As part of the inauguration of the Biodiversarium at the Oceanological Observatory of Banyuls-sur-Mer, a partnership agreement between Monaco’s Oceanographic Institute and the University Pierre and Marie Curie was signed on Wednesday, November 29, in the presence of HSH Prince Albert and many personalities.

Both institutions are committed to collaborating on marine science, long-term ocean observation and the impact of global warming. Through their partnership, they intend to strengthen their capacities to popularise, promote and disseminate scientific knowledge and the understanding of the marine environment to as wide a public as possible.

This is a logical consequence of the long-standing relations maintained by the two institutions, as evidenced by numerous documents in the archives of the Oceanographic Institute, including loans of exhibits such as reversing thermometers for a scientific campaign aboard the Orvet, animal consignments (Pennatules, Bonellies, Cerianthes, Morayes …) and exchange of publications.

The libraries of both institutions have been in constant contact since the early days and several directors of the Oceanological Observatory of Banyuls-sur-Mer served as members of the improvement committee of the Oceanographic Institute.

Building on a shared past and in close collaboration, the two bodies have now officially joined forces in the service of ocean protection, in response to the growing need to inform, teach and decrypt the issues related to the marine world.

Specifically, assistance will be provided to the scientific missions conducted by Monaco Explorations.

Monaco’s Oceanographic Institute –founded in 1906 by the Prince Albert I Foundation –and the Oceanological Observatory of Banyuls want to engage as much as possible to better understand the impact of human activities on the oceans, and to encourage their conservation.

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