Marc Besson Studying coral reefs on a large scale to understand and protect them better
Marc Besson, post-doctoral fellow under the supervision of Professor Stuart Sandin, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego (California, USA)
- 2018 • Bettencourt Prize for Young Researchers
The 2018 Bettencourt Prize for Young Researchers was awarded to post-doctoral fellow Marc Besson for his work on coral ecosystems.
In pursuit of the convict surgeonfish
For his PhD, Marc Besson followed the life of the convict surgeonfish, a coral reef fish in Moorea, French Polynesia. He examined the importance of its metamorphic stages in the settlement of new fish at a reef. He also measured the impact of human-driven endocrine disruption on its development.
Towards a digital archive of the reefs
For his post-doctorate, he will conduct a large-scale study of marine ecosystems at 100 coral islands worldwide. To do this, he will take field measurements, make biological analyses and use cutting-edge imaging technology to compile a digital archive of the reefs.
Better protect coral reefs
The information collected will be invaluable in guiding political leaders and environmental conservation officials. The ultimate goal is to provide better protection for coral reefs, which are reserves of highly endangered resources.
Marc Besson in a few words
Thesis: "Importance of Metamorphosis in the Larval Recruitment of Coral Fishes Facing Anthropogenic Pressures”, under the direction of Dr. David Lecchini, Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de l'Environnement, Moorea École pratique des hautes études, Paris Sciences et Lettres - specialization in integrated systems, environment and biodiversity
POST-DOCTORATE: "Structure, Functioning, and Evolution of Coral Reef Ecosystems: Importance of Geographic, Oceanographic, and Human Factors on Reef Communities", under the direction of Professor Stuart Sandin, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
Bettencourt Prize for Young Researchers
Created in 1990, the Bettencourt Prize for Young Researchers is one of the first initiatives of the Fondation Bettencourt Schueller. Until 2021, this prize was awarded each year to 14 young doctors of science or doctors of medicine, to enable them to carry out their post-doctoral stay in the best foreign laboratories. 349 young researchers were distinguished. The prize endowment was €25,000.
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