The eastern English Channel has a long history in marine research with the first marine station built in 1874, and followed by the creation of two other marine research laboratories in 1888 and 1900. Both laboratories were destroyed during the World War II, and it is not until 1960 that marine research deployed its wings again in 1960 with the inauguration of the Marine Station of Wimereux by the University of Lille. This structure is now part of the larger Laboratory of Oceanography and Geoscience (LOG). This interdisciplinary research laboratory shared by the University of Lille - Sciences et Technologies, the University of Littoral Côte d’Opale and the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) hosts more than 100 people working on various research areas ranging from molecular microbiology to ocean circulation and tectonics, and still has a strong focus on the eastern English Channel.

In this context, the main objectives of the conference are

(i) to bring together the researchers that worked, are working and will work on various aspects of the Oceanography and Geoscience of the eastern English Channel,

(ii) to establish an exhaustive synthesis of what is known (and unknown) about the structure and function of this area uniquely characterised by the combination of a megatidal regime, high levels of biodiversity and productivity, and the intensity of anthropogenic stressors, and

(iii) to identify the research gaps that will define the goals to be reached over the next decades in an era of global change and increasing anthropogenic pressure.

We nevertheless also seek contributions from colleagues with an expertise in some of the following topics, especially in coastal waters and epicontinental seas (though this list is not exhaustive):

     - monitoring and observation networks;

     - planktonic and benthic metabolism;

     - microbial diversity and activity patterns;

     - introduced and invasive species, and related topics such as shipping,  ballast water treatment and regulations;

     - marine protected areas;

     - biodiversity and biogeography, and their links with hydroclimatic fluctuations and global change;

     - marine energies;

     - remote sensing of coastal waters;

    - coastal geomorphology, e.g. coastal morphodynamics and sediment transport;

    - tectonics and sedimentation on continental margins;

     - marine pollution, e.g. macro- and microplastic, heavy metals, hydrocarbon, biocide;

     - ecosystem health assessment;

     - ecosystem services;

     - fisheries and ecosystem structure;

     - natural hazards;

     - the role of citizen science in fundamental and applied research;

     - anthropogenic structures (e.g. harbours, jetties) and activities (shipping, fishing, dragging) and ecosystem structure and function;

     - marine laws.

This event is co-organised by the Service d'Observation du Milieu LIToral (SOMLIT).