The future beach institute

[Article] - Published on September 23, 2019 in Heritage, Research Centers, Research Structures

In Le Grau-du-Roi, the former Boucanet sun and sea center will soon be home to the Gladys beach institute.

At the site of the Grau-du-Roi marine therapy center, formerly affiliated with Nîmes University Hospital, the ballet of earth-moving equipment begins at 7 a.m. "We have to work fast to meet the deadlines!" comments Frédéric Bouchette on site, with the opening of the future Gladys beach institute announced for late 2020 or early 2021.

Last May, the researcher at Géosciences Montpellier (UM–CNRS–Université des Antilles) and future scientific director of the Institute gave a guided tour of the renovation and refurbishment work being carried out on the building that will soon house the researchers who are members of the Gladys network (see box). "Initially, we were simply looking for a storage center in a strategic location that was suitable for our research equipment," explains Frédéric Bouchette.

Multiple missions

Starting in 2020, vehicles (trailers, boats, jet skis, ATVs), measuring equipment (current meters, wave recorders, pressure gauges, turbidity meters), and other cutting-edge equipment—which Gladys network researchers currently store in their own garages—will be centralized at the beach institute. "Under the joint leadership of the Occitanie region andthe University of Montpellier, the Beach Institute's mission will extend far beyond simply storing equipment, " explains Frédéric. As the future rallying point for the abiotic coastal scientific community and partner companies in the research network, the Institute is set to become the new northern Mediterranean showcase for coastal dynamics research in 2021. "Fundamental research and research and development (R&D) activities will be combined with communication initiatives aimed at the general public, particularly in terms of raising awareness of coastal restoration, the preservation of sandy beaches, and the sustainable development of port areas," explains the Institute's future scientific director.

Non-standard building

Set within a 7-hectare area planted with century-old pine trees currently undergoing renaturalization (including the recreation of the dune cordon), the building that will house the future beach institute overlooks the sea. In this exceptional setting, just a few dozen meters from the shore, it will house several spaces spread over 1,500 square meters, including a research center for hydro-morphodynamics (see box).

Comprising an office area for researchers, a large storage space for vehicles and measuring equipment, and two technical areas, one for diving and the other dedicated to scientific experimentation, the building will feature pools and an indoor channel for artificially recreating waves once it has been fitted out! Spread over two floors, another space will be reserved for companies that are partners of the Gladys network and specialize in coastal Research development.

Protect

Led byUM, funded by the Occitanie Region to the tune of €500,000 via a CPER grant and by the Gladys network, the project to create the Gladys Beach Institute is at the heart of one of the three major challenges for the 21st century addressed by the Montpellier University of Excellence project: "Protect." With the aim of studying the coastline (coastal evolution, wave movement, coastal erosion, sea level rise, risk of submersion, etc.) and proposing sustainable solutions for its preservation in the face of natural and human pressures (overpopulation, massive urbanization, pollution, etc.), the institute is set to welcome the first researchers from the Gladys network (geophysicists, physicists, geomorphologists, mechanics, etc.) in 2021. It will then open its doors to external university researchers, becoming the leading collaborative research center in hydro-morphodynamics in France.

Keywords: University