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Tagging expedition to Chagos

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In February and March 2013, a research expedition was undertaken in the Chagos Marine Protected Area (MPA) sponsored by the Bertarelli Foundation, in partnership with Stanford University and the University of Western Australia. The expedition piloted electronic tagging to examine the feasibility of using remote technologies to monitor the movement of important pelagic species in the region. It was a great success, both in terms of results and also important lessons learned for future tagging projects.

Five different types of electronic tags were deployed in this study, with a total of 99 electronic tags placed on 95 animals, along with the installation of an acoustic receiver array around two northern atolls to detect animal movements. The Foundation believes tagging is one of the keys to answering the questions of how large pelagics such as sharks and tuna are utilising the MPA, and how much protection the no-take MPA is providing. It is the Foundation’s hope that the findings of this expedition will help to inform work by marine biologists around the world.

Read a report of the expedition here

Sir Robert Edwards, IVF pioneer

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The Trustees of the Bertarelli Foundation were deeply saddened to learn that Nobel winner Sir Robert Edwards had passed away, as announced by Cambridge University.

The invitro-fertilisation procedures Sir Robert pioneered with Dr Patrick Steptoe changed the lives of many women and created new families across the world. The method they developed leads to optimal results when applied following controlled ovarian stimulation with human gonadotrophins. This was achieved with the drug Pergonal which was already used for ovarian follicular stimulation in infertile women. It was developed by Serono, the global biotechnology business built by three generations of the Bertarelli family.

Sir Robert received a Bertarelli Foundation Award in Reproductive Healthcare in 2000 and also advised the Foundation on its successful work to ensure effective monitoring and regulation of multiple embryo transfer with assisted reproductive techniques.

Approximately one out of every eight couples experiences difficulty conceiving. But until the middle of the last century, many of the causes of infertility were not fully understood, and there was little that could be done for women unable to become pregnant. This has changed with the development of Human Menopausal Gonadotrophins and was significantly further enhanced and expanded by the work of Sir Robert Edwards, which culminated in the world’s first test-tube baby, Louise Brown, in 1978. The outlook for infertile couples has changed forever, and the Bertarelli family are proud to have been a part of his important development.

The Bertarelli Foundation helps to protect the Belize Barrier Reef

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The government of Belize recently announced the establishment of a marine reserve around the Turneffe Atoll, a remarkable and diverse coral reef system of 1,365km². The designation of this new protected area has been made possible by funding from the Bertarelli Foundation, which has committed itself to preserve the atoll fauna and flora in the future.

Some 300km long, the Belize Barrier Reef is a true marine treasure. Part of the 900km-long Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (MBRS), it is home to an incredible number of plants and animals and is considered to be one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. Hard and soft coral species and more than 500 species of fish have been found in its turquoise waters.

Establishing a Turneffe Atoll marine reserve represents the missing link in a chain of protected areas that currently extend across 3,866km² of Belize’s territorial waters.  In 1996, seven areas of the MBRS received UNESCO World Heritage Site protected status, but the Turneffe Atoll was excluded.

The Bertarelli Foundation has been working with local stakeholders, such as the Turneffe Atoll Trust and the fishing community as well as international partners such as the Oak Foundation.

A spokesperson for the Bertarelli Foundation said:

“Last time we helped create the largest marine reserve in the world in the Chagos Archipelago, in the middle of the British Indian Ocean Territory. With this intervention we are helping to protect one of the world’s most magical reefs much closer to areas in which people live. The Turneffe Atoll and its rare creatures are of huge value to Belize in themselves, but also for the ecosystems services and tourism potential they provide, which are literally world-class”.

The Bertarelli Foundation helps to clean up Lake Geneva

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Net’Léman, the 6th annual Lake Geneva Cleaning Day, took place this week when enthusiastic volunteers helped to clear the lake of waste and rubbish in an event which was supported by the Bertarelli Foundation.

Despite the rainy weather, hundreds of volunteers and 270 divers cleaned the shores and waters of the lake. Later, they moved on to the task of sorting the waste which is always an interesting part of the day. Among the 10 tons collected from the various locations around the lake, there were some unexpected discoveries:  two safes (empty!) one microwave, three TVs, an old typewriter and even a revolver…!

Net’Léman is always a great occasion for the local community to come together and show their commitment to the preservation of their local environment in a friendly atmosphere.  Children had the opportunity to enjoy the various animations and workshops organised in the nine areas by the side of the lake. This year the main theme was water saving and how uncontrolled waste and pollution can ruin natural resources.

First Bertarelli Foundation Creative Minds

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The Bertarelli Foundation initiated and sponsored the inaugural Creative Minds Festival. Held at the Regent Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent (UK), the fantastic week-long festival of the arts was a major local event, bringing together 34 schools and community groups.

From mid-May to early July, the participants (more than 550 in total) involved worked on creating short films, new and reworked songs, music, visual arts and pieces of drama. They worked with leading, world-class arts practitioners who inspired performances and gave hands-on experience.

But there was even more: people from Stoke were also invited in to celebrate the region’s creativity of the region during the day and to take part in one of many artistic workshops.

After 4 evening shows during the week, participants were invited to attend an Awards Ceremony on Sat July 7. The jury tasked with judging the entrants was composed of Kirsty Bertarelli, Suzanne Collins and Ian Moore and together they had to select winners in each category: Best Choir, Best Solo Performance, Best Drama, Best Art Design, Best Film, Best Musician, Best Performance, Best Digital Artwork.

The last prize of the evening, The Bertarelli Foundation Award went to YMCA Hanley and their solo singer Liccy Lockitt.

Kirsty Bertarelli, who grew up in Stoke-on-Trent, attended the Festival and commented: « The inaugural Creative Minds Festival has been fantastic, beyond my wildest dreams.  I really wanted to help and be able to put something back into the area – and it’s great I can do that through creativity.  The schools have got right behind it and it’s great because it helps young children express themselves through all the arts – music, drama, film, art and design. It’s quite unique in the breadth of experience it is offering.”