The team

Stéphane Aebischer

Passionate about biology, the great outdoors and polar regions, Stéphane grew up in Switzerland, on the shores of Lake Geneva, where his fascination with aquatic ecosystems began at an early age. After earning a degree in Biology from the University of Lausanne, he continued his studies in Canada with a Master’s degree in Geographical Sciences from Université Laval, focusing on the impacts of mining activities on aquatic ecosystems in Arctic regions.

His career gradually led him from limnology to oceanography. He has taken part in numerous scientific expeditions, both on land and at sea, in the Arctic and Antarctic, aboard large research vessels as well as smaller, more agile platforms. He has also worked as an aquatic biologist for wildlife management in Northern Quebec.

These experiences have shaped his vision of polar research as more agile, multidisciplinary and closely connected to the field—an approach that has contributed to the adventure of Forel, a polar schooner transformed into a fully-fledged scientific platform. Today, as part of the Forel Heritage Association, Stéphane is working to develop a research approach that combines scientific exploration, low-impact navigation and collaboration with local communities.

Baptiste Régnier

Holding a 3,000 GT Master Mariner’s certificate, Baptiste worked aboard the research sailing vessel Tara from 2008 to 2013, taking on various roles and ultimately serving as Chief Officer, notably during the Tara Oceans Polar Circle expedition.

In 2015, he served as captain of the sailing vessel ATKA during the Pole Project expedition in Greenland. In 2018 and 2019, he was captain of the Antwerp Flyer, a 28-metre charter sailing vessel that operated in northern Norway and around Svalbard. In 2022, he returned to Tara, this time as captain.

Baptiste is therefore an experienced polar expedition sailor, with extensive experience navigating in some of the world’s most demanding environments.

Jean-François Ricci 

Trained as a civil engineer at EPFL and passionate about science, technology and innovation, Jean-François was a member of the executive leadership team of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) for 16 years, serving as Secretary General. He is also Secretary General of the Swiss Polar Foundation.

Anne-Claire Bihan-Poudec

As an oceanographic engineer specialising in polar science, Anne-Claire Bihan-Poudec has gradually shaped her career around science communication and fostering dialogue between science and society in the context of climate change. She works with scientists, artists, educators and schools to explore new ways of sharing scientific knowledge.

Within the Forel Heritage Association, Anne-Claire supports FOREL expeditions through outreach and knowledge-sharing projects with local and Indigenous communities across the Arctic. Her work is based on close collaboration with the scientists on board and the crew: together, they develop outreach activities, share the research carried out on board, and encourage dialogue with the communities they encounter during expeditions.

Through this collaborative work between scientists, seafarers and communities, Anne-Claire helps build bridges between scientific research, local knowledge and the realities of polar regions, while making FOREL expeditions spaces for research, dialogue and knowledge-sharing.

Morgane Brunet

Morgane holds a PhD in marine geology and studies the traces left by submarine landslides triggered by major geological events and preserved in marine sediments. Her research has taken her to the Lesser Antilles, New Zealand and Japan, as part of several international expeditions aboard research vessels such as the JOIDES Resolution and the Chikyu.

Morgane joined the Forel Heritage Association as Scientific Coordinator and Expedition Leader, where she contributes to the planning and coordination of expeditions.

Team 2023-2024

AEBISCHER Stéphane, BERNARD Baptiste, CARDIS Bertrand, CHAVERIAL Gauthier, DEMANGEAT Arthur, DELBOT Brieuc, DEVOUGE Nathalie, FAGGIANNELLI Claire, FAGGIANNELLI Marie, GIRARDOT Julien, GUARIN Virginie, HERTAU Martin, LE GARS Erwan, LENEUN Chloe, LOISELET Mathieu, LOOTEN Nicolas, LUBRANO LAVADERA Julien, MELSEN Matthijs, MIARA Lauriane, MUCHERIE Yohann, PROULT Valentin, REAUD Yvan, REGNIER Baptiste, TISNE Lou, WILLMOTTE Louis, ZYSSET Nitya.

Team 2024-2025

AEBISCHER Stéphane, DELBOT Brieuc, GIRARDOT Julien, GUARIN Virginie, LE GARS Erwan, LE BRAS Steven, LEVASSEUR Jean-François, LOOTEN Nicolas, LUBRANO LAVADERA Julien, PLUS QUELLEC Jean, REAUD Yvan, REGNIER Baptiste, TISNE Lou, ZYSSET Nitya

Team 2026

AEBISCHER Stéphane (Directeur Général), BALAVOINE Nolwenn, BRUNET Morgane, DONCK Samuel, GIRARDOT Julien (cuisinier-phorographe), GUARIN Virginie (cuisinière), GUILBAULT Pierre (marin), LE GARS Erwan (chef mécanicien), LE BRAS Steven (second), LEVASSEUR Jean-François (capitaine), LE VOURCH Bénédicte (capitaine), LOOTEN Nicolas (marin), LUBRANO LAVADERA Julien (second), PLUS QUELLEC Jean (mécanicien), PROULT Valentin (photographe), REAUD Yvan (technicien oceano), REGNIER Baptiste (Capitaine), TAURAN Guillaume (marin-artiste), TISNE Lou (technicien oceano), VIOLETTE Guillaume (technicien oceano), ZYSSET Nitya (marin)