Smmi news feed

Scientists develop new technology to detect deep sea gas leaks

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100

A new ultra-sensitive technology which can monitor leaks from underwater gas pipelines has been developed by scientists at the University of Southampton.

Onboard monitoring on 67m Hetairos ketch.

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0100

The Wolfson Unit MTIA has recently commissioned a bespoke load monitoring system to Baltic Yachts. The system has been fitted onboard the 67m Hetairos ketch, ex Panamax project, which is now undergoing sea trials.

The 2011 Shipwrights Lectures announced

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0100

A Series of annual lectures for apprentices and young shipwrights presented by invited industry leaders to inspire young people about the UK’s unique international position in yacht design and boat building

Droplet in the ocean: Three Minute Thesis success

Molly Phillips, a second-year SMMI PhD student, won the People's Choice at the prestigious Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. Molly represented Engineering at the university final, after winning the FEPS heat earlier this month. Her presentation, focusing on the development of a high-frequency sensor to measure ocean alkalinity, was up against presentations from other faculties at the Doctoral College Day on 25 June 2024.

The 3MT competition challenges PhD students to present their research in just 3 minutes, making complex topics accessible and engaging to a broad audience. Molly’s presentation highlighted the negative impacts of ocean acidification and her novel solution using droplet microfluidics to create a faster, more accurate sensor. This technology could revolutionise the way scientists measure and understand ocean health, offering critical insights into mitigating the effects of climate change.

“I found 3MT a great opportunity to reflect on the novel aspects of my PhD, communicating how my research benefits my scientific community, and how it can make a difference outside of research, benefitting our planet,” Molly said. “This was also a fun way to engage friends and family in my research.”

Molly’s research addresses the pressing need for improved monitoring of ocean alkalinity in highly variable regions, the buffering capacity of the ocean against increasing acidity. By using droplet microfluidics, her sensor can provide rapid measurements, essential for understanding and protecting marine ecosystems.

The 3MT competition is an excellent platform for researchers to showcase their work and its broader impact. Molly’s success in the 3MT competition highlights the importance of interdisciplinary research and its role in addressing global challenges.

Droplet in the ocean: Three Minute Thesis success

Molly represented Engineering at the university final, after winning the FEPS heat earlier this month. Her presentation, focusing on the development of a high-frequency sensor to measure ocean alkalinity, was up against presentations from other faculties at the Doctoral College Day on 25 June 2024.

"The 3MT competition challenges PhD students to present their research in just 3 minutes, making complex topics accessible and engaging to a broad audience. Molly's presentation highlighted the negative impacts of ocean acidification and her novel solution using droplet microfluidics to create a faster, more accurate sensor. This technology could revolutionise the way scientists measure and understand ocean health, offering critical insights into mitigating the effects of climate change. I found 3MT a great opportunity to reflect on the novel aspects of my PhD, communicating how my research benefits my scientific community, and how it can make a difference outside of research, benefitting our planet," Molly said. "This was also a fun way to engage friends and family in my research."

Molly's research addresses the pressing need for improved monitoring of ocean alkalinity in highly variable regions, the buffering capacity of the ocean against increasing acidity. By using droplet microfluidics, her sensor can provide rapid measurements, essential for understanding and protecting marine ecosystems.

The 3MT competition is an excellent platform for researchers to showcase their work and its broader impact. Molly's success in the 3MT competition highlights the importance of interdisciplinary research and its role in addressing global challenges.

Thalassa 2024: Marine Science conference, Larnaca, Cyprus

Thalassa 2024 was organised by the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI), Maritime Institute of Eastern Mediterranean and Emerge.

This second biannual regional conference brought together marine experts and stakeholders from academic, research institutes, industry, NGO, and the public sectors. Their insight can be implemented to tackle current ocean hot topics in the regional context. These cover a wide range of marine science topics from Marine Biotechnology and Aquaculture, Marine and Coastal Governance, Oceanography, Maritime Cultural Heritage, to Marine and Coastal ecology.

