Catherine Boyen, the first woman to head the Roscoff Biological Station, is working on all fronts to promote the role of women in the world of science. A biologist by training, this specialist in large marine algae looks back over the major changes that have taken place at the Breton research centre in its 150 years of existence, and reminds us of the essential role played by marine stations, laboratories where science is carried out ‘with our feet in the water’.
This month, Oceans Connected gives the floor to a new key figure: biologist Catherine Boyen, who has been at the helm of the Roscoff Biological Station in Finistère (France) since 2019. She is the first woman to hold this position in 150 years.
A CNRS research director, this specialist in the biology of large algae has played an active role in the development of marine genomics in France and Europe. In 2003, she helped to set up the Marine Genomics Europe network of excellence , comprising nearly 500 scientists from 16 countries. This network she subsequently directed.
In July 2022, she was awarded the insignia of the Légion d’honneur for her commitment to scientific research, promoting women in science and raising public awareness of ocean conservation issues.
Interview by Marion Durand.
Cover photo: Catherine Boyen, Director of the Roscoff Biological Station © Franc Betermin – Morlaix Communauté
As you head up the Roscoff Biological Station at the start of the 2024 academic year, what are the station’s main objectives?
Catherine Boyen : One of the station’s major objectives is to continue with our research projects and take them to the next level, but also to seek out new national and European projects in the field of the biology of large algae and microalgae, since these are two of the station’s flagship subjects. In the case of microalgae, we are working to understand their biology and physiology, as well as their role in the marine environment.
The Roscoff Biological Station is also very interested in environmental genomics and the observation of the marine environment. In the context of climate change, it is vital to observe the ocean and marine environment to be able to predict and define evolutionary scenarios.
Roscoff Biological Station © Benjamin_Riviere
Does the current political situation in France, in slow motion since the dissolution of the National Assembly, have an impact on the work carried out within the station?
C.B : The political situation doesn’t have a direct impact on our business, but we do keep a close eye on what’s going on. The political teams at the top of the State give us an idea of how research is going to be treated, in terms of recruitment for example. We are currently facing a real staffing problem, and the situation will get worse in the years to come. We will be facing waves of retirements, but we don’t know whether these people will be able to be replaced. Research has become more precarious over time, which makes the jobs less attractive… So yes, there are concerns, shared by the whole community.
Even though it’s our supervisory bodies (CNRS and Sorbonne University in our case) that negotiate the budgets with the Ministry of Research, it’s clear that we’re in the dark at the moment. For the time being, we can’t see very clearly for the next few months what budgets will be available for recruitment and also for the basic costs of running the station. It’s already been complicated enough over the last two years with the rising cost of electricity.
Last June, a group of researchers signed a press article in Le Monde in which they called on people to vote against the Rassemblement National in the legislative elections in order to ‘protect scientific freedom and objectivity’. What do you think?
C.B: I think a lot of it. It was courageous and useful, and it’s a debate that we’ve had many times between colleagues. I don’t want to speak on behalf of my colleagues, but personally, I fully associated myself with this approach. Environmental issues are not a priority for the Rassemblement National and that’s worrying, because the current emergency is forcing us to change our practices and we need a strong political impetus to prevent us from going straight into the wall. The oceans are warming, acidifying and ecosystems are deteriorating, but some political parties are not always sensitive to these issues or do not consider them a priority.
Does this lack of interest in environmental issues on the part of the political classes worry you?
C.B : Obviously, this is a real issue for us because we can already see the impact of climate change on the ocean. Whether we’re looking at coastal, inshore or deep-sea ecosystems, we’re seeing changes: species are migrating or disappearing, pathogens are arriving. Research is also looking at its carbon footprint, and how we can change our practices to make them more sustainable.
© A_Yann_Fontana – Roscoff Biological Station
In 2019, you became the first woman to head the Roscoff biological station, which was set up 150 years ago. Has this position enabled you to promote the place of women in the world of science?
C.B : The fact that a woman has taken over as head of the station after 150 years of men running it is obviously a good thing. I sincerely believe in the value of setting an example, that the first woman to hold this position proves that there can be a second, a third… I’m not the only one to run a station or an institute, but my example proves that it is possible. I try to use my commitment to promote the role of women at all levels. For example, my colleagues and I go into colleges and schools to talk about our day-to-day lives as women scientists, technicians, engineers, etc. Teachers tell us that this helps schoolgirls discover careers they wouldn’t have thought of. These testimonials from young girls are just as important as being a female station manager.
How are you working to create an egalitarian environment within the station?
C.B : All the levers are good to show that there are no limits, that nothing should be forbidden to women. There are as many men as women on this planet, so there should be as many men as women in all positions of responsibility.
I’ve set up a gender equality unit at the station, we’re working hard on the subject of sexist and sexual violence, and we’re encouraging staff to take part in training courses. We recently named a new building after a scientist whom history had forgotten: Marie Goldsmith, who worked with the station’s second director and had a real scientific career before disappearing completely from the archives.
You’ve spent your entire career at the Roscoff Biological Station. What developments have you noticed in the field of marine research?
C.B : This station has been built up little by little, with each director contributing his own brick or building. Today, we work in increasingly efficient, modern infrastructures, benefiting from scientific and technological innovations that enable us to carry out major projects. For example, we plan to create a greenhouse to grow large algae under extremely controlled conditions. This development of the infrastructure over the years is Roscoff’s strength.
© Christophe_Destombe – Roscoff Biological Station
What is the role of marine stations today and why are they essential for French research?
C.B : 150 years ago, the founder of the Roscoff station was convinced that living organisms should be studied in their own environment. That’s still what we do today, and it’s even the raison d’être of a station. A marine station is a laboratory with its feet in the water and seawater flowing from the tap. Researchers come to Roscoff because we have a high-performance seawater pumping, filtration and water quality control system that allows us to deploy experimental systems to study organisms. This access to top-quality infrastructure then enables us to create a small scientific community that drives research and knowledge forward.
What are the future challenges for oceanography?
C.B : The priority is to continue to understand how the ocean works so that we can protect and preserve it. Today, we know more about the Moon or Mars than we do about what goes on underwater. To anticipate the effects of climate change and plan for restoration, we need to know more about the ecosystems living in the ocean. We also need to continue our efforts to mediate and share knowledge to inform current and future generations so that they realise that the sea is a great source of wealth but that it is under real threat.