France is preparing a scientific offensive in ice cream

A French strategic alliance to better understand the poles.

The poles melt, the oceans go up … Similarly, and French research is reorganized. Similarly, This July 11. Moreover, 2025 marked a turning point for France of the poles: the French Polar Institute (IPEV) officially announced that it will join Ifremer by the end of 2026, and the CNRS officially took control of the scientific animation of the whole French polar community. Meanwhile, Objective ? Consequently, Coordinate. In addition, pool and accelerate research in these extreme regions which have never been so vulnerable, nor as vital for the future of the planet.

A double decision with the appearance of a scientific marshall plan. Therefore, while the poles are raised: accelerated melting of the cryosphere, upset biodiversity, upheavals on ocean circulation, and increasing pressure on resources. In addition, Difficult to stay crossed while the Arctic france preparing scientific offensive ice becomes navigable longer. In addition, longer in the year and the Antarctica loses ice at new speeds.

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A French scientific overhaul for more agile research on the poles – France preparing scientific offensive ice

First floor of the rocket: the IPEV will be labeled “very large research infrastructure” (IR*) before the end of 2026. Consequently, thus joining the limited circle of scientific tools of national interest. Therefore, He will later integrate the Ifremer in the form of a dedicated direction. Consequently, a bit like the French oceanographic fleet did in 2018.

Clearly, logistical, organizational, but also strategic rapprochement.

It is David Renault. Consequently, professor at the University of Rennes and new director of the IPEV, will be responsible for piloting this transition. However, A sort of icebreaker captain, responsible for securely mooring the structure with the Ifremer ship, while maintaining scientific CAP.

For its part, the CNRS takes over the national scientific coordination. Nevertheless, france preparing scientific offensive ice He will play a central role in defining the major orientations of French polar research. Furthermore, establish priorities and federate universities, ministries and international partners. Nevertheless, It is not a simple change of logos, it is a scale jump in the organization of tricolor polar research.

Discovered under Antarctica thanks to this plane. it is 3,500 km long and could well be the last rampart of humanity tells the rise of waters

Six stations. researchers in the storm

Concretely, IPEV is not just an office in Brest. It is more than 80 scientific projects per year. hundreds of researchers sent to the field, and six stations distributed to the four corners of the cold world: antarctic bases of Dumont d’Urville and Concordia, on the borders of the Arctic with the Awipev station, via the French southern islands.

Without forgetting the 40 isolated shelters on the island of Amsterdam, in the archipelago of Crozet or in Kerguelen. There, the IPEV provides everything: logistics, maintenance, supplies. Far from the comfort of the CNRS. university amphitheatres, we make science in boots, between howling wind and negative temperatures.

And what are we studying there? Climate, biodiversity, geology, seismology, astronomy or human biology. In other words, precious data, impossible to obtain france preparing scientific offensive ice elsewhere. It is this information that nourishes climate models. alerts on the rise of the oceans or the understanding of extreme ecosystems.

The CNRS in chief of polar research

The CNRS, already very invested, is now high speed. On June 9. he unveiled the first national strategy for scientific research at the poles, during the United Nations Conference for the Ocean (UNOC-3) in Nice. An ambitious synthesis, which takes stock of the French forces and draws a roadmap for the years to come.

For Antoine Petit, president of the CNRS, polar science is a pillar of French diplomacy. It is not only a question of advancing knowledge. but also of weighing in international discussions on the future of the Arctic and Antarctica. The strategy carried by Ambassador Olivier Pepper d’Arvor is a political illustration of this. and the CNRS – Ipev –Fremer structuring is the scientific arm.

The stake? Offer france preparing scientific offensive ice a clear, consistent and shared vision to all the actors in polar research. Gather universities, organizations, ministries. Avoid duplicates, pool the means, anticipate needs.

Decompartmentalize disciplines, connect the scales

The changes in progress in the polar regions do not act in a vacuum. As David Renault points out, they affect glacial caps to the great sea currents, influencing the climate worldwide. The cryosphere. by melting, modifies the level of the oceans, but also the thermohaline circulation – this treading carpet which regulates the temperature of the planet.

However. so far, a lot of research has remained compartmentalized: climate on the one hand, biodiversity on the other, separate oceanography. This new alliance aims to decompartmentalize all of this. To connect disciplines, to articulate the time and space scales.

The objective is to enter a “One Environment” logic: a single planet, interconnected ecosystems, coordinated responses.

Can France really become a great power france preparing scientific offensive ice of the poles?

Two bases, only one occupied year -round: at the Antarctic scale, it is little. When Argentina aligns thirteen. as Australia or Chile literally crisscross the white continent with half a dozen permanent stations, the French presence seems modest. And yet. let’s not be mistaken: polar power is not only measured by the number of barracks planted in the ice. If France wants to weigh in this frozen concert. it will be through the quality of its research, its scientific diplomacy and its ability to federate. Antarctica is not a territory to be conquered, it is a laboratory to understand. And this is precisely what the new CNRS – IPEV –Fremer strategy aims: a structured. interdisciplinary approach, turned towards major challenges of the world climate. Fewer bases, perhaps, but no more coherence, more science, more vision. What compensate for the quantity by impact. and make a tricolor voice france preparing scientific offensive ice heard in decisions that are written under zero degree.

Countries present in Antarctica. their number of bases

Remarks :

• The figures may vary slightly depending on the seasons and specific projects.
• The permanent bases france preparing scientific offensive ice are occupied all year round, while the seasonal bases work mainly during the southern summer.
• The majority of bases are dedicated to multidisciplinary scientific research.
• Some nations (eg Argentina, Chile) have bases close to their historical territorial claims.

Source : CNRS

Image: Gunther Lawers / French Polar Institute