Jean-François Minster is an eminent marine scientist, who has been the chairman of IFREMER (2000-2005) and of the Marine Board (2002-2006). He acted as scientific advisor in marine science in a number of European regional, national and international institutions and organizations. He has been awarded many distinctions and medals, including Academia Europea member since 1988, Médaille d'Argent du CNRS, 1993, Chevalier dans l’Ordre National du Mérite, 1995, William T. Pecora Prize (NASA) for Topex-Poséidon, 1998 and Légion d’Honneur, April 2003. Since 2008 appointed as the scientific director of TOTAL, he combines a unique double experience and competence on marine science and marine industries.