Day 1 of the conference was opened by Andreas Vyras, Mayor of Larnaca and Zacharias Siokouros, the Director of CMMI. Speaker sessions covered Marine and Coastal Ecology and Marine and Coastal Governance. Each session began with a keynote speaker followed by a diverse range of other speakers on the topic. Cedric Muscat, a graduate from Civil, Maritime, and Environmental Engineering, Intelligent and Resilient Ocean Engineering represented the University of Southampton. Cedric presented his work on Finding space for offshore wind in Malta through GIS analysis. Download Cedric's presentation. The day closed with a poster session, a virtual reality demo of a virtual dive site MUSAN underwater museum near Ayia Napa and the wreck Kyrenia. This was followed by a social gathering.

Cedric Muscat presenting in the Marine and Coastal Governance session

Dr Felix Pedrotti from SMMI Centre for Maritime Archaeology was out in the marina testing the use of small ROVs to survey marina structures and visually inspect ships for damage and biofouling (sea life accumulation on hulls and propellers). This fieldwork, in partnership with the CMMI's Marine Robotics Innovation Centre (MaRIC), is crucial for enhancing capacity to offer these services to marinas and to understand the improvements needed for higher quality results.

SMMI and CMMI surveying boat and marine structures using ROVs

Day 2 had sessions on Marine Biotechnology & Aquaculture, Oceanography and Marine Cultural Heritage. A highlight was the insightful presentation session featuring the University of Southampton's Maritime Archaeology team. Presenters included Dr Alexandra Karamitrou, Dr Felix Pedrotti, Professor Lucy Blue, Celia Prescott, and Dr Crystal El Safadi. They covered topics of the importance of digitalisation (photogrammetry) and databasing of maritime archaeological sites and assets, using AI to identify maritime heritage assets, and assessing the impact of climate change on maritime heritage assets, that are applicable in Mediterranean and globally.

Dr. Louis Hadjioannou, Chief committee member of Thalassa 2024, closed the conference. There was a final poster session, and coffee at CMMI house.

Cedric and Lucy participating in the MUSAN virtual dive demo

crucial role of co2 decarbonisation

Recently, Dr. Seyedvahid Vakili and colleagues led a study titled "Optimising Life Cycle Costs of Carbon Capture and Storage: Insights for Shipping CO2 from the Solent Region," which won the best paper award at the International Association of Maritime Economist (IAME) 2024 Conference in Valencia, Spain.

The study recognises the importance of CO2 shipping, particularly for industrial clusters lacking access to geo-storage areas or situated far from suitable sites. It offers a techno-economic and environmental framework to facilitate the transportation of captured CO2 from clusters to appropriate geo-storage locations. The awarded paper assesses the Life Cycle Cost (LCC) for CO2 shipping and proposes carbon pricing strategies for different LCO2 shipping options. These strategies aim to enhance the competitiveness of CCUS compared to other emission mitigation measures.

Capt. Seyedvahid Vakili, a Research Fellow in Sustainability, Energy, and Net Zero Emissions in Maritime Industries, and part of the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute (SMMI), explains: "CCUS technology can play an important role in meeting the Paris Agreement goals and transitioning to zero-emissions industries. Considering the value chain of the process, Liquid CO2 shipping is expected to play a crucial role in facilitating and expanding the utilisation of this technology. However, decision-makers need to be supported with appropriate decision-making tools, such as techno-economic and environmental frameworks and results. Our study aims to provide these necessary tools to aid decision-makers and policymakers in the effective implementation and expansion of CCUS. The recognition at the IAME 2024 Conference highlights the significance of this research in advancing sustainable practices in the maritime industry and supports the broader goals of global decarbonisation efforts."

Professor Stephen Turnock, Professor Damon Teagle, Associate Professor Dr. Lindsay-Marie Armstrong, and Eng. Panos Manias were part of the team that contributed to writing the paper.

Transforming sargassum monitoring

Our project "Interactive Community Engagement Using Technology and Citizen Science for School and Community Capacity Building on Pelagic Sargassum in Mexico" (SarTECH) is funded by the SMMI. Led by Dr Victoria Dominguez Almela, the aim is to initiate community level monitoring and management of the seaweed. Our journey has been marked by significant milestones and an inspiring expansion of our community engagement efforts.

