Prospectus 2013
A Prospectus for UK Marine Sustained Observations
17 September 2013 - The Royal Society
The Challenger Society for Marine Science and the UK Scientific Committee for Oceanic Research (SCOR) held a one day meeting at The Royal Society, Carlton House Terrace, London SW1 on 17 September 2013.
Sustained observations provide the backbone for many national and international marine science and monitoring programmes e.g. Atlantic Meridional Transect (AMT), Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) survey, RAPID-WATCH, Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO), Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Funding for these observations is often fragile as they require long term commitment. We asked seven early to mid-career scientists to celebrate the UK’s history of sustained observations of the ocean and reflect on the impact these observations have had on their field of science as well as in other areas. Each speaker demonstrated the international importance of UK sustained observations and presented creative ways to develop and use sustained observations of the ocean.
The one day meeting featured an interdisciplinary series of talks and discussion by some of the UK’s foremost early to mid-career scientists, alongside an overview of UK sustained observations by Prof. Nicholas Owens (UK SCOR) and an international perspective by Dr. Nicholas Bates (Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences).
Each speaker addressed questions such as:
- What are the critical scientific problems that can now be addressed with long time series of sustained observations?
- What is your vision for sustained observations in the future?
- How will technological advances change sustained observations?
The meeting concluded with a ‘Question Time’ style discussion session chaired by Professor Nicholas Owens (SAHFOS), where Professor Laurence Mee (SAMS), NOC director Professor Ed Hill, Professor Karen Heywood (UEA) and Dr David Mills (Cefas) fielded audience questions. 
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Prospectus for UK Marine Sustained Observations - Programme
0900 Delegates arrive and register. Tea/coffee
0930 Prof. Hilary Kennedy, President of the Challenger Society for Marine Science
Welcome and context for the meeting
0940 Prof. Nicholas Owens, Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science
Sustained UK Marine Observations: Where have we been? Where are we now? Where are we going? abstract
1020 Dr. Eleanor Frajka-Williams, University of Southampton,
Sustaining observations of an unsteady ocean circulation abstract
1100 Tea/coffee
1120 Dr. Nick Dunstone, Met Office Hadley Centre
Climate modelling and prediction abstract presentation
1200 Dr. Stephanie Henson, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton
Slow science: the value of long ocean biogeochemistry records abstract
1240 Dr. Nova Mieszkowska, Marine Biological Association
In it for the long run: the role of time-series in tracking impacts of environmental change in marine food webs abstract
1320 Lunch
1420 Dr. Mark Tamisiea, National Oceanography Centre, Liverpool
Measuring the boundaries of sea level abstract
1500 Dr. Povl Abrahamsen, British Antarctic Survey
Sustaining observations in the polar oceans abstract
1540 Tea/coffee
1600 Dr. Ian Mitchell, Joint Nature Conservation Committee
How do we tell policy-makers that marine biodiversity is “on target” or “missing the mark”? abstract presentation
1640 Dr. Nicholas Bates, Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences
International perspectives on sustained ocean observations and open ocean time-series abstract
1720 Panel discussion: A strategy for UK marine sustained observations: objectives, obstacles and solutions
Panel chair:
Prof. Nicholas Owens, Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science
Panel members:
Prof. Karen Heywood, University of East Anglia
Prof. Laurence Mee, Scottish Association for Marine Science
Prof. Ed Hill, NOC, Southampton
Dr David Mills, Cefas
1820 - 1900 Drinks reception for all at meeting
Press release for the Prospectus
Questions about the meeting can be addressed to members of the organising committee:
Dr Clare Postlethwaite (cfpo@bodc.ac.uk)
Dr Anna Hickman (A.Hickman@noc.soton.ac.uk)
Dr Abigail McQuatters-Gollop (abiqua@sahfos.ac.uk)
Latest News
Workshop on the contribution of UK Arctic Ocean science to the International Polar Year 32/33
12:00 11th June – 16:00 12th June 2025: NOC Southampton (In-person with online option): Registration deadline 16th May
REGISTER HERE
Pre-meeting questionnaire (open to all)
The purpose of this workshop is for the UK Ocean Science community to discuss and then draft a prospectus document outlining the priority Arctic research questions the community would like to address during the run up to, throughout and beyond the International Polar Year 32/33. Additionally, to identify what unique strengths and technologies the UK has to help fill these knowledge gaps.
The second day of the workshop will be dedicated to writing groups, one for each of the priority research questions identified - from both the pre-meeting questionnaire (HERE) and day one discussion. By the end of the meeting, each group will have produced draft text and sourced supporting figures for the prospectus.
Post meeting, the draft will be opened for comments and suggestions from everyone, regardless of whether they were able to attend the workshop or not. It will then be shared with UK funders (UKRI, FCDO, DSIT, ARIA) and potential international programmes with whom we would like to collaborate (e.g. Arctic 2050, Norway). It will form a basis from which wider integration with terrestrial, atmospheric and cryosphere communities can be built, e.g. at the UK Arctic Science Meeting in September in Northumbria.
To ensure balanced community and ECR representation, and to ensure that the size of the writing groups is efficient and effective, if the number of registrations from individual institutes becomes overwhelming, we may contact individuals or teams and ask that each institute selects a smaller number of individuals to attend in-person. Please wait for confirmation of in-person attendance before finalising travel arrangements.
The workshop will be open to hybrid attendance and contributions on both days.
Challenger Society Council Position Vacancy
The Challenger Society for Marine Science (CSMS) are pleased to announce an exciting opportunity to support the next generation of ocean scientists and innovators. CSMS are looking for a new Council member to fill the Student Travel Awards and Stepping Stones Portfolio. The successful applicant will administer the travel and research grants available for Early Career Researchers.
The role involves:
- Receiving applications for the two schemes and responding to applicant inquiries
- Soliciting and compiling input from the rest of the Council for assessing the applications
- Communicating with successful and unsuccessful applicants for the two schemes
- Working with the Honorary Treasurer on allocating funds to successful applicants
- Following up with award winners on their reporting requirements
- Attending Council meetings four times a year (in person or online) and contributing to discussions and decision making for CSMS
The usual term for Council members is three years.
For more information about the CSMS Council, please follow this link: https://www.challenger-society.org.uk/The_Council
For more information about our Early Career Researcher grants and awards, please follow this link:
https://www.challenger-society.org.uk/Stepping_Stones
and
https://www.challenger-society.org.uk/Travel_awards
If you are interested in applying or have any questions regarding the role, please contact kathen@bas.ac.uk
NOC Association (NOCA) AGM 2025
The 14th AGM of the NOC Association will be held on Thursday 15th and Friday 16th May 2025. This free, on-line event will take place on Zoom, across two consecutive mornings, each starting at 10:00 and ending at 12:30. The agenda will focus on national capability (NC) science, ships, and autonomous vehicles, and how the community can engage. There will be an update on AtlantiS and on the new marine science scoping group. All are warmly welcome to join.
To participate, please complete your registration here.
For enquiries: Jackie Pearson, Secretary to NOCA: jfpea@noc.ac.uk