Activities

Although most biological scales are considered (from organisms to ecosystems), with skills needed for almost all the different living kingdoms and almost all types of hydrosystems, LIFE’s different entities come together and federate around a shared scientific perimeter (1.1). Furthermore, each of the 4 constituent entities (U3E, ECP, OLA, IE EABX, cf. details 1.3) has the particularity of carrying out long-term surveys, managing collections and experimental systems/platforms. They therefore provide, within a shared scientific framework, common services, such as providing data and biological material, as well as access to their installations for various partners or clients. As, in addition, they are faced with strategic implications with similar expectations and the same statutory constraints, being organised as a research infrastructure is hugely beneficial in terms of investment, personnel, sharing tools, methods, IS (Information System) ....

In this context, IR LIFE has set itself five main missions:

Increase the visibility of services provided by the constituent entities in terms of tools, facilities and experimental surveys, as well as collections and databases.

With regard to this point, both the diversity and the complementary nature of LIFE’s different systems need to be stressed, firstly, from the point of view of the environments studied (lakes, ponds, rivers, estuaries), geographic diversity and diverse contexts, and whether these involve anthropogenic pressure or pedo-geo-climatic contexts (Normandy, Brittany, Gironde, Basque Country, Alpine Arc). Thus, comparing long-term sampling and data, as well as the opportunity to carry out crossed experiments, represents an extremely rich potential, raising new issues. Increasing visibility, the complementary nature of tools and services provided have immediate positive consequences in terms of collaboration and leadership.

Federate efforts by different entities to satisfy ambitious calls for tender and consolidate the long-term underlying economic model for operating these systems.

The grouped services available and the entire system provided by LIFE enable basic research on ambitious projects to benefit or to carry significant applied research projects, developing technologies and methods, as well as training, involving the resources and expertise of several of LIFE’s entities. One of LIFE’s assets is to facilitate access to these calls for tender and centralise on a “pilot”   entity the setting up and management of these major projects.

Implement a high-performance functional organisation through the synergy of efforts and sharing of tools, methods and skills.

Coordinating the entities, and also implementing new services and systems suited to the upcoming needs of LIFE user communities is an important field under the responsibility of the RI. This coordination and prospection are essential, and enable investment, obtaining approvals or specific authorisations (GMO, radiation, drugs, pathogens …), skills and energies to be better coordinated in highly varied fields, which the size of each individual entity does not currently allow: IT (open data, databases), certifications (ISO 9001 and 14001), for QSE (Quality, Safety, Environment) procedures, statutory watch ... LIFE also encourage the sharing of skills, expertise (rearing, analyses, taxonomy …) and organise the sharing of tools (biometrics table, acoustic cameras …), in addition to technological watch.

Work to implement one or several research infrastructure networks providing congruent service offers and closely-linked scientific subjects.

LIFE is positioned in AnaEE-France and two of its are positioned in the INFRAIA Aquacosm-plus. The RI encourages and facilitates the insertion of entities in international networks, thanks to the critical mass achieved by LIFE. On the other hand, LIFE also intends to capitalise on the specificities of each of the entities to increase and expand its network.

Stimulate the development of technologies, methods and the innovative approach.

LIFE is part of an active policy with regard to disseminating data and collections available, as well as developing technologies and methods. For example, each of the RI’s entities has developed interoperable databases designed to dialogue with those of our partners (SNDE and SIE, OLA/ECLA …), and has published part of its data or metadata. Other examples of developing methods or technologies which cover extremely varied fields are to be added to the list of RI entities. Beyond the harmonisation and dynamics provided by LIFE, there is great potential, and both opportunities and challenges are numerous with regard to characterising biodiversity and the aquatic environment (HF sensors, mobilising tele-detection, ADNe…). The high added value expected from LIFE is to develop collaboration on scientific fronts, and to actively take part in the evolution of methodological and technological innovation dynamics for creating knowledge.