Enhancing monitoring with cutting-edge technology

When we first envisioned SarTECH, our goal was to deploy a handful of low-cost cameras to monitor the sargassum that affects the Mexican coastlines. We surpass our original goal by installing six cameras, two more than planned! We also broadened our reach to include locations in Jamaica and Ghana, supported by the ESRC funded SARTRAC. These cameras, designed and engineered with the expertise of the Institute of Engineering of UNAM and PhD talents of Jose Antonio Lopez Portillo, offer hourly data (detailed overhead views of beached and nearshore sargassum) that help us quantify sargassum distribution effectively. Thanks to advanced algorithms, these images are transformed into a bird's eye view, making every pixel visible for sargassum tracking. Furthermore, a new PAPIIT grant won by colleagues in Mexico with Dr Dominguez (Support Programme for Research and Innovation Projects in Mexico) allowed the team to install a meteorological station and acoustic doppler current profiler to record data on winds and currents. This data provides a cornerstone for developing a robust early warning system that will benefit entire communities.

Transforming sargassum monitoring

Enhancing monitoring with cutting-edge technology

Creating Positive Change Coastal Communities

The SMMI’s Coastal Communities Special Interest Group aims to work with stakeholders from research, industry, policy and beyond to understand the needs of our coastal communities and increase our impact together to the benefit of the coast locally, nationally, and internationally. In July, we hosted an event to showcase current research and projects and identify priorities for creating positive change in local coastal communities.

Prof Sir Stephen Holgate, UKRI Clean Air Champion, opened the event emphatically discussing the “wicked problem” that is air pollution. With port cities dotted along the coast, there is an additional burden on health from shipping emissions, intersecting with high deprivation thus highlighting pollution sources and inequities which contribute to ill health in society. The SMMI’s Coastal Communities Special Interest Group aims to work with stakeholders from research, industry, policy and beyond to understand the needs of our coastal communities and increase our impact together to the benefit of the coast locally, nationally, and internationally. In July, we hosted an event to showcase current research and projects and identify priorities for creating positive change in local coastal communities.

Nicola Bridge and Eden Stevens introduced the Ocean Conservation Trust, a charity that serves to protect and restore the ocean, with an understanding that threats to the ocean are an outcome of human behaviour. By placing people at the centre of the narrative, it allows collaboration and empowerment of local communities to take action and drive change.

Prof Ivan Haigh, from the National Oceanography Centre Southampton, introduced the latest research on sea level rise and its impact on the Coast. With the ocean covering 70% of the Earth’s surface, and 90% of the world’s heat going into the ocean, we are seeing record levels of high ocean temperatures, resulting in thermal expansion and massive impacts on sea levels rising. The consequences of this were illustrated by closures of the Thames Barrier, which have doubled over two seasons, in order to adapt to rising waters.

Building on the latest science and interventions shared during the presentations, all attendees engaged in themed discussions, examining: research and society, health and air quality, resilience and vulnerability, and natural environment. We were able to further explore the key challenges in these areas, whilst building relationships and trying to navigate how to address these priorities in collaboration. The aim of the lunch – for every attendee to have made a new contact in the coastal communities space – was widely considered to be successfully achieved. New conversations were had, old acquaintances reignited; we look forward to further facilitating these networks and discussions in the coming academic year.

From Deep-Ocean Discoveries to Decision-making: Bridging Marine Fieldwork and Ocean Governance

Boarding a ship to the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) with the aim of assessing the ecological baseline of a unique, remote nodule field would likely land you in dazzling orange coveralls, wiping sleep and seawater from your eyes and watching the sun rise over the boundless Pacific horizon. In stark contrast, the low hum of international languages, wooden desks and plastic earpieces of the plenary conference room at the International Seabed Authority (ISA), Kingston, Jamaica is where the fate of the CCZ resides. These contrastive environments are inextricably linked, with the data from scientific expeditions offering a platform upon which policymakers and NGOs can base their deep-sea mining negotiating positions.

Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Articles, 136 and 145, the ISA is responsible for making resources of the seabed beyond national jurisdiction (“the Area”) the “common heritage of mankind” and ensuring the “effective protection for the marine environment [in the Area] from harmful effects”, respectively (UNCLOS, 1982, 1994 Agreement, 1994). With contractors poised to the mine metal-rich, polymetallic nodules from the CCZ, the 30th Session of the ISA in July 2025 is in the process of developing draft exploitation regulations to facilitate the prospect of mining without generating harmful effects.

Pioneering science such as Jones et al., (2025), on the long-term impacts of a deep-sea mining track and Sweetman et al., (2024), on dark oxygen production at the abyssal seafloor, are the direct result of fieldwork in the CCZ and are forming the basis of policy and public opinion on the potential implications of deep-sea nodule mining. However, the pressure for the ISA to deliver exploitation regulations has rendered the 30th Session dedicated to seemingly minor, but legally consequential minutia such as the replacement of “may” with “shall” or “serious harm” with “harmful effects” and appears far removed from novel scientific discoveries and deep-sea exploration (Tsioumanis et al., 2025).

The diametric environments of marine fieldwork and ocean governance do, however, have their share of similarities, and whilst materially distinct, drama is an inescapable feature. Though, on a ship, this could be the result of uncooperative machinery, noisy cabins, stomach-turning weather or lost experiments, the announcement, on the penultimate day of the March 2025 Session by contractor, The Metals Company USA LLC (TMC), sent shockwaves through ISA negotiations. TMC proposed that they would be applying for commercial recovery permits to mine nodules from the CCZ under existing US legislation, the ‘Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act of 1980’, which would effectively undermine the ISA. This prompted Secretary General Leticia Carvahlo to comment that, this “would constitute a violation of international law and fundamentally violate the principles of multilateralism and the collective framework under [UNCLOS]” (Tsioumanis et al., 2025). Reliably however, the common passions incited by the need to work beyond expected hours, changes to daily schedules, weak coffee and shortened lunch breaks persists as an intervening delegate or sub-sampling biologist.

It would also be impossible to walk away from a research expedition or an ISA Session without an appreciation for the remarkable inter-personal collaboration required for success, where the melting pot of nationalities, languages, cultures, expertise and personalities can make for a rewarding but challenging workplace. Evidence of this is no starker than during the interventions of the Maui Nui Makai Network, who highlighted at the 30th Session that after 132 years of American occupation, Hawaiʻi still cannot intervene to the same degree as member states, despite the CCZ being located adjacent to Hawaiian territory. Solomon “Uncle Sol” Kahoʻohalahala, provided the perspective of many indigenous Hawaiians whose genealogy describes the living Earth as originating from the depths of the ocean, generating so-called “intangible”, but deep-rooted cultural value associated with the deep ocean. Exploitation under these circumstances generates a clear divergence from nations such as Nauru, who attempted to fast-track exploitation in 2021 by triggering the “two-year rule”, setting a deadline for the ISA to complete regulations by July 2023 (which was not met and was extended to 2025) (Singh, 2021). Likewise, research expeditions can often encompass up to 50 technicians, crew and scientists to conduct exploration under time pressure, in often bad weather for up to 12 hours a day from varied institutions, with distinct working cultures and methodologies… certainly a recipe for challenging cooperation. Moreover, the recent rebuttals by independent scientists and deep-sea mining companies of Sweetman et al.’s (2024) dark oxygen finding, (which indicates the role of nodules in the production of oxygen at abyssal depths) similarly demonstrates the inevitable “back and forth” arising from work at these deep ocean frontiers, which naturally incites diverse and impassioned thought (Voosen, 2024).

