Advances in Marine BioGeochemistry Conference

Hannah Muir

Swansea University

Caption: Photograph of me, Hannah Muir, giving a presentation at the Advances in Marine BioGeochemistry (AMBIO) Conference at Plymouth Marine Laboratory (Photo credit: Sarah Cryer, University of Southampton)

The Advances in Marine BioGeochemistry (AMBIO) Conference was held at Plymouth Marine Laboratory on 6–8 September, 2023. This was the first specialised conference I had attended as a speaker and only the second time I had presented my PhD research to a scientific audience.

Most people at the conference were from institutions based in the south of England as well as a few from the Netherlands, and there were countless early careers researchers studying PhDs. This made the conference a great place for networking with others at the same career stage as me, providing opportunities to discuss experiences of doing a PhD and to present my research in a relaxed environment. It was also nice to be able to attend a specialised conference so close to home, as it meant that sustainable travel options were available, which was a key factor in my decision to attend AMBIO.

There were four main sessions during the two days: Biogeochemistry and Marine Autonomy; The Cutting Edge of Biogeochemical Observations and Modelling; The Future of GEOTRACES; and Marine Biogeochemistry at the Sediment-Water Interface. There was also a poster session and opportunities during breaks to browse these over a coffee, which was another great way to meet others.

My presentation was in the final session, which was nice, as it allowed me time to get to know other people and feel comfortable in the small conference setting. I was pleased with how my talk went at the conference and I received some great questions and informative feedback. Some of the questions stimulated deeper conversations in the coffee break around the hydrodynamics in my research area, which I had not considered yet, as well as discussions around how to get my field of research (sedimentary “blue carbon”) into policy-making realms. I also made some useful contacts, who I have been in touch with since to share knowledge.


Caption: Photograph of attendees at the Advances in Marine BioGeochemistry (AMBIO) Conference outside Plymouth Marine Laboratory. (Photo credit: Kate Hendry, British Antarctic Survey)

More broadly, it was fascinating hearing about all the different facets of the marine biogeochemistry field. Never have I been to a conference where every talk feels relevant in some way and, importantly, is genuinely interesting. We heard talks about everything from the biogeochemistry of coral reefs, to the global carbonate pump, biogeochemical dynamics in the Southern Ocean, and biogeochemistry assessments of deep-sea mining. I think specialist conferences like AMBIO are a great way to expand your perspective of your own work and to generate new ideas by combining expertise and interests with other researchers.

A highlight of the conference for me were the post-conference sea swims, which some of the PhD students organised together. Not only were these a fun way to end the day, but they provided informal opportunities for networking and were a great way to explore the city. Several PhD students left saying they would quite gladly work in Plymouth post-PhD!

I was grateful for the Challenger Society for helping to fund this opportunity for me to attend the AMBIO conference this year. Through this conference I have made great connections with new people, both within my own institution and further afield, including researchers from the UK and the Netherlands.

 
Caption: Photograph of a sunset over Plymouth Sound during post-conference sea swimming, whilst “networking” with other Early Career Researchers after the Advances in Marine BioGeochemistry (AMBIO) Conference (Photo credit: Hannah Muir, Swansea University).

Author profile:
I am a second year PhD student at Swansea University and the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, where I study natural carbon storage in coastal and marine ecosystems around the Isle of Man. My research aims to inform the development of the Isle of Man Government's Blue Carbon Management Plan. Prior to my PhD, I had quite a varied career path. I started off studying for a Masters with Honours in chemistry at the University of Edinburgh, with a year of research at the University of Chicago. I then moved to Germany for 2 years as a materials chemistry journals editor for the international publisher, Wiley. Here, I helped to develop an in-house science communications team and transitioned to a full-time video editor and blog writer. Through this experience I developed an interest in project management and communications, so I relocated back to Edinburgh and took up a digital project management role for a local website design company. One year in, the pandemic hit, and during this time I started learning about the role of the ocean in climate change. To everyone's surprise (mine included!), I returned to university to study a Master's in marine science at Heriot-Watt University, where my interest in chemistry reignited. After graduation and a stint in the Marine Climate Change Team at Marine Scotland, I started my PhD. My main goal now is to center natural ecosystems within decision making at the interface of science, policy, and society.