The Council
The Officers and Ordinary Members of Council are elected at the Annual General Meeting.
The President is elected for a two-year term (past presidents are listed here) and Ordinary Members each serve for three years.
The Officers Ordinary Members and Co-opted Members are as follows:
President 2022-2024
Professor Mike Meredith, BAS, website
Incoming President 2023-
Professor Maeve Lohan, University of Southampton, website
Honorary Secretary 2022-2026
Professor Kate Hendry, BAS, website
Honorary Treasurer 2023-
Dr Alexander Brearley, BAS. website
Ordinary Members of Council
Special Interest Groups 2021-2024Dr Cecilia Liszka, BAS website
Education and Outreach 2023-2026
Dr Robyn Tuerena, Scottish Association for Marine Science, website
Early Career Network Coordinator 2020-2023
Dr Siddhi Joshi, Independent Marine Scientist, London website
Editor, Challenger Wave 2010-2023
Dr John Allen, University of Portsmouth. website
Student Travel Awards and Stepping Stones 2018-2023
Dr Sophie Wilmes. Bangor University. website
Industry Liaison and Technology 2010-2023
Mr Terry Sloane, Planet Ocean Ltd. biography
Communications 2021 - 2024
Dr Anna McGregor, University of Glasgow, website
UK SCOR Representative 2019-2023
Prof Alessandro Tagliabue University of Liverpool website
Membership and Data Protection 2020-2023
Dr Chelsey Baker, NOC Southampton, website
NOCA Liaison, 2022-2024
Prof. Mark Inall, SAMS, website
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility working group chair, 2022-present
Dr Gillian Damerell, University of Bergen
Publications and Website Portfolio, 2024-present
Dr Anthony Lucio, NOC Southampton, website
Ex-officio and co-opted members of Council:
Chair, Ocean Challenge Editorial Board
Dr Stephen Dye, Cefas, website
Editor, Ocean Challenge
Ms Angela Colling, Formerly Open University
Policy Lead
Dave Carlin, Defra
Latest News
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
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