Finally, spending seven consecutive weeks aboard a ship with your colleagues will at some point generate the feeling that either jumping or throwing someone overboard is an enticing prospect. It would not be a leap to assume that similar intrusive thoughts, potentially involving laptop cables, are also felt by ISA delegates who’s biannual 3-week-long trips to Kingston, Jamaica, often conjures high pressure, head banging discussions and glacial-rate progress. It is in moments such as these that Secretary General Leticia Carvahlo’s assertion that, “we are not separated by land but connected by ocean” can apply to both the CCZ abyssal plain and the Jamaican Conference Centre.

Disclaimer: Thoughts of an early career researcher with ISA and CCZ fieldwork experience.

Acknowledgements: I would like to acknowledge and thank the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute for providing the funding to attend the July 2025 ISA negotiations, TBA21, Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary for the opportunity to be a part of their delegation, and Giulia Champion for collaborating on this grant and blogpost.

References

Jones, D.O.B., Arias, M.B., Van Audenhaege, L. et al. Long-term impact and biological recovery in a deep-sea mining track. Nature 642, 112–118 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-08921-3

Singh, P. A. The two-year deadline to complete the International Seabed Authority’s Mining Code: Key outstanding matters that still need to be resolved. Marine Policy 134, (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104804

Sweetman, A.K., Smith, A.J., de Jonge, D.S.W. et al. Evidence of dark oxygen production at the abyssal seafloor. Nat. Geosci. 17, 737–739 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-024-01480-8

Tsioumanis, Asterios, Tomilola Akanle Eni-ibukun, and María Ovalle. Summary of the 1st Part of the 30th Annual Session of the International Seabed Authority. Earth Negotiations Bulletin/IISD, 25, 257 (2025).

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Dec. 10, 1982, 1833 U.N.T.S. 397.

1994 Agreement Relating to the Implementation of Part XI of UNCLOS, Jul. 28, 1994, 1836 U.N.T.S. 3.

Voosen, P. Claim of “dark oxygen” on sea floor faces doubts. Science, AAAS Articles DO Group, [Preprint], (2024) https://doi.org/10.1126/science.zr37iom

Author

Lucy Harris, University of Southampton and National Oceanography Centre

Lines of Discovery: A Journey Through Time and Waves

A companion exhibition opens at Hartley Library this October — come see for yourself the documents, maps, and models that bring life onboard the Discovery to the present.

During the summer weeks of July, the University of Southampton’s Towing Tank became the stage for a unique blend of history, science, and technology. As part of the Lines of Discovery project, the research team - Dr Michael Grant (School of Ocean and Earth Science), Professor Dominic Hudson (Maritime Engineering), and Dr Felix Pedrotti (Southampton Marine & Maritime Institute) - in collaboration with the Dundee Heritage Trust, recreated the performance of the historic RRS Discovery in simulated waves, examining how the vessel coped with the extreme conditions of the Southern Ocean more than 120 years ago.

Honouring a Legacy

Built in Dundee in 1901, the Discovery carried renown explorers such as Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton to Antarctica for the British National Antarctic Expedition. Designed to endure extreme ice and seas, including overwintering on the frozen continent, the vessel provided groundbreaking insights into oceanography, geology, and marine life. After being acquired by the British Colonial Office in 1923 on behalf of the Discovery Committee, it began a new chapter as Britain’s first Royal Research Ship - the RRS Discovery—a name that has since been carried by three more RRS’s, the latest launched in 2012 and residing at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton.

Science in Action

Using the University’s world-class facilities, our team of researchers tested a 2.5 metre scale model of the Discovery, studying its stability, rolling motion, and ability to withstand the recorded contemporary conditions from the Southern Ocean. While the ship was infamous for its uncomfortable ride, its rugged design made it a powerful tool for early polar science, highlighting a number of unique design choices that proved to be beneficial in such an environment.

The towing tank model was tested under various sea conditions to gain a better understanding of the ship’s performance and seaworthiness. During the centenary celebration in Dundee, the SMMI’s Dr Felix Pedrotti presented ongoing collaborations with Dundee Heritage Trust, as well as its work with digital data and cultural heritage.

