In imMERsion at the marine station of Villefranche-sur-Mer
Among the three marine stations under the supervision of Sorbonne University, the Institut de la mer de Villefranche-sur-Mer (Imev) is probably the most complete campus in marine sciences with its 7,700 square meters of dedicated space. Would you like to know more and see it from every angle? Embark now for a unique virtual experience!
Mohamed Khamla is a multimedia graphic designer at the LBDV, the developmental biology laboratory (managed by Sorbonne University and the CNRS) integrated into the Institut de la mer in Villefranche-sur-Mer. It was his idea to design his 360 degree virtual tour.
It all started like many childhood dreams," he explains with a touch of nostalgia. As a child, I remember spending vacations with friends living in the Cantal region of France, with whom I discovered the Garabit Viaduct. My friend's father explained to us that this wrought iron structure, culminating at more than 160 meters, was built by the famous Gustave Eiffel.
Stunned by this technical feat, I announced to anyone who would listen that I wanted to become a road engineer. But life had other plans. Today, I haven't completely given up building bridges.... but they are virtual and have the same function: to connect the women and men who make science at Sorbonne University."
Ready for imMERsion?
Thanks to a remarkable work of 3D computer graphics, everyone has the possibility, with a few clicks of the mouse, to wander through the maze of this ancestral marine station in the south of France.
Room by room, inside and outside, with or without sound, the user can freely explore the Imev environment from home—from the fish nursery to the chapel and the library—even "take to the sea" on the dry dock next to the station.
As he wanders, he can also meet the LBVD scientists by watching short videos showing them at work. This is an excellent way to learn more about the research teams of one of the flagship laboratories of the Institute of the Sea!
The visit starts here: https://lbdv.imev-mer.fr/immersion/
The Sea Institute
With strong geographical assets, an exceptionally varied fauna and the presence of plankton from the deep sea at the surface provide Imev with the ideal conditions to fulfill its teaching, research and observation missions.
Firmly committed to a multidisciplinary approach, articulated around cell biology, biological and biochemical oceanography, marine physics and chemistry, and marine geosciences, Imev is home to three mixed research units:
● The Developmental Biology Laboratory (Sorbonne University/CNRS),
● The Géosciences Azur laboratory (Sorbonne University/CNRS/IRD/UNSA)
● The Villefranche-sur-Mer oceanography laboratory (Sorbonne University/CNRS) and a joint service unit.