MARBEC celebrates its 10th anniversary: Art and science at the heart of the ocean

La petite cuisine d’un grand singe (The Little Kitchen of a Big Monkey ) (Theater, Anne-Gaëlle Jourdain & Yann Tremblay) followed by "Marine Biodiversity: What's Left on Our Plates?" (Scientific Conference Eva Maire - IRD, Marbec)

June 23, 2025
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
163 rue Auguste Broussonet, Charles Flahault Lecture Hall

An evening combining art and science, between socially conscious theater and enlightening science, focusing on our connection to living things and the role of marine biodiversity in human nutrition.

Salty stories: strange loves beneath the abyss (Eloquence, Bill François) followed by "The sex of fish: no end in sight" (Scientific conference, Benjamin Geffroy – Ifremer, Marbec)

June 25, 2025
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
163 rue Auguste Broussonet, Charles Flahault Lecture Hall

Between humor, the mysteries of nature, and science, this evening explores the strange loves of sea creatures, where sex takes on unexpected and fascinating forms.

700 Sharks in the Night (Film) followed by "Have the 700 Sharks Revealed All Their Secrets?" (Scientific conference, Johann Mourier – UM, Marbec)

June 30, 2025
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
163 rue Auguste Broussonet, Charles Flahault Lecture Hall

A spectacular immersion into the heart of one of the largest gatherings of sharks ever filmed, followed by exclusive scientific insights to uncover the still-hidden secrets of these fascinating fish, which are also the super-predators of the oceans.

Cetaceans harmony: musical conference at the heart of acoustic innovation dedicated to the preservation of dolphins (Stéphanie Elbaz, musician & Bastien Mérigot – UM, Marbec)

July 2, 2025
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
163 Rue Auguste Broussonet, Charles Flahault Lecture Hall

A unique event combining scientific lectures and classical music to raise awareness about dolphin conservation. Through a live piano performance by an international concert pianist, the musical pieces interact with the scientific topics presented, offering an immersive listening experience. This encounter between art and science reveals the deep connection between humans and marine life.

Art and science at the heart of the ocean

June 21 to July 6
1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Jardin des Plantes – Orangerie, Boulevard Henri IV, Montpellier

All audiences

Open to the general public, this exhibition offers an artistic and scientific immersion into the heart of marine biodiversity. Twenty-seven photographs of marine biodiversity, taken by scientists from the MARBEC joint research unit, line the path through the botanical garden.

This route leads to the Orangery, where paintings by Françoise Dagorn and sculptures by Laurent Yvelin are on display, each inspired by the richness of the marine world. The artists will be present throughout the exhibition to talk with visitors.

Artistic and scientific visions of seafood products.

"Seafood platter : how small fish have changed humanity" (Eloquence, Bill François) followed by "From the sea to the plate, DNA reveals what is invisible" (Scientific conference, Sophie Arnaud-Haond – Ifremer, Marbec)

 June 24, 2025
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Michèle Weil University Center, Place Victor Hugo, Sète

A sensitive and enlightened exploration of our food and the sometimes unexpected role played by marine biodiversity: part poetic account of the influence of fish in human history, part scientific conference revealing, thanks to DNA, the seafood products we actually consume.

Effet mer (Improvisational theater, Very Impro People) followed by " Plastic in the sea is not fantastic" (Scientific conference, Xavier Cousin – INRAe, Marbec)

 June 27, 2025
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Pôle Universitaire Michèle Weil, Place Victor Hugo, Sète

An evening filled with humor and reflection: the comedians from Very Impro People improvise with the audience on the theme of the ocean, before giving way to a conference highlighting the impact of plastic in the sea, particularly on marine fauna and flora.

Raising awareness about art and oyster farming waste (Visual arts, Yannick Robert) followed by "Small things, big effects: the pond is changing" (Scientific conference, Ariane Atteia & Franck Lagarde – CNRS, Ifremer, Marbec)

July¹, 2025
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Michèle Weil University Center, Place Victor Hugo, Sète

An evening exploring the links between artistic creation and ecological transformation, featuring a presentation of artworks made from waste recovered from the Thau lagoon and a scientific conference on the recent ecological upheavals affecting the Thau lagoon.

Popular sea shanties (Concert, Le Tre Sorelle) followed by "Listening to fish and the sea" (Scientific conference, Frédéric Bertucci – IRD, Marbec)

July 4, 2025
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Michèle Weil University Center, Place Victor Hugo, Sète

An evening combining art and science, featuring the vibrations of sea shanties performed by a trio of sisters from southern Italy who perpetuate a traditional repertoire of folk songs (Canzone di lavoro) and a captivating lecture on the mysterious sounds emitted by fish in our seas.

Art and science at the heart of the ocean – SETE

June 21 to July 6
Michèle Weil University Center, Place Victor Hugo, Sète

All ages – Free admission

On display in Place Victor Hugo, opposite the Michèle Weil university building, 45 photographs taken by scientists from the MARBEC joint research unit illustrate marine biodiversity around the world.

In the Michèle Weil university building, open to the public during the four evenings of the Art and Science at the Heart of the Ocean event, Sarah Thiriet's "Inspiration Murex" exhibition presents sculptures inspired by the diversity of marine biodiversity.