CNRS (National Center for Scientific Research) is the principal organization for fundamental scientific research in France. CNRS carries out research in all fields of knowledge through its 10 thematic institutes. INSU, National Institute for Earth Sciences and Astronomy, as one of the thematic institutes of CNRS, elaborates, develops and coordinates research and projects in astronomy, earth and planetary science, ocean and atmosphere sciences and space sciences. Within its field, INSU undertakes and coordinates research performed at national and international levels by CNRS and other public French research bodies. It develops, pilots and implements instruments for very large facilities: platforms (networks of geophysical and geodesic instruments and borehole measurements), observatories (astronomy, seismology, oceanography, meteorology, geophysical hazards, land use), observation services, software facilities (databanks, community models, centres for satellite data analysis). INSU has a strong involvement in many European EU funded Projects in various fields and in infrastructure projects following national and EU roadmaps. As far as ocean sciences are concerned, INSU is running:
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- a technical platform, which is maintaining and developing sophisticated at sea equipments including a set of gliders, which are part of JERICO infrastructure, and
- a network of marine stations (Réseau National des Stations Marines RESOMAR), which are running a coordinated monitoring program of inshore coastal ocean (Service d’Observation en Milieu Littoral SOMLIT).
Role within the project and relevant experience
CNRS INSU will contribute to the Infrastructure and the transnational access activities through the sharing of its glider fleet.
CNRS INSU will contribute to the Joined Research Activity by: (1) developing new software and tools for the monitoring of key biological compartments and processes, (2) taking part to a feasibility study regarding the implementation of a monitoring of marine Biodiversity in European waters.
Description of key people involved in the project
Antoine Grémare: more than 20 years of experience in research on biological oceanography. His primary interests are in benthic ecology. He has recently been involved in the development of image analysis software specifically designed to assess the dynamivcs of vertical luminophore profiles to assess sediment reworking rates by benthic communities.
Pascal Morin: senior oceanographer has more than 20 years of experience in chemical and biological oceanography. He is President of the National Committee of the Coastal Fleet in charge of the evaluation of the coastal oceanographic cruises for the Ifremer, CNRS INSU and IRD coastal research vessels.
He is the WP1 leader and participant of the SOMLIT programme of INSU/CNRS
Jean Claude Duchêne: 30 years experience in research on biological oceanography. His primary interests are in benthic Ecology. He has been developing a large variety of software in the field of biological instrumentation.
Lars Stemmann: Scientist involved in the development of the submarine video profiler and of the Zooscan. Expert of
automated zooplankton identification
Pierre Testor: Scientist in charge of the INSU glider division
Laurent Coppola: Scientist in charge of the EOL profiling buoy
