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Underwater images of marine life

The Michael Sars Centre at the University of Bergen, is an international community of scientists using advanced technologies to study the unique molecular and cellular biology of marine organisms in a changing environment for broad societal impact.

As one of the first EMBL partners, the Michael Sars Centre is rooted in the Bergen academic community and serves as a national strategical asset for Norwegian marine life sciences. We aim to establish, strengthen, and leverage local, national, and international networks through specific activities, including collaborative research, joint training, and scientific exchange.

 

News
Chris Lowe

Exploring evolution across scales at the Michael Sars Symposium 2025

The fourth edition of the Michael Sars Symposium brought together experts from a variety of research fields within biology, all united by a common theme – evolution.

News
Alexandre Jan and Étienne Bourgouin sampling at sea

Paris Aquarium scientists visit Bergen to exchange new jelly species

This month, collaborators from Paris Aquarium visited the Michael Sars Centre. They brought with them an unusual species of ctenophore, and went on a mission to collect Norwegian specimens for Europe’s largest jellyfish exhibit.

News
Oikopleura

Michael Sars Centre Appendicularian facility featured in a short documentary

Head engineer Anne Aasjord collaborated with researchers at NORCE on a project to better understand the ecological relevance of the small planktonic animals. The work was recently highlighted in a documentary, watch it below!

New Publication
Ciona larva seen under brightfield microscope with GFP signal overlay

Conserved proteins link sensory input and metamorphosis in a marine chordate

Anoctamins play a key role in sensory perception in mammals. A new article by the Chatzigeorgiou group reveals their dual role in perception and larval metamorphosis in the chordate Ciona.