Science, diplomacy and commitment to the ocean

A committed community, telling figures

Université Côte d'Azur has succeeded in rallying a large number of people around the UNOC3 :

• 5 Commitments signed: Scientific Congress Manifesto, Barra de Colorado Declaration, Nice Declaration of Marine Universities, La Voix des Mediterranéens,
• 25 laboratories or components involved in conferences, exhibitions, publications or scientific expertise,
• More than 60 events (conferences, workshops, debates and screenings) on campus and in the "green zone" open to civil society,
• 60 student volunteers and 10 staff, via the Centre d'Engagement Étudiant and the Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur,
• 5 MSc MARRES students accredited to observe official negotiation processes,
• 7 strategic training courses: MSc MARRES and the Master's degree in Law of the Sea and Maritime Activities, as well as HYDROPROTECH, Water Engineer, RISKS, AIR and CONSTRASTE, COMEDD,
• 20 research projects, 1 Institut de Recherche Fédératif IFR Ressources Marines and 1 OTECCA participative scienceprogram.

Highlights of the year

Ocean Science Festival (May 3 - 5, 2025)

The Festival des Sciences Océan, a major public awareness-raising and scientific mediation event ahead of UNOC3, bringing together researchers, artists, students and the general public. Several thousand participants enjoyed the weekend's activities, and 600 schoolchildren flocked to the Festival on Monday.

Congrès des Jeunes Engagés pour l'Océan, in partnership with "les Petits Débrouillards" (May 5-7, 2025)

A Congress during which young people drew up recommendations in line with the 10 themes discussed at the UNOC.

One Ocean Science Congress (June 3-6, 2025)

Université Côte d'Azur was an official partner of the pre-UNOC3 scientific event organized by IFREMER and CNRS. This summit brought together over 2000 scientists from all over the world, 5% of whom were women and 40% young researchers. It provided precise scientific data on the key issues discussed at the diplomatic summit. Scientists from the University presented their work in the form of oral presentations in the blue zone or posters in sessions open to the public at the Whale. At the end of the congress, 10 recommendations were officially presented to the Heads of State and Government on June 8.

Participation in the Coalition of Coastal Cities and Regions Summit

Co-organized by the City of Nice to strengthen ties between threatened coastal cities and regions, this event brought together more than 2,000 city and region leaders. The Coalition will be dedicated to supporting the adaptation and resilience of coastal cities and regions worldwide. Université Côte d'Azur was present to represent the university's voice at this global summit.

International Forum of Marine Universities (June 7)

Co-hosted by Université Côte d'Azur, Sorbonne Université and Université de Brest Occidentale, this strategic forum was opened by the PreJeanick Brisswalter, President of Université Côte d'Azur, and led to the creation of an international framework for academic cooperation in favor of the ocean.

Presence in the diplomatic zone during UNOC3 (June 9-13, 2025)

UNOC3 brought together over 130 country delegations, 60 heads of state and more than 80 representatives of organizations. UniCA's official delegation included 8 university representatives. Université Côte d'Azur was able to develop its international network on Ocean themes with a wide range of players around the globe: Pacific zone academic players, governments and diplomats, and an exchange between the President of Université Côte d'Azur and the President of Costa Rica. The University also co-organized two events in the diplomatic zone, at which Jean-Christophe Martin, a specialist in the law of the sea, and Cécile Sabourault, director of the ECOSEAS marine ecology laboratory, spoke.

Mediterranean Day

• Scientific presentations at La Baleine (June 2-13, 2025): Some twenty events involving UniCA scientists took place at the Palais des Expositions in Nice (nicknamed La Baleine), which was visited by over 100,000 people. These events showcased UniCA's research, training and innovation activities at both local and international levels.
• Hosting ambassadors and official representatives on campus: Université Côte d'Azur was honored to host several official representatives on campus for the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3). The Canadian Ambassador and Consul took part in the Oceantech Franco-Canadian meeting on innovation on June 10, while the Norwegian Ambassador attended an event in Saint Jean d'Angély on June 11. Other ambassadors and diplomatic representatives were present on the Trotabas campus between June 10 and 12, and the Ambassadors of Sweden and Denmark took part in a conference in Saint Jean d'Angély on June 10. The presence of these diplomatic delegations illustrates the international recognition of UniCA's scientific and academic dynamism, and reinforces the university's role as a key player in the science-diplomacy dialogue on maritime and climate issues.

UNOC3-labeled events on the Saint Jean d'Angely, Trotabas and Valrose campuses and at IMREDD, mobilizing the entire university community

Université Côte d'Azur co-organized ten UNOC3-labelled events on its campuses, bringing together a wide range of audiences and scientific communities, in conjunction with its partners in France, Italy, Monaco and Costa Rica. These events highlighted crucial issues around ocean health, scientific diplomacy, training and innovation.

Mobilizing the university community through initiatives across the country

Conferences, scientific symposia, round tables, as well as artistic, sporting and cultural events. In all, some thirty events were organized. This diversity illustrates the community's commitment to UNOC3 themes and to raising awareness of ocean preservation among the general public, students, researchers and citizens alike.
Numerous scientists and members of the university community took part in events organized throughout the region, both in Nice and Villefranche-sur-Mer, notably as part of the "Science sur Mer" festival. They took part in conferences, film debates and open exchanges, actively contributing to the dissemination of knowledge and fostering dialogue between science and society.

Presence at the "Merveilles de l'Océan" and presentation of the Manifesto of Young People Committed to the Ocean

Université Côte d'Azur and its scientists have been invited on several occasions to speak at eventsorganized on the "Merveilles de l'Océan", the fleet of boats exceptionally gathered in the Port of Nice for the summit. For example, Université Côte d'Azur co-signed the declaration La Voix des Méditerranéens and hosted an event on the STS Bodrum in partnership with the Turkish city of Muğla, focusing on the impact of invasive species. In collaboration with IFREMER, Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur and Les Petits Débrouillards, the University was also present on the IFREMER ship to present the Manifeste des Jeunes Engagés pour l'Océan. This event enabled young people to formulate concrete proposals in favor of marine preservation.

A mobilized university delegation

The university was able to count on a multidisciplinary delegation, led by President Jeanick Brisswalter, and comprising :

• Cécile Sabourault, VP International Development and Europe, Director of the ECOSEAS lab,
• Jean-Christophe Martin, specialist in the international law of the sea, Director of IdPD,
• Julien Andrieu, director of the École Universitaire de Recherche Société et Environnement, geographer,
• Elisabeth Cunin, IRD researcher and sociologist,
• Christophe Mocquet, Director of the MSc MARRES,
• Augustin Huot de Saint-Albin, scientific diplomacy officer,
• Clara Descamps, UNOC3 project manager.

Towards a sustainable strategy

By extending its strategy at major climate conferences, Université Côte d'Azur has strengthened its role at UNOC3 as a key player in scientific diplomacy and socio-environmental transition in the Mediterranean and internationally.