The project aims to support the basic activities of the MarSens Research Group. The Marine optics and remote sensing (MarSens) research group of UGent has expertise in the development and application of in situ and remote sensing observations of marine particles – the living and the non-living, the organic and the inorganic. Marine particles are an important component of marine ecosystems and play a pivotal role in marine biogeochemical cycles. The MarSens research group studies their spatiotemporal distribution, diversity, and ecological/biogeochemical roles in coastal and open ocean environments. Our research approach encompasses optical modeling, laboratory and field work, instrument development, and observations from marine robotics and satellite platforms.