The Michael Sars Centre
Hovedinnhold
The Michael Sars Centre was established in 1997 as an independent research centre, and on January 1, 2023, it was incorporated into the Faculty of Science and Technology at the University of Bergen. As one of the first partners of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in 2003, the Michael Sars Centre 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.
The Centre studies the unique molecular and cellular biology of marine organisms within the broad field of Marine Life Sciences ranging from molecular, cellular, and developmental biology to neuroscience, genomics, systems biology, and evolution. Our scientists deploy diverse and cutting-edge techniques and approaches including custom-made animal cultures, electron and light microscopy, quantitative image analysis, genome editing, and genomics, including from single cells.
EMBL
In June 2003, the Michael Sars Centre became the first partner of the prestigious European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL). The partnership facilitates scientific exchange and supports areas of common interest of the two institutes, opening up new directions for research, training and collaboration. EMBL is represented on the Centre's Scientific Advisory Committee and Board and has an active role in advising and evaluating the development and progress of the Michael Sars Centre.
The partnership focuses on several key areas:
- Joint scientific exchange of information on current projects, future collaborations, career development, and personnel exchange.
- Building institutional partnerships to enhance interaction between EMBL and member states.
- Facilitating ambitious joint research projects whose goals can only be accomplished through a coordinated European effort.
- Co-development and access to new integrated experimental services and data resources.
EMBRC
The Michael Sars Centre is a member of EMBRC Norway, the Norwegian node of EMBRC – a pan-European research infrastructure made up of a network of research organisations and marine stations across Europe that accelerates marine biology and ecology research through its knowledge, expertise, and services.
Through EMBRC, researchers can apply to get access to our Cnidarian, Appendicularian and Ctenophore facilities.
Michael Sars Visitors Program
The Michael Sars Visitors Program, first launched in June 2025, aims to attract outstanding scientists to perform research at the Centre by leveraging the unique combination of local marine resources and state-of-art research facilities for specific experiments with broad potential impact.
The Visitors Program is a unique mechanism to affect local, national, and international networks, fostering both scientific production and exchange. Visitors are invited to give an internal seminar, meet with local scientists, and use the Michael Sars Centre affiliation in prospective publications resulting from work performed in Bergen during their visit.
Eco-lighthouse
The Eco-lighthouse is a certificate for environmentally conscious organizations and businesses. It is delivered to highlight a constant commitment to reduce the impact of workplace activity on the environment.
At the Michael Sars Centre we created an environment committee in 2016 where we discuss environmental problems, come up with ideas to mitigate our impact and try to implement those solutions.
Our goal is to raise environmental awareness, reduce our impact, and help UiB on its way to becoming a greener University.
