Earth and related environmental sciences

The Division is invested in non-invasive methods for seafloor research for classification of seabed types and geodynamics. In addition we carry: sedimentological studies of marine sediments, geomorphological study of the seafloor of various environments (Baltic Sea and Atlantic), geodynamic studies of coastal zone of the Baltic Sea and the dynamics of the Scandinavian ice sheet in Poland and glaciers in modern polar zones.

Located in Ifremer (Centre de Brest) and Institut Unversitaire Européen de la Mer (IUEM/UBO), the lab has expertise and skills dedicated to the microbiology of deep sea extreme environments. Its research topics include the study of ecosystems including the preparation and organization of work at sea, the description of the phylogenetic and functional microbial diversity, and understanding of adaptative processes at the cellular and molecular level.

The LGO is a multi-approach geoscience laboratory covering geophysics, geochemistry, tectonics, sedimentology and paleontology. Our research involves observing, measuring and modeling processes. We carry out methodological and instrumental developments applied to the exploration of the oceans, from telluric coats to the superficial envelopes of coastal and offshore areas.

LETG-Brest’s research activities bring together several fields of geography: physical geography, human and social geography, remote sensing and geomatics, in order to study human-nature interactions in coastal and maritime environments.

In the Laboratory for Ocean Physics and remote Sensing (LOPS) we observe and investigate oceanic motions,  their connection with the atmosphere, sea floor and the littorals,  and their influence on life in the ocean.

Research at LOPS is organized into 4 teams, working on

Group undertakes multidisciplinary studies of seafloor and sub-seafloor environments using advanced mapping and observational techniques. Researchers combine established strategies with innovative data, concepts and methods from geology and geophysics to address fundamental questions in marine geosciences. The key driver of the research is to understand the fundamental processes and dynamics of seafloor and sub-seafloor evolution, with applications ranging from hazard to resource assessment.

LEMAR is a strongly interdisciplinary laboratory that brings together ecologists, biologists, biogeochemists, chemists, physicists and marine environment lawyers. Its objectives are (1) to conduct research on topics of fundamental research or societal importance; (2) to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development objectives in both North and South countries; (3) to bring innovations in relation to the economic world and results that support public policies; (4) to engage in interdisciplinary training in the field of marine and coastal science.

(i) analysis and environmental fate of residues of pharmaceuticals used in human and veterinary medicine entering the environment, (ii) development of novel analytical solutions for environmental and biomedical research, (iii) profiling of cuticular insect lipids as potential biofungicides, (iv) chemotaxonomic classification of plants based on the profile of secondary metabolites and (v) study of chemical composition disorders of biologically active compounds in patients with metabolic diseases

The main objectives of our research in the field of marine biology and ecology covers mainly: