FLANDERS MARINE INSTITUTE - MARINE STATION OSTEND (VLIZ) | Assemble+

FLANDERS MARINE INSTITUTE - MARINE STATION OSTEND (VLIZ)

Overview

The Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) acts as the coordination and information platform for marine and coastal-related scientific research in Flanders and serves as an international contact point. The Marine Station Ostend (MSO) is part of VLIZ and provides ASSEMBLE Plus TA services. 

The MSO is the satellite laboratory by the sea for all Flemish marine scientists and is used within the scope of the European infrastructure networks LifeWatch, ICOS and EMBRC. It has multifunctional laboratories, a storage depot for research equipment, a technical workshop, and a space for public activities. A wet and a dry biological laboratory, a molecular and chemistry laboratory and a cold store are installed in the warehouses. The MSO provides access to the Belgian part of the North Sea.

 

Ecosystems

  • Ecosystems of the Southern Bight of the North Sea, Eastern Channel and Westerschelde estuary
  • Coastal soft and hard substrata
  • Coastal dunes and sandy shores

 

Ecosystem access

  • Coastal research vessels (On-site service)
    • RV Simon Stevin, a multidisciplinary research vessel for marine research in the Southern Bight of the North Sea and eastern part of the English Channel
    • Smaller research vessels
  • Submersibles (On-site service)
    • ROV Genesis, deployable down to 1400 m, which can be launched from the RV Simon Stevin
    • Underwater imaging and sampling
  • Sampling equipment (On-site service)
    • Standard equipment for sampling in the Southern North Sea
  • Scuba diving facilities (On-site and remote service)
    • VLIZ has a team of European Scientific Diving certified divers that can dive on request
    • It is possible to accompany the divers if appropriately certified; equipment can be provided

 

Biological resources

  • Biobanks (On-site and remote service)
    • Microbial biobank and environmental DNA biobank

 

Experimental facilities

  • Aquaria and tanks (On-site service)
    • Experimentation tanks for live organisms
  • Dry labs (On-site service)
    • Biological, molecular and chemistry lab
    • Core repository and a cold store (dimensions: 12 x 6 x 3m) for storing drill cores
    • A technical workshop
  • Wet labs (On-site service)​​​​​​​
    • Biological lab

 

Technology platforms

  • Imaging (On-site service)​​​​​​​
    • Flow cytometry
    • Plankton imaging
  • Molecular biology and omics (On-site service)​​​​​​​
    • Environmental DNA lab

 

E-services

  • Data sets (On-site and remote service)​​​​​​​
    • Expertise in working with large datasets and various data systems.
    • Long-term monitoring data from biotic and abiotic parameters through the Belgian Lifewatch Observatory. This service is, in fact, open to anyone to use, and hence does not specifically need to be requested an ASSEMBLE Plus service offer if it is the only one you wish to use

 


VLIZ-MSO does not offers on-site accommodation, but Ostend has numerous hotels and restaurants.

 

Acronym: 
VLIZ and MSO
Address: 
Halve Maan site
Slipwaykaai 2
8400 Oostende
Belgium
E-mail: 
Liaison officer: Andre Cattrijsse ( )

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