Manu Prakash, an associate professor of bioengineering at Stanford University, and Marcel Babin from the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) have been awarded a $25,000 research grant by the Richard Lounsbery Foundation. This honor celebrates the 250th anniversary of American independence and the enduring scientific collaboration between France and the United States. Their project, titled 'Trapped in Ice,' investigates how microorganisms survive and thrive in extreme environments, particularly within growing sea ice. By integrating polar science, micro-scale physics, and bioengineering, Prakash and Babin aim to uncover the mechanisms that sustain life in these icy realms. Their research is vital for understanding contemporary polar ecosystems, historical glaciation events on Earth, and the potential for life beyond our planet. Babin's expertise in polar ecology and microalgal physiology complements Prakash's innovative approaches, including low-temperature ice microfluidics and advanced microscopy techniques. The project is supported by the Human Frontier Science Program and includes collaboration with other researchers. The symposium where they were honored was held on May 20 and 21, 2026, at the Institut de France.