Dr Siddhi Joshi
I am a marine biogeoscientist and LLM qualified human rights specialist based in London, UK, with strong interest in marine conservation and environmental protection. My professional interests include marine sediment dynamics and benthic habitat mapping, in particular of maerl or rhodolith beds (coralline red algae). Moving back to London in 2020 after 11 years in Galway, Ireland, I am a keen blogger and environmental educator behind the Seabed Habitats blog where I organise and host the Seabed Habitats Seminar Series- an exciting series of monthly talks by scientists around the world.
After a PhD at Earth and Ocean Sciences in National University of Ireland, Galway, based in the Biogeosciences research group. I recently completed a post-doctoral research year in Geography in NUI Galway and my LLM in International Human Rights Law at Irish Centre for Human Rights. My MSc was in Hydrographic Surveying at University College London (UCL) and BSc (Hons) in Marine Biology with Oceanography at the Southampton Oceanography Centre (as it was known then!) of University of Southampton. Although specialising in coastal dynamics, I have been on numerous deep sea cruises aboard the Irish research vessels Celtic Explorer and Celtic Voyager as well as the CCGS John P Tully in Canada. I have been a member of the Challenger Society for Marine Science since 2006 and am also a committee member of Women in Coastal Geoscience and Engineering.
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.