Investigating natural challenges alongside the threat of microplastics on Florida’s marine life
Coleen Sucking
Bangor University
Coleen used a CSMS Stepping Stones bursary to partially fund a trip to Florida in the interests of widening her experience, network of collaborators, develop new ideas and generate data. Her report follows below:
The Stepping stones Bursary allowed me to travel from North Wales to Fort Myers and visit the Florida Gulf Coast University for a month. As soon as I arrived at the Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) I was kept busy. One of their outstanding Technicians based at the Vester field station (which sits in the mangroves and channels through to the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico) had already collected all of the organisms we needed by Scuba diving. So we immediately started setting up the experimental laboratory in their excellent facilities (air temperature and photoperiod controlled) and began! To initiate collaborative links with ecophysiologist Dr Joelle Richard we carried out a short study to determine the physiological impacts of variations in coastal seawater parameters in combination with microplastic pollution on keystone marine organisms. Our data show some interesting responses which have raised more questions which we hope to address with her colleagues on a multidisciplinary context in the near future. Around this work at the Vester station we were treated to frequent visits by wildlife such as dolphins, manatees and pelicans, which was a delightful bonus to my trip.
Image: Vester Station
I also used this opportunity to travel across the State to scope out Government Marine facilities as well as meeting researchers in other universities to discuss scientific approaches and potential teaching resources thus maximising the opportunity that this bursary presented to me.
Image: Fluorescing Microplastics
This trip also allowed me to gain insight into working within American Higher Education Institutes and research environments which is certainly worthwhile when considering future employment and collaborative options outside of the UK. I highly recommend others to apply in order to gain excellent opportunities which will help in their career paths. Once again, thank you CSMS.
Image: Sea Urchin
coleen.suckling@bangor.ac.uk
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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.
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