CARRÉ DES SCIENCES at the MER XXL Exhibition from 29 June to 10 July 2019

The sea harbours many resources! Food, of course, immediately springs to mind but, it is also a source of energy thanks to the wind, waves and ocean currents in particular.

Through photos, video, and exhibitions learn all about the offshore tests used by researchers to advance the development of Marine Renewable Energy. The exhibits include test models, floating wind turbines, wave energy, offshore test site, devices installed offshore, an export cable, the anchoring system of the Floatgen wind turbine (the first offshore wind turbine in France), environmental monitoring tools, etc.

Why floating wind turbines? What is the impact of MRE on fauna, flora and the ocean floor? How is energy collected from currents? What is the global "wave energy" resource? How can this energy be collected?

The LHEEA laboratory (Centrale Nantes, and CNRS), has put together an exhibition to introduce the general public to the different types of emerging Marine Renewable Energies. The exhibition aims to describe how the different technologies work and their degree of maturity, as well as highlighting the oustanding technological and scientific challenges.

The CARRÉ DES SCIENCES presents the ocean research work of six higher education establishments: Centrale Nantes, CNRS, ENSM, Ifremer, IMT Atlantique, and the Universities of Nantes and Le Mans. The exhibition has four main themes:

Navigate and explore

The sea has been used for transport for centuries! Today's scientific research continues to study means of transport at sea, in order to improve them, but also to enhance navigation techniques. You can learn how to navigate using the ENSM navigation simulator, see boat hulls being tested in Centrale Nantes' test tanks, and discover how technology is supporting the shipbuilding industry thanks to the development of cobotics with the University of Nantes' cobot.

Operate sustainably

The sea is not only a source of food, but also a source of energy thanks to the wind, waves and ocean currents in particular. The Carré des Sciences will teach you all about  Marine Renewable Energies, via a Centrale Nantes exhibition explaining how wind turbines operate at sea and with a presentation of the different offshore tests which are pushing forward progress in this sector. The exhibits include test models, floating wind turbines, wave energy, offshore test site, devices installed offshore, an export cable, the anchoring system of the Floatgen wind turbine (the first offshore wind turbine in France), acoustic sensors and environmental monitoring tools, etc. ... IMT Atlantique will demonstrate how to store the energy produced at sea.

Understand and study

In order to develop new tools or technologies, it is necessary first of all to understand and study the different phenomena that come into play in any scientific field. Ifremer observes the world's oceans from top to bottom, back and forth:  oceanography, satellite observations, instrumented buoys and autonomous devices, national (COAST HF) and international (Argo) observation networks of coastal waters and the high seas.... With almost real-time transmission of data, everything is brought together so that scientists can develop more and more accurate numerical models to better understand the processes behind our changing oceans.
Yeu island will be at the heart of the topic too, since the University of Nantes is carrying out an environmental assessment there, presented in the form of a 3D print of the island, in order to set up participatory monitoring tools for sustainable coastal management on the island. You can also admire the exhibition of diatoms, microscopic microalgae, in blown glass, the result of a collaboration between art and science at the University of Nantes.

Monitor to preserve

It almost goes without saying that this vast area of ​​research that is the sea has to be preserved. Ifremer is one of the major players in ocean monitoring. It is contributing to the implementation of two European directives for the preservation seawater quality and of marine ecosystems: the Water Framework Directive, which deals with fresh, brackish and coastal waters, and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, which focuses on marine ecosystems. To this end, Ifremer monitors in particular: the effects of excessive inputs of nutrients from human activities on the continent (nitrogen, phosphorus) into our seas; the amount of waste present on beaches and the seabed; the state of health of coral reefs, particularly on the island of Réunion; the rates of chemical contamination (metals, pesticides, hydrocarbons ...) on the French coastline.

This is just a glimpse of everything you can discover at the CARRE DES SCIENCES and topics you can discuss with researchers!

A varied programme of conferences is also on offer, more details: https://www.lamerxxl.com

It's time to get your tickets to immerse yourself in the world of science with us: https://www.lamerxxl.com/

Le Carré des Sciences has received support from the ERDF, Pays de la Loire Region and NEXT.