Charmaine recently visited the Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls-sur-Mer, meeting her collaborator Gwenael in person for the first time since their partnership began in 2020. This collaboration, supported by the Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), focuses on prasinovirus diversity.
During her visit, Charmaine engaged in productive discussions with Gwenael, Sheree, and Julie about their joint project. Unexpectedly, Charmaine’s brief visit turned into an extended summer stay in France, allowing for deeper research collaboration and cultural exploration.
Charmaine expressed gratitude for her colleagues’ hospitality, which made this unplanned extension both possible and enriching. This experience highlights the value of in-person interactions in fostering scientific partnerships and the unexpected opportunities that can arise from international collaborations.
