Introducing the Michael Sars Visitors Program

The Michael Sars Visitors Program aims to welcome scientists on short-term research stays, providing access to state-of-the-art facilities and equipment as well as to Bergen’s vibrant marine life sciences community. Visits will be tailored to shared interests with the Centre’s core research groups, to promote meaningful exchanges with a broad impact. 

For Lionel Christiaen, Director of the Michael Sars Centre, the creation of the Visitors Program was inspired by the long-standing tradition of research visits between marine stations in Europe and in the USA. “The main goal is to connect with colleagues locally, nationally, and internationally, and create opportunities for people both at and outside the Centre”, he explains. “It will provide a framework for colleagues to have a home base in Bergen, and augment our scientific activity and output.” 

Carey Sweeney, Graduate Research Assistant at Portland State University, took advantage of the unique experimental opportunities provided by the Appendicularian Facility.

Photo:

Melanie Burford

The program complements the Centre’s contribution to the EMBRC network, which facilitates access to our aquatic facilities to work on appendicularians, cnidarians and ctenophores. In addition, it offers a chance to join an open and international environment where exchange is a daily practice at seminars, over coffee, and in the lab. “I was very much involved in the work of the Chatzigeorgiou group. From animal collection to experiments, it was very hands-on”, says Sheena Tiong, researcher at the University of Malaya and the first guest to take advantage of the Visitors Program. With a background in neurobiology in rodents, she had no prior connections to marine research. She was excited to discover a powerful new model in Ciona during her stay at the Centre. “The whole experience has just been very refreshing and motivating. I feel like I’ve learned a lot in just eight weeks”, she adds.

"I envision that new connections will spark future collaborations as well as career development opportunities" - Lionel Christiaen

As the program grows, its impact is anticipated to extend well beyond the Centre. “I envision that new connections will spark future collaborations as well as career development opportunities, especially for our more junior colleagues,” Christiaen says. “Finally, I hope that this can have a positive impact on the broader community of marine life scientists, from Bergen to Tromsø and beyond, across Europe and, why not, other continents.”