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Julie MEILLAND receives the Alan Higgins Award for her breakthrough research on planktonic foraminifera
In November, Founding exocean member, Julie MEILLAND, has been awarded the 2025 Alan Higgins Award, an international distinction granted annually to an early-career scientist for outstanding contributions to applied micropalaeontology. Presented by the Micropalaeontological Society, the award recognises research that significantly advances the field and supports environmental and climate science.
Julie achieved a major methodological breakthrough by maintaining planktonic foraminifera in continuous culture over multiple generations — a technical feat that also revealed the unexpected importance of asexual reproduction in these marine microorganisms. This finding unlocks new opportunities for improving geochemical proxies and exploring fine-scale cellular and molecular processes that were previously inaccessible.
Discover more about Julie’s work:
Julie achieved a major methodological breakthrough by maintaining planktonic foraminifera in continuous culture over multiple generations — a technical feat that also revealed the unexpected importance of asexual reproduction in these marine microorganisms. This finding unlocks new opportunities for improving geochemical proxies and exploring fine-scale cellular and molecular processes that were previously inaccessible.
Discover more about Julie’s work:
- Continuous reproduction of planktonic foraminifera in laboratory culture
- Rare but persistent asexual reproduction explains the success of planktonic foraminifera in polar oceans
At CEREGE, in the exocean lab, Julie is now developing a full continuous-culture facility based on these advances. She investigates the distribution and population dynamics of planktonic foraminifera to better understand their ecological niches and their role in the marine carbon cycle
Why it matters :
Julie’s work directly supports exocean’s mission to understand how marine organisms regulate Earth’s climate. By developing continuous culture systems for planktonic foraminifera, she provides the community with powerful tools to investigate the biological carbon pump, improve geochemical proxies, and better predict the ocean’s response to climate change. This breakthrough strengthens the scientific foundations on which several of exocean’s interdisciplinary projects rely.
Why it matters :
Julie’s work directly supports exocean’s mission to understand how marine organisms regulate Earth’s climate. By developing continuous culture systems for planktonic foraminifera, she provides the community with powerful tools to investigate the biological carbon pump, improve geochemical proxies, and better predict the ocean’s response to climate change. This breakthrough strengthens the scientific foundations on which several of exocean’s interdisciplinary projects rely.
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Olivier SULPIS co-chairs a major European Marine Board report on mCDR
The work and scientific contribution of one of our members is in the spotlight — a contribution that helps tackles one of today’s most pressing challenges: how to limit global warming by reducing excess CO₂ in our atmosphere
Olivier SULPIS, one of the founding members of exoCean, has co-chaired a major report commissioned by the European Marine Board (EMB) on marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR).
Marine CO₂ capture (mCDR) approaches involve extracting CO₂ that is already dissolved in seawater. Removing some of this CO₂ creates a slight chemical imbalance, enabling the ocean to naturally absorb more CO₂ from the atmosphere. These techniques therefore aim to enhance this natural exchange process in order to help reduce atmospheric CO₂. The report provides an in-depth assessment of current ocean-based carbon removal approaches, their potential effectiveness, risks, and governance requirements.
Marine CO₂ capture (mCDR) approaches involve extracting CO₂ that is already dissolved in seawater. Removing some of this CO₂ creates a slight chemical imbalance, enabling the ocean to naturally absorb more CO₂ from the atmosphere. These techniques therefore aim to enhance this natural exchange process in order to help reduce atmospheric CO₂. The report provides an in-depth assessment of current ocean-based carbon removal approaches, their potential effectiveness, risks, and governance requirements.
Following its publication, both CEREGE and CNRS Le Journal highlighted Olivier’s contribution through a dedicated news article and an interview.
Read more:
- CEREGE — Comprendre le rôle de l’océan dans la capture du CO₂
- CNRS Le Journal — Interview with Olivier SULPIS
This report emphasizes the need for rigorous evaluation of mCDR methods, enhanced interdisciplinary research, and transparent environmental monitoring frameworks — priorities that strongly resonate with exoCean’s mission:
- Future Science Brief — Monitoring, Reporting and Verification for Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal