A laboratory dedicated for studying biodiversity
The Mediterranean Institute of Biodiversity and Ecology, Marine and Continental (IMBE) develops an integrative approach for the study of biodiversity and socio-ecological systems. IMBE thus provides fundamental and applied knowledge on the functions, the historical and evolutionary dynamics of all types of Mediterranean ecosystems biodiversity, from the construction of paleo-ecosystems to their future in the context of global change. These contributions also include links with civil societies on the one hand and human health issues on the other. Through its involvement in research, training and scientific promotion, IMBE actively participates in the environmental transition and sustainable development for the definition of local, national and international environmental policies.
Bringing together diverse and complementary skills
The IMBE mainly comprises biologists specializing in the various fields of ecology but also chemists, lawyers and specialists in medical or pharmaceutical sciences. IMBE is interested in marine, terrestrial and aquatic biological systems, from mountain to coastal environments at different organizational scales of living organisms. The transition to a more resilient and less vulnerable state of these ecosystems, their conservation and restoration as well as the effects of their degradation on human health are at the heart of our interdisciplinary research and our various training actions.
Combining human resources from large research establishments
Created in 2012, our Mixed Research Unit (UMR) is place under the supervision of Aix-Marseille University, Avignon University, CNRS and IRD. We are organised into seven multidisciplinary multi-supervisory teams and has more than 250 employees (researchers and teacher-researchers, engineers and technicians or doctoral students) - See IMBE Organization.
We are established on six metropolitan sites in the Aix-Marseille or Avignon areas and on two overseas sites (New Caledonia and Martinique) - See map of Locations.
Benefiting from substantial scientific and technical infrastructures
IMBE’s technical resources are pooled within common services offering laboratory and field equipment - See Facilities and Services. We also manage in situ analytical or experimental platforms allowing the manipulation of ecosystems to simulate climate change in semi-controlled (greenhouses and botanical garden, arboretum) or fully controlled conditions (phytotrons, aquariums).
Animating an attractive training offer
IMBE’s 80 teacher-researchers carry out or lead a wide range of training courses from the Faculty of Sciences, the OSU Institut Pythéas, the faculty of medical and paramedical sciences, the faculty of pharmacy or the IUT. Aix-Marseille University but also IUT and UFR Sciences of Avignon University. IMBE staff supervise around 70 doctoral students and participate in training through research, welcoming numerous interns from higher education each year.
Engaged in local federative structures
IMBE is notably a co-founder member of the Mediterranean Institute for Environmental Transition (ITEM) which aims to develop systemic and interdisciplinary research and teaching to understand the effects of global change on society and natural resources. IMBE is a member of the ecology and environment partnership mechanism (DIPEE Aix-Marseille), of the research federation ECCOREV and of the federative research companies TERSYS and AGORANTIC - See our scientif network.