Noticias en español
During the Soirée Plankton, organized within the framework of the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), the Center for Mathematical Modeling (CMM) at the University of Chile reaffirmed its commitment to global ocean science and its strategic collaboration with French institutions of excellence.
On June 11, the Institut de la Mer de Villefranche-sur-Mer (France) hosted Soirée Plankton: Bringing the Invisible Majority to the Ocean Conference, an international event that sought to highlight the fundamental role of plankton in the health of the ocean and the planet. The event was organized by the Fondation Tara Océan, the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), the Sorbonne University, the Center for Mathematical Modeling (CMM) of the University of Chile, and the United Nations Global Compact, with the support of the French Office for Biodiversity.
Jointly organized by the governments of France and Costa Rica, the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) was held in Nice from June 9 to 13. The Soirée Plankton, as a satellite event of UNOC3, reaffirmed the importance of international scientific collaboration and the active participation of scientific institutions in strategic issues for global ocean governance.
Representing the CMM was its Director of International Relations, Alejandro Maass, who shared the panel with prominent figures such as Lionel Guidi (CNRS), Vincent Doumeizel, and Emma Rocke. The presentations revolved around three key messages: plankton is essential for life on Earth; understanding it better allows us to anticipate and adapt to current and future changes; and any ocean protection and governance strategy must take this knowledge into account.
The CMM’s presence at this meeting reinforces its strategic ties with the CNRS—France’s leading public scientific research organization—with which it has maintained a structured collaboration for 25 years as an International Research Laboratory (IRL-CMM). This relationship has expanded into new interdisciplinary frontiers through cooperation with the Fondation Tara Océan, with whom the CMM has participated in key projects such as Mission Microbiomes.
“This event allowed us to strengthen many scientific ties that we have been cultivating for almost a decade with CNRS collaborators, and in particular the GOSEE Research Federation, around the study of the ocean from the perspective of systems biology. In addition, the discussions and meetings held allowed us to reinforce our view on the importance and priority of expanding and transferring scientific knowledge on ocean issues to decision-making and the generation of public policies,” said Alejandro Maass.
Other notable attendees included Chilean Senator Ricardo Lagos-Weber; Romain Troublé, Executive Director of the Tara Ocean Foundation; André Abreu, Head of International Policy at the same foundation; and Camila Fernández, Director of COPAS Coastal, a Chilean center of excellence of the National Research and Development Agency (ANID), as in the case of the CMM. Both Fernández and Maass have worked together as scientific coordinators of the Tara Ocean Foundation’s “CEODOS Chile Microbiome Mission” expedition, dedicated to studying marine microbial biodiversity off the coast of Chile and its link to climate change.
The CMM’s participation in this event underscores its role as an international scientific player and its commitment to interdisciplinary research that supports, based on evidence, global efforts to conserve and sustainably manage the oceans.
CMM Communications
Photo credits: Arthur Billaud – Fondation Tara Océan
Posted on Jun 24, 2025 in News
