FONDATION IRIS
SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITIONS
Mediterranean Planet
"Planète Méditerranée",
The Fondation Iris has supported this documentary film released on the Franco-German TV channel ARTE on September 19, 2020 at 8:50pm. The film retraces the underwater saga of four deep sea divers in the depths of the Mediterranean Sea.
In July 2019, led by Laurent Ballesta, they lived for a whole month aboard a five square meters yellow capsule. They ventured out daily at depths between 60 and 120 meters to explore unspoild marine sites located between Marseille and Monaco.
A dive into beauty not to be missed.
Environmental expedition in West Papua
April 2018 - During the expeditions organized by Fondation Iris in the Indonesian archipelago, our teams were particularly touched by the exceptional biodiversity of this region and we became aware of the urgency of preserving this extraordinary natural heritage. That's why we decided to support the actions led by Alain Compost, who will undertake a six-month electric motorcycle journey through Indonesia. Going from village to village to witness what he has seen for 40 years traveling the country as a wildlife photographer, he will inform and motivate local communities on the importance of preserving the invaluable biodiversity of this region for the future generations.
Juillet 2019
The underwater exploration "Gombessa V"
Because men have sailed for thousands of years the sea is believed to hold no more secrets. Because they have conquered and abused it, it is believed to be devastated. However, the Mediterranean remains very much alive and yet to be explored. As financial partner to the expedition led by Laurent Ballesta, the Fondation Iris wishes to uphold this message of hope. Exploring Biodiversity hotspots at depths between 60 and 120 meters: the coralligenous reefs.
Numerous scientists estimate that these deep sea ecosystems, once protected, could become zones of refuge for certain species that no longer find the conditions for survival in the shallower regions affected by global warming and pollution. During a period of 28 days, from the 1st to the 28th of July 2019, thanks to innovative technologies and after years of preparation, four divers explored the luxurious and unknown Mediterranean depths.
"Planète Méditerranée" (Mediterranean Planet), a film by the "Gombessa V" team was released on ARTE TV on September 19, 2020, a co-production Andromède / LesGensBien production.
The mission, led by MAGMA EXPLORATION, meets the request issued by the Volcanological Observatory of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to restart, as soon as possible, scientific research and monitoring of Nyiragongo, a beautiful stratovolcano that features the world's largest lava lake, in the Virunga National Park inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1979.
The main purpose of the mission, expected to start in late June, early July 2015, is to resume scientific research with the primary goal of improving eruption forecasts in order to send alerts and protect local populations. This better understanding of volcanic activity is also expected to promote a localised and controlled tourism and contribute towards regular financing for the maintenance of the property which is home to a unique biodiversity, including endemic species and rare and endangered species such as the mountain gorilla.
The mission, led by MAGMA EXPLORATION, meets the request issued by the Volcanological Observatory of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to restart, as soon as possible, scientific research and monitoring of Nyiragongo, a beautiful stratovolcano that features the world's largest lava lake, in the Virunga National Park inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1979.
The main purpose of the mission, expected to start in late June, early July 2015, is to resume scientific research with the primary goal of improving eruption forecasts in order to send alerts and protect local populations. This better understanding of volcanic activity is also expected to promote a localised and controlled tourism and contribute towards regular financing for the maintenance of the property which is home to a unique biodiversity, including endemic species and rare and endangered species such as the mountain gorilla.
© LAURENT PYOT
April 2018 - During the expeditions organized by Fondation Iris in the Indonesian archipelago, our teams were particularly touched by the exceptional biodiversity of this region and we became aware of the urgency of preserving this extraordinary natural heritage. That's why we decided to support the actions led by Alain Compost, who will undertake a six-month electric motorcycle journey through Indonesia. Going from village to village to witness what he has seen for 40 years traveling the country as a wildlife photographer, he will inform and motivate local communities on the importance of preserving the invaluable biodiversity of this region for the future generations.
40 wild years in Indonesia
Environmental expedition in West Papua
Environmental expedition in West Papua
The second “Science and Images” expedition organized by Fondation Iris took place in West Papua during winter 2016-2017.
The primary objective of this expedition was to highlight the extraordinary biodiversity of the regions and to identify the dangers which threaten it. The aim was to raise awareness about the importance of the preservation of this natural one-of-a-kind heritage. Watch the videos.
Dallol, the search of the first moments of life
From January 12 to January 27, 2016, the “Aux Origines du Monde” association organizes a mission on Dallol’s site in the Danakil depression in the north-east of Ethiopia. This site is considered as having one of the most extreme environments on earth. Even though macroscopic life seems absent on this site, scientists speculate that microbial life has developed there.
Purificación López-García, research director at CNRS and affiliated to Université Paris-Sud in Orsay, will be the scientific coordinator of the project. She will be accompanied by 8 other scientists. Olivier Grunewald is going to produce a photo report and documentary on the site.
Today, this unique place is at the centre of mining concessions which are exploiting potassium hydroxide and can deteriorate the environment in the short-term. In order to raise the Ethiopian authorities’ awareness of the necessary protection of the site, Fondation Iris has decided to support this scientific study and to develop its media profile.
Expedition in the Lesser Sunda islands
Fondation Iris is a private foundation under the aegis of Fondation de France. It was created in December 2012. Its aim is to promote conservation of the environment and to safeguard the fragile beauty of the world.
The foundation supports actions to preserve or restore vulnerable sites, whether cultural or natural, as well as actions to respond concretely to the loss of biodiversity in all kinds of environments. It promotes events and works by artists and photographers, who contribute to the enhancement of the sites or the public awareness on these themes. The foundation also supports agroecology in France.Finally the foundation organizes or supports scientific expeditions around the world.
Scientific Mission to the Center of the Earth
The mission, led by MAGMA EXPLORATION, meets the request issued by the Volcanological Observatory of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to restart, as soon as possible, scientific research and monitoring of Nyiragongo, a beautiful stratovolcano that features the world's largest lava lake, in the Virunga National Park inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1979.
The main purpose of the mission, expected to start in late June, early July 2015, is to resume scientific research with the primary goal of improving eruption forecasts in order to send alerts and protect local populations. This better understanding of volcanic activity is also expected to promote a localised and controlled tourism and contribute towards regular financing for the maintenance of the property which is home to a unique biodiversity, including endemic species and rare and endangered species such as the mountain gorilla.