What does oceanographic research look like? The one that is made in the deep sea, but also offshore, or in the coastal strip. And what exactly do the men and women who work on these boats designed to accommodate sailors and scientists do?
Based in Brest (Finistère), the French Oceanographic Fleet (Fof), a tool that serves all research institutes in the country, has just published a graphic novel at Éditions Ouest-France entitled Sur les sept mers du monde.
In seven chapters, and as many destinations, different authors illustrate the diversity of research – and nautical means – implemented to improve the understanding of the ocean.
The casting was not easy, says Maximilien Simon, deputy director of the Fof. We wanted to talk about everything: small boats, large boats, underwater crafts… We also had to find interested cartoonists.
Some had already gone on a mission with the Fof.
« We projected to 100 years
The drawings give life to images that do not exist in photos: the Nautile dive thousands of kilometers away or the fleet of the future.Should France renegotiate European agreements to better protect its strategic economic sectors (agriculture, fisheries)?
For this chapter, which is based on the white paper on the Fof of tomorrow, Maximilien Simon reflected with author David Wahl and cartoonist Olivier Bonhomme. In the white paper, we imagined ourselves at 20-30 years old. There we projected ourselves to 100 years. We discussed from concrete elements, but by putting a lot of imagination and elements that make you dream, because that is what characterizes the oceanographic fleet.
« On the seven seas of the world », Éditions Ouest-France, 120 pages, €25.
