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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Scientific Center of Monaco (C.S.M.) is an autonomous Monaco public body established in 1960 at the initiative of Prince Rainier III. Dedicated to scientific research, the C.S.M. is structured in three departments:

• A marine biology department specialized in the study of the functioning of tropical and Mediterranean coral coastal ecosystems in relation to global climate change. The research involves techniques ranging from molecular biology to environmental economics, to ecology, biochemistry or microscopy. The major strength of the C.S.M. is to combine a unique expertise in coral physiology and eco-physiology with long-term mastery of coral cultivation, under controlled conditions, served by high quality modern technical equipment.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]• A polar biology department created within the framework of a european laboratory associated with the C.N.R.S. and the University of Strasbourg. This department provides the scienti c basis for studying penguins as an indicator of change in polar ecosystems.

• A medical biology department that links basic research with clinical applications and the health-environment theme bringing together:
– A translational research laboratory, consisting of four research teams that translate basic research into clinical services. It works on anti-cancer compounds, gene therapy of neuromuscular diseases and the study of human microbiota.
– A public health pole composed of a human health unit labeled “WHO Collaborating Center” whose mandate is to assess the impact of oceans on our health, including an observatory of the use of cord blood in the treatment of sickle- cell anemia and an agency for the development of clinical research in the Principality.

The hosting of these different teams within the same center make the creation of promising and original interface programs using for example, coral to better elucidate the mysteries of aging. The C.S.M. has a wide international attractiveness with more than 50 employees, since 2013 when it set up in its new headquarters, coming from 15 countries (including Europe, USA, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Palau, Brazil, the Caribbean, Canada, Oman, Saudi Arabia …).[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Under the High Patronage of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, Monaco Explorations intend to revive the Principalitys long-standing tradition of exploration at sea. Marine research, discovery, better understanding, awareness raising, as well concrete actions will all be major outcomes of this initiative.

It will consist of a three-year circumnavigation of the worlds Ocean on a versatile environment-friendly transoceanic marine research vessel, called Yersin. It offers optimal travel, research, teaching and educational capacities.

This endeavor will consist of 15 Missions around the World. Each Mission will be designed according to a specific topic or feature. The Monaco Explorations research team aboard the Yersin will also systematically associate local experts from the countries or the regions visited along its course.

A Scientific Steering Committee, composed of ten internationally recognized scientists, is in charge of selecting the research programs, thus ensuring their relevance to the strategic objectives of the Monaco Explorations.

This international and multidisciplinary undertaking will combine natural and human sciences, such as marine biology, behavioral studies of the species at hand and ethnology. It will enable the description of locations and ecosystems rarely explored and the relationship of the marine species with the Planets ecosystems. The campaign will also focus on the impacts of human activities and the relationship between mankind and the Sea.

The solutions-oriented research activities that will be carried out on the Yersin are selected not only for their scientific interest, but also for their relevance to decision makers in public and private sectors as well as for the general public.

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Today HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco launches the Monaco Explorations Campaign, a three-year circumnavigation of the world’s oceans and seas. With this campaign, the Principality makes a travelling research platform, the Yersin, available to a scienti c community of researchers from all over the world.

“The decisions we have to make for the future of our planet are based on knowledge.” said the Prince “… By returning to the principle of scienti c explorations at sea we will pro- vide new concrete elements underpinning the messages of alert, awareness and education.”

The Yersin, flying the Monegasque flag, will leave the port of Monaco in August 2017 and return to Monaco in 2020 following a longitudinal route along the tropics.

The areas of study were selected by a Scienti c Steering Committee headed by Professor Patrick Rampal of the Monaco Scientific Center. The committee includes 10 members from institutions of international renown. It has been selecting programs for several months among the dozens submitted. “It is both an immense honor to participate in such an adventure and a great distress to see from the records of how badly we have treated our oceans.” said Pr Rampal.

The first of these missions will take place in September 2017 in Macaronesia around the archipelagos of Madeira and Cape Verde. Prince Albert I, who often visited this area, inspired the research teams. Comparative studies will allow analysis of the effects of sea exploitation and global change. The mission will focus on the knowledge and protection of megafauna, including threatened species: turtles, cetaceans, monk seals, and sharks. The researchers will observe the biodiversity still poorly known at great depth and its sensitivity to global warming. The scientific missions will then pass through the Caribbean, the Pacific, the Indian Ocean and then the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.

Robert Calcagno of the Oceanographic Institute is at the head of these multidisciplinary missions, which combine natural and human sciences, environment and man. “The campaign will show that science and public awareness are inseparable. Research programs are selected not only for their contribution to knowledge, but also for their ability to disseminate it and to bring a message to decision-makers and the public.”

Public awareness, especially for young people, must be innovative in order to connect the public with the challenges of the ocean. The emphasis will be on immersion, 360° video, social networks, and live content.

The Yersin is versatile and modular, optimal for traveling, exploring and teaching, and it also offers exceptional safety conditions. This scientific base “clean ship” is capable of traveling the seas for 50 days autonomously, and 10 days with zero discharge. The ships owner, François Fiat, says “In its design and operating conditions, this ship exceeds international regulatory requirements to limit its impact on the marine environment in full adequacy with the nature of these missions.”

The Princely Government actively supports the research program by providing resources of staff, materials, and funding. “Under the orority of HSH Prince Albert II”, said Marie-Pierre Gramaglia, Minister of Public Works, the Environment and Urban Development, “… the Principality and the Government pursue an ambitious policy in favor of the oceans. Whether it is through local measures or through the intervention of the Sovereign in multilateral forums, this policy, in which Monaco Explorations fully takes place, aims at reconnecting humanity and the sea. “

With the Monaco Explorations Campaign, the Principality returns to a beautiful tradition. From Prince Albert I, considered the father of modern oceanography, to Commander Cousteau, Monaco has gained a special place in the world of marine science and international recognition.