Banyuls-sur-mer oceanological observatory

The Banyuls oceanological observatory: a century of history, targeted research

Fascinating biodiversity, a marine reserve sheltering a number of representative species of the Mediterranean and a sea with no tides offer the marine station a field of investigation without equal for oceanological research.

The marine station, also called the Arago Laboratory, hosts three associated units from UPMC and the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) :

• Biological Oceanography Laboratory of Banyuls-sur-Mer (Mixed Research Unit 7621),
• Models in cellular and evolutionary biology (Mixed Research Unit 7628),
• Oceanology Observatory of Banyuls (Mixed Service Unit 2348), which is a mixed unit of services.

These units develop many lines of research in the areas of biological oceanology and the biology of organisms (micro-organisms, invertebrates and vertebrates). They are interested in the study of biodiversity, its origin, its evolution, its role in the functioning of ecosystems, its response to global changes and its promotion in the area of marine biotechnologies via industrial partnerships.

Benefiting from its international influence and very active in scientific cooperation, the Arago Laboratory welcomes each year around 100 researchers of all nationalities and over 1,000 students, who come from UPMC and around thirty European universities train in the marine science and environment fields on-site.

Three doctoral schools are attached to the Observatory :

• Doctoral School 129: Environmental Sciences of Île de France
• Doctoral School 392: Diversity of Living Things 
• Doctoral School 394: Physiology and Physiopathology

For more information : the Banyuls oceanological observatory website