Åsgard workshop sparks new collaborations at the Michael Sars Centre

Researchers from the Institut de la Mer de Villefranche (IMEV) visited the Michael Sars Centre on 24-25 June, 2025 to participate in a workshop focusing on marine organism culture and other laboratory techniques. The meeting was supported by the Institut Français en Norvège (French Institute in Norway) and the Norwegian Research Council through the scientific mobility program Åsgard.

Common research interests

IMEV is a historic marine research station located in Villefranche-sur-Mer, in southern France. From ecology to biogeochemistry and developmental biology, scientists at the Institute investigate a wide range of topics within marine sciences. Similarly to the Michael Sars Centre, IMEV has developed extensive protocols for culturing marine organisms, along with genome engineering methods to study them. These shared interests sparked a collaboration that started in 2024 with a workshop in Villefranche-sur-Mer attended by members of the Burkhardt and Christiaen groups.

For Michael Sars Centre Director Lionel Christiaen, the Åsgard program is a fantastic opportunity to exchange expertise and develop new ideas. “Scientifically, it was inspiring to see how much the research conducted at IMEV and at Sars resonates and could synergize”, he said. “The workshop provided a platform to meet and know each other better, to exchange scientific and technical information, and to discuss shared interests and needs”.

Sissel Norland, researcher in the Chatzigeorgiou group, demonstrated the underwater noise setup developed by the group during the workshop.

Photo:

Marion Lebouvier

Roundtables and hands-on demonstrations

The two-day workshop featured a full schedule, including scientific and technical talks, demonstrations in the laboratory, roundtable discussions and social activities. The meeting focused particularly on the aquariology services offered at IMEV and at the Michael Sars Centre, and participants discussed how to best share their competences for mutual benefit. “One of the highlights for me was definitely the opportunity to learn how other teams have optimized their culturing systems and protocols and how they manage specific challenges similar to those we are currently facing”, said Margaux Failla, head engineer in the Christiaen group and an organizer of the workshop.

Stefano Tiozzo, group leader at the IMEV Developmental biology laboratory, also enjoyed learning about the challenges faced by colleagues in Bergen. “It was really valuable to have open, informal conversations with the Sars team”, he commented. “I also really appreciated the chance to talk directly with students and tech staff, it was a great way to pick up practical tricks and see how others tackle everyday experimental issues.”

Emeritus researcher and visual artist Christian Sardet introduced 200 years of art and science in the Villefranche-sur-Mer area.

Photo:

Marion Lebouvier

Science and art

Emeritus researcher and artist Christian Sardet, who attended the workshop, delighted a wide audience with a public lecture on the history of art and science in Nice and Villefranche-sur-Mer. Drawing on his prolific career as a researcher at IMEV and as a visual artist, he highlighted the deep relationship between the two disciplines and showed beautiful artwork produced over the past two centuries.

A long-term connection

Participants unanimously agreed on the success of the workshop and have already begun planning for a long-term collaboration between Villefranche and Bergen. “The meeting definitely kick-started some good discussions about future exchanges of expertise, sharing resources, joint grant applications, and potential collaborations, all around basic research using marine models”, Tiozzo said. Christiaen agreed, adding “The level of enthusiasm and interest made it clear that we need to keep it going, and explore additional ways to exchange.”