OneArgo One Ocean
- Exhibition
- June 2 to June 13, 2025
- Public
- English / French
- Free Entry
- La Citadelle, Port de la Darse, Station IMEV
- Villefranche-sur-Mer
- La Baleine (Palais des Expos)
- Nice
Description
OneArgo – One Ocean: an Artistic and Scientific Journey Across the Global Ocean
Over the past months, the profiling float team based in Villefranche-sur-Mer has collaborated closely with Costa Rican artist Carlos Hiller to create a unique exhibition that bridges science and art.
At the heart of the project are 12 profiling floats, cutting-edge scientific instruments that explore the Ocean from within. Most of these floats are on display in the Green Zones of the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC’3) in Nice and Villefranche-sur-Mer.
One float has already been deployed on a scientific mission in the North Atlantic, carrying not just sensors, but also an artistic message on its journey. You can follow its route and explore the biogeochemical data it collects via an interactive online map.
Each float represents a different oceanic region, showcasing the rich diversity of marine ecosystems and the global collaboration behind Ocean research. Together, they highlight our shared responsibility to study, understand, and protect the Ocean-our planet’s blue heart.
This exhibition invites you to discover how science, art, and education come together to tell the story of OneArgo, One Ocean – a story of curiosity, connection, and care for our changing world.
Speakers
Proposed by
Explore the Ocean basins
As you view these extraordinary instruments, take a closer look at the ocean basins they represent:
- The Arctic – Where melting ice and fragile ecosystems are under growing pressure.
- The Eastern Pacific – Home to vibrant wildlife, island communities, and the unique thermal dome.
- The North Atlantic – A dynamic zone of ocean circulation, rich in plankton blooms and fishing history.
- The South Atlantic – Featuring the world’s most remote inhabited island, teeming with marine birds and mammals.
- The Indian Ocean – A hotspot of iconic species and vital to regional climates.
- The Southern Ocean – One of the most rapidly changing regions on Earth, powerful and remote.
- The Mediterranean Sea – A cradle of human history and biodiversity under stress.
A Deeper Dive
Through these floats, you’ll also explore:
- Geological wonders like tectonic plates, seamounts, and hydrothermal vents.
- Planetary cycles—from long-term geological processes to short-term processes including weather or animal diel migration.
- Life at all scales, from microscopic plankton to the largest animals on Earth.
- Observational systems onboard of robots, ships, satellites, … working together to help us understand and monitor the Ocean.
- Human-Ocean connections—migration, discovery, trade, and recreation.
From the Port of NICE (Port Lympia stop) > Take the Ligne d’Azur 600 (NICE - MONACO - MENTON) in the direction of Villefranche-sur-Mer (get off at "Octroi" stop).
At the Carrefour de l'Octroi:
- To reach the Citadel: Walk down Avenue Sadi Carnot for about 500 meters.
- To reach the Port de la Darse and IMEV: Walk down Avenue du Général de Gaulle towards the Port de la Darse > Continue along Quai de la Corderie until you reach Chemin du Lazaret and arrive at the IMEV building (Zoological Station Sorbonne University - CNRS).
From MONACO (Place des Moulins stop) > Take the Ligne d’Azur 600 (MENTON - MONACO - NICE) towards Villefranche-sur-Mer (get off at "Octroi" stop).
At the Carrefour de l'Octroi:
- To reach the Citadel: Walk down Avenue Sadi Carnot for about 500 meters.
- To reach the Port de la Darse and IMEV: Walk down Avenue du Général de Gaulle towards the Port de la Darse > Continue along Quai de la Corderie until you reach Chemin du Lazaret and arrive at the IMEV building (Zoological Station Sorbonne University - CNRS).
From Nice-Ville station, take the TER train (Direction MONACO), which stops at Villefranche-sur-Mer station. From there, allow about 15 minutes to reach your destination. Walk down the steps towards the seafront. Follow the coast along Quai de l’Amiral Ponchardier in the direction of the Port de la Santé.
At Place Wilson:
- The Citadel is just above you.
- Cross the moat of the Citadel heading towards the Port de la Darse. (Note: the rampart path is closed)
- Then continue along Quai de la Corderie until you reach Chemin du Lazaret and arrive at the IMEV building (Zoological Station Sorbonne University - CNRS).
From the Port of NICE (5.6 km) > Follow the lower coastal road (basse corniche) towards MONACO: Boulevard Carnot > Boulevard Maurice Maeterlinck > Boulevard Princesse Grâce de Monaco > Avenue Maréchal Foch in Villefranche-sur-Mer.
At the Carrefour de l'Octroi:
- To reach the Citadel: Walk down Avenue Sadi Carnot for about 500 meters.
- To reach the Port de la Darse and IMEV: Walk down Avenue du Général de Gaulle towards the Port de la Darse > Continue along Quai de la Corderie until you reach Chemin du Lazaret and arrive at the IMEV building (Zoological Station Sorbonne University - CNRS).
From Beaulieu-sur-Mer (2.7 km) > Head to Pont Saint Jean. Take Avenue Louise Bordes. At the end, go down the steps towards the Promenade des Marinières in Villefranche-sur-Mer. Continue along the beach to Quai de l’Amiral Ponchardier.
At Place Wilson:
- The Citadel is just above you.
- Cross the moat of the Citadel heading towards the Port de la Darse. (Note: the rampart path is closed)
- Then continue along Quai de la Corderie until you reach Chemin du Lazaret and arrive at the IMEV building (Zoological Station Sorbonne University - CNRS).
From AIX-EN-PROVENCE via the A8 “La Provençale” motorway: Take Exit 50 (Nice-Ouest) > Head towards the Promenade des Anglais > Follow the seafront to the Port of NICE > Then take the lower coastal road towards MONACO: Boulevard Carnot > Boulevard Maurice Maeterlinck > Boulevard Princesse Grâce de Monaco > Avenue Maréchal Foch in Villefranche-sur-Mer.
At the Carrefour de l'Octroi:
- To reach the Citadel: Drive down Avenue Sadi Carnot for about 500 meters.
- To reach the Port de la Darse and IMEV: Drive down Avenue du Général de Gaulle towards the Port de la Darse > Continue along Quai de la Corderie until you reach Chemin du Lazaret and arrive at the IMEV building (Zoological Station Sorbonne University - CNRS).
From ITALY via the A8 “La Provençale” motorway: Take Exit 55 (Nice-Est) > Follow Route de Turin in the direction of Bon Voyage / Palais des Expositions > Continue on Route de Turin (M2204B) following signs for the Port > At the Port of NICE > Follow the lower coastal road towards MONACO: Boulevard Carnot > Boulevard Maurice Maeterlinck > Boulevard Princesse Grâce de Monaco > Avenue Maréchal Foch in Villefranche-sur-Mer.
At the Carrefour de l'Octroi:
- To reach the Citadel: Drive down Avenue Sadi Carnot for about 500 meters.
- To reach the Port de la Darse and IMEV: Drive down Avenue du Général de Gaulle towards the Port de la Darse > Continue along Quai de la Corderie until you reach Chemin du Lazaret and arrive at the IMEV building (Zoological Station Sorbonne University - CNRS).
