Short History

Ocean Challenge was first thought of in 1987. It resulted from a 'meeting of minds' between certain Challenger Council members (notably Martin Angel, Peter Foxton and Anthony Laughton, then Challenger Society President), who were considering the possibility of a Challenger Society publication, and Angela Colling and John Wright, who were wondering how to set up an accessible, multidisciplinary oceanography publication. The Council were keen to use the experience gained by the Open University Oceanography Course Team in making complex scientific material understandable for their students; and informing the scientifically literate layperson about ocean science remains one of the aims of Ocean Challenge.  Ocean Challenge also aims to bring together scientists in various disciplines of oceanography by making different subject areas of marine science accessible to as many readers as possible.

Peter Foxton became the first Editorial Board Chair. He was followed by Bill Prior-Jones, Rachel Mills, Tim Jickells and Mark Brandon. The Editorial Board has evolved over the years, although some stalwarts of the first Board still remain.

Ocean Challenge strives to have a European outlook, and several issues have been published in cooperation with the European Foundation of Marine Science and Technology Societies (EFMS). Until recently, the Editorial Board benefitted from the input of Hjalmar Thiel (Hamburg), who for many years acted as the Board's European representative.

Latest News

The Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN) Open Meeting

The Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN) invites the marine community, particularly those from a policy, commercial, academic and conservation background, to an open meeting to introduce the new MEDIN Business Plan 2024-2029 and to discuss how the wider community can contribute to the future developments in UK marine data management.

Wednesday 24th April 2024 – HYBRID (The Crown Estate, 1 St James's Market, St. James's, London SW1Y 4AH and online using Microsoft Teams)

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The 13th Annual General Meeting of the NOC Association

The 13th Annual General Meeting of the NOC Association of Marine Science National Capability Beneficiaries (NOCA) will take place during the mornings of Monday 3rd and Tuesday 4th June 2024. This free event will be conducted virtually on Zoom and is open to anyone with an interest in the marine environment.

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Calling all Ocean Innovators and Experts!

Mark your calendars for March 12th to 14th, 2024, because @ Oceanology International 2024 is
returning with all its inspiring, innovative, and fresh ideas. Blue Economy, Energy Transition,
Sustainability, Ocean Mining and Oil & Gas are some of the key fundamental areas that Oi24 will be
focusing.

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