Connecting Past and Future

Alongside the experiments, the SMMI hosted a knowledge exchange event, bringing together shipbuilders, engineers, museum directors and digital specialists. Using tools such as 3D modelling and virtual simulations, they explored new ways to preserve maritime heritage and better understand vessels like the Discovery. As part of this event, the SMMI, together with the team from Dundee Heritage Trust, visited the National Museum of the Royal Navy and HMS Victory to learn about ongoing conservation efforts. The visit fostered communication between the two museums and opened prospects for future collaboration, particularly as Discovery is currently in a critical phase of restoration, during which large sections of the stern, lower hull and bow structure are exposed and restored. This work is supported by the digital model produced by the SMMI, which provides valuable insight into the ship’s structure and its current stage of preservation.

Celebrating 100 Years

The project was supported by the SMMI Higher Education and Innovation Fund (HEIF) and ran from 2024 to 2025. Results were first presented in Dundee on 13 September 2025 as part of the launch of a new exhibition at Discovery Point for the centenary of the Discovery Investigations and the British RRS fleet, for which the original and modern RRS Discovery were reunited in Dundee.
A companion exhibition is also due to launch in the University’s Hartley Library (level 4 gallery) this October showcasing documents, photographs and maps that reveal fascinating details about life onboard the ship, such as the clothing the crew, officers and scientists were allocated to withstand polar conditions, the supplies onboard, and even reports of unruly conduct, as well as towing tank model itself.
As part of these centenary celebrations, the Royal Mint has released a limited edition £2 coin of the RRS Discovery which showcases, within the enclosed commemorative booklet, some of the recent work undertaken on the RRS Discovery by the University of Southampton team.

A limited edition £2 coin released by the Royal Mint marks 100 years of the RRS Discovery, featuring recent research by the University of Southampton. During the centenary celebrations, the SMMI team had the pleasure of visiting the modern RRS Discovery and meeting the crew and scientists on board.

Author:

Dr Felix Pedrotti is a Senior Research Assistant with the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute (SMMI) and Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institutehttps://www.cmmi.blue/ (CMMI), specialising in maritime archaeology and digital visualisation. His work advances marine and maritime research at the University of Southampton through innovative underwater surveying techniques, photogrammetry, and immersive virtual reality experiences that promote ocean literacy and heritage engagement.

Our Heritage and Futures: Negotiating the Deep Ocean

Supported by the SMMI and the University of Southampton, Dr Mekhala Dave, an Ocean Law & Policy Analyst based in Vienna, attended the meeting and co-hosted a cultural side event exploring how law, heritage and Indigenous knowledge intersect in shaping the future of the seabed.

In her reflections below, Dr Dave offers a first-hand view of the ongoing negotiations and the perspectives shaping them. Her account highlights the questions at the centre of the debate: how to balance technical and economic ambitions with cultural understanding, ecological care and a shared sense of responsibility for the ocean as the common heritage of humankind.

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) concluded its 30th Session Part II in Kingston, Jamaica (7–25 July 2025), where both the Council and the Assembly gathered to debate the future of deep-sea mining. Central to the discussions was the so-called “Mining Code”: the draft Rules, Procedures, and Regulations (RPRs) that would govern commercial exploitation of seabed minerals in the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ) of the Pacific Ocean, an area of international waters lying more than 4,500 metres below the surface between Hawai‘i and Mexico. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), this deep seabed, referred to as the “Area,” and its resources are defined as the common heritage of (hu)mankind.¹ At its 30th Session, under the leadership of newly elected Secretary-General Leticia Carvalho, the ISA continues to press forward on developing the Mining Code required to govern a potential deep-sea mining industry and its sponsorship by States. The dual mandate of the ISA is to commercially mine and to protect the deep-sea ecosystems. This urgency also stems from the requirement to begin industrial mining, with July 2025 marking the delayed roadmap deadline following the July 2021 two-year trigger.

From 2021, I have been working to contribute to interventions and policy-making, with a particular focus on Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH) within ocean governance. Coming from a background in the law of the sea and ocean governance, I was particularly interested in whether law itself could be provoked, nudged, or even unsettled, through the edges of science, arts and culture. How can