OIST-CNRS Joint Symposium on West Pacific Marine Biology

Life emerged and diversified first in the oceans. However, a large part of the fascinating diversity of marine life remains to be described and understood since many of the species and their biology are still unknown. Investigating biological mechanisms in marine species is therefore essential for understanding life history and evolution as well as for the preservation of biodiversity. Studying the diversity of biological mechanisms at play in marine organisms will also allow to identify new molecular pathways, enzymes or products which might benefit medicine and also help to increase the resilience of organisms facing climate change. However, the challenge facing the researchers aiming to shed light on these complex mechanisms is so great that it requires collaboration between different scientific fields and joint efforts between laboratories.

For these reasons, the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) and the Institute for Biological Sciences (INSB) at CNRS wants to promote contacts and collaboration between laboratories active on the western pacific region, the largest and more complex marine realm on our planet. For this they launch a joined network of laboratories linking Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Singapore and France, synergistically focusing their research efforts on challenges related to Marine Biology, in particular characterizing the broad biodiversity of marine organisms in the west Pacific at different scales, including genomics, evolution and development, biochemistry, function and ecology of the wide spectrum of living species in this wide geographical area.

A first on-line symposium took place in June 2022 gathering more than 150 researchers that started collaborations. Given this success OIST and INSB are organizing a second symposium that will be held between April 23 until April 26, 2024 at OIST. It will gather established scientists and young researchers working on marine biology and aim in reinforcing collaborations in this area

Scientific Organizing committee for the Joint Symposium

• Vincent Laudet (OIST Japan, & ICOB Academia Sinica, Taiwan)
• Hector Escriva (BIOM CNRS Banyuls, France)
• Yi-Hsien Su (ICOB Academia Sinica Taiwan)
• Jodie Rummer (James Cook University, Townsville, Australia)
• Jani Tanzil (Singapore St John's Island National Marine Laboratory, National University of Singapore)
• Yasunori Sasakura (Shimoda Research Station)
• Seonock Woo (Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology)

For further details please visit the OIST-CNRS Joint Symposium website.