A temporary exhibition on the theme of algae
Since January 15, 2026, the Roullier Endowment Fund has been hosting a temporary exhibition dedicated to algae and their properties, entitled “When algae touch us,” in the lobby of its building.
This exhibition, organized around four informative panels and an immersive central structure, presents algae and their crucial importance in the fields of animal and human nutrition, for terrestrial and marine ecosystems, as well as the potential they offer in various industrial fields that affect our daily lives.
Two artists from Saint-Malo are also presenting their works around the central structure of the exhibition, cyanotypes made using algae.
Visit the exhibition
The exhibition “When Algae Touch Us” will be open to the public Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.:
During winter school break, February 16 to 27, 2026
During the Easter school holidays, from April 13 to 24, 2026
During the summer school holidays, from July 6 to August 28, 2026.
Guided tours of the exhibition are also available on an ad hoc basis (duration 45 min), upon registration.
Crucial importance for ecosystems and living beings
The 72,500 different species of algae currently identified on Earth play an essential role in the balance of marine and terrestrial life. At the base of the ocean food chain, they provide shelter for fish and crustaceans, filter water, stabilize sediments, and store carbon in the seabed.
Through photosynthesis, algae also provide nearly 50% of the world’s oxygen production.
From microscopic algae to today’s vast kelp forests, algae have shaped the Earth and continue to stabilize the climate. They remind us how inseparable the health of the ocean is from that of our atmosphere.
Algae in everyday life
In many areas of activity, algae are a raw material with great potential. Polysaccharides extracted from certain algae can be used to manufacture polymers, which are alternatives to petroleum-based plastics. Microalgae-based biofuels are also being studied, while other researchers and manufacturers are exploring the potential of algae in the textile and construction industries.
Certain species of algae are already commonly used in human food as gelling agents (such as agar-agar, extracted from red algae) or in cosmetics. They are also playing an increasingly important role in animal feed, both for marine animals (farmed fish, crustaceans, and mollusks) and land animals.
As a local and renewable resource, algae thus embody a living bridge between sea and land, capable of sustainably nourishing ecosystems… and enriching our plates.
