November 2026
Research
Seminars et ateliers de recherche
The future of microbiome research: prioritising the challenges ahead
Microbiome research has revolutionised our understanding of the role of microbes on our planet. However, major challenges remain in order to better understand how microbes and their communities govern the lives of organisms and the balance of the environment. In this seminar organized by Pascale Cossart (Institut Pasteur, Paris), topics such as the creation of model microbial communities, in vitro and in vivo experimental systems, the analysis of unknown genes within the microbiome, the role of predators, and the targeted modification of microbiomes will be discussed.
LUCA and the origin of the genetic code
The term LUCA (‘Last Universal Common Ancestor’) was introduced in 1996 at a seminar at the Fondation des Treilles. Since then, it has become firmly established within the scientific and media communities, recently giving rise to a special issue of the *Journal of Molecular Evolution* (2024) and several commemorative symposia at Les Treilles (marking the 10th and 20th anniversaries). The universality of the genetic code, shared by all living beings, implies that it was already established in LUCA. At this symposium, organized by Patrick Forterre (Institut Pasteur, Paris) to mark the 30th anniversary, the aim is to bring together three communities that are rarely associated: theorists, evolutionists and experimentalists, in order to update our understanding of the genetic code and explore its origin.
Research residencies
Elements of Applied and Computational Harmonic Analysis – From the Perspective of the Laplacian: Completion and Publication
Naoki Saito’s (University of California, USA) project focuses on the theory and applications of harmonic analysis through the lens of the Laplace operator and its eigenfunctions, linking fundamental mathematical structures to computational techniques and interdisciplinary applications. A Julia software package and a website will be developed to help readers reproduce and explore the figures and numerical examples presented in the book. The book will bridge the gap between classical harmonic analysis on Euclidean domains and modern spectral methods on manifolds, graphs and irregular geometries. It will extend tools such as wavelet packages and local trigonometric transformations to non-Euclidean contexts, serving both as a research toolkit and an educational resource. [learn more]
Creation
Author’s residency
Adèle Yon
is back this month to work on her second novel. In My Real Name Is Elisabeth (Éditions du Sous-sol, 2025), she recounts her investigation into the psychiatric history of her great-grandmother, Elisabeth, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia in the 1950s, underwent a lobotomy and was institutionalized for 17 years. [learn more]
Photography Prize
Isabelle Scotta
Following Royan and Deauville, her exploration of French seaside resorts continues in Nice. Through a series of night-time photographs with a cinematic aesthetic, she highlights the architectural structures and the unique atmosphere of the legendary capital of the Riviera. [learn more]