Feb. 25 – The oceans play a key role in our understanding of climate change, ecosystems and the protection of biodiversity; they are a crucial component for the sustainable exploitation of resources and for the enhancement of coastal environments. For this reason, the INGV (National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology) and Ifremer (the French Institute for Sustainable Exploitation of the Sea) joined forces to enhance and make the most of their underwater observatories. Yesterday at the Palace Marigny in Paris, the France-Italy Summit 2015 focused on two key themes: the environment and climate change. In this context both the INGV and Ifremer took the opportunity to sign a bilateral agreement on scientific cooperation for the development and enhancement of marine scientific research infrastructure. The Italian Minister of Education, University and Research, Stefania Giannini, and the French Minister for Higher Education and Research, Genevieve Fioraso, were both present. Since 2006, the two institutions, on behalf of their respective countries, have worked in the large European research infrastructure, Emso, strongly supported by the European Commission, together with a network of seabed observers for the acquisition of useful data for the study of geological, geochemical, geophysical and oceanographic environmental processes influencing life of the planet. “Ifremer and INGV are big national institutions in the field of marine science and technology, and both have the knowledge and complementary skills that can stand as example of scientific collaboration between Italy and France,” said the president of the INGV, Stefano Gresta. “Both countries have a long tradition of cutting-edge research in the field of geology, geophysics and oceanography, and this agreement is further confirmation of this. I also hope – concluded Gresta – that young researchers can take advantage of this fertile collaboration with joint projects and research programs.”
