Past Presidents
The Past Presidents of the Challenger Society for Marine Science
2020-2022 Ros Rickaby, University of Oxford
2018-2020 Rob Upstill-Goddard, University of Newcastle
2016-2018 Rachel Mills, University of Southampton
2014-2016 Tim Jickells, University of East Anglia
2012-2014 Hilary Kennedy, Bangor University
2010-2012 Harry Bryden, National Oceanographic Centre, Southampton
2008-2010 Carol Robinson, University of East Anglia website
2006-2008 Peter Liss, University of East Anglia website
2005-2006 Duncan Purdie, National Oceanographic Centre, Southampton website
2004-2005 Chris German, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute website
2002-2004 Richard Burt, Chelsea Instruments Ltd
2000-2002 John Shepherd, National Oceanographic Centre, Southampton website
1998-2000 Harry Elderfield, Cambridge University website
1996-1998 Mike Whitfield, Marine Biological Association of the UK
1994-1996 John Simpson, Bangor University website, at the time it was University of Wales, Bangor
1992-1994 Brian McCartney, Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory
1990-1992 Ray Beverton, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
1988-1990 Anthony Laughton, Institute of Oceanographic Sciences, Wormley
Latest News
Townhall on UK Arctic Ocean contribution to International Polar Year 32/33
The Arctic is one of the most rapidly-changing regions on our planet, with impacts on global sea-level rise, changes to our climate and weather patterns, and threats to our shared biodiversity and ecosystem services. With the international community rapidly mobilising towards the International Polar Year 32/33, and with new international programmes and initiatives now being shaped, it is timely for the UK Ocean Science community to come together and articulate what its unique offerings could be to Arctic research and technology.
This hybrid 2-day meeting, to be held at NOC Southampton, is intended to start this process. Recognising the Arctic Oceans role in global Earth and Human systems, anticipated outcomes include a high-level shaping of what the UK Arctic Ocean community would like to achieve over the course of the IPY, stimulation of new collaborations and proposals for grand Arctic challenges and a baseline from which wider integration with terrestrial, atmospheric and cryosphere communities, both in the UK and overseas, can be built. Discussions will continue in diverse forums, including the UK Arctic Science Meeting in September and at Challenger 2026.
This action is supported by the UK Arctic Office and UK Arctic and Antarctic Partnership
Further details and meeting registration link will be circulated in April together with a questionnaire to help shape the agenda and discussion
In the meantime…SAVE THE DATE
Potential Availability of NERC Ship Time During the 25/26 Programme Year
The NERC Marine Facilities Programme for 2025/2026 for the RRS Discovery and the RRS James Cook has been published on the Marine Facilities Planning website.
The RRS Discovery programme currently contains a 79 day alongside slot between the 2nd of November 2025 and the 19th of January 2026, which is available for science delivery if funded science projects can make use of this time. Due to the location of the vessel, the ship is most likely to be able to deliver fieldwork in the North and East Atlantic regions. Some support for science capability within the National Marine Equipment Pool is potentially available, although there is no capacity for use of autonomous vehicles or remotely operated vehicles. Any fieldwork within Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) will need the appropriate diplomatic clearance submitted to coastal states at least 6 months in advance, and to NMF with sufficient lead time for processing via the FCDO.
If interested in making use of this ship time, please contact NERC Marine Planning (marineplanning@nerc.ukri.org) ASAP to start discussions.
THE MARINE FACILITIES ADVISORY BOARD – CAN YOU HELP?
The Marine Facilities Advisory Board advises the National Oceanography Centre on marine facilities and services, including the Natural Environment Research Council’s National Marine Equipment Pool (NMEP), the British Oceanographic Data Centre and the British Ocean Sediment Core Research Facility.