L’Institut de la Mer de Villefranche participates
in conferences and workshops to :
1

present its work and
actions in science-based outreach

2

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 outreach

Organisation & 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

Carolyn Scheurle

"Culture Océan" Coordinator

Institut de la Mer de Villefranche (IMEV)

Hervé Claustre

Hervé Claustre

Scientific Coordinator

Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche (LOV/IMEV)

Thomas Boniface

Thomas Boniface

Scientific Outreach Officer

Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche (LOV/IMEV)

Manon Audax

Manon Audax

Scientific Outreach Officer

Institut de la Mer de Villefranche (IMEV)

Sophie Woolcock

Sophie Woolcock

Event Project Manager

Institut de la Mer de Villefranche (IMEV)

Thomas Jessin

Thomas Jessin

Webdesign
Multimedia development

Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche (LOV/IMEV)

Lisa Picatto

Lisa Picatto

Teaching Assistant
du 09/2023 au 11/2023

Institut de la Mer de Villefranche (IMEV)

Théo Sciandra

Théo Sciandra

Scientific Outreach Officer
from 05/2023 to 12/2023, halftime

Institut de la Mer de Villefranche (IMEV)

Quentin Branchereau

Quentin Branchereau

Scientific Outreach Officer
from 11/2017 to 06/2020, halftime

Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche (LOV/IMEV)

Martina Ferraris

Martina Ferraris

Scientific Outreach Officer
from 02/2014 to 08/2017, halftime

Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche (LOV/IMEV)

Géraldine Williaume

Géraldine Williaume

Doctoral mission of scientific dissemination and mediation
from 10/2017 to 10/2018, part-time

Sorbonne Université

Contact uscarolyn.scheurle at culture-ocean.com

Follow us on instagram@cultureocean_imev

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Vimeo ChannelCulture Océan

One of the missions of the Institut de la Mer de Villefranche (IMEV)
is to promote scientific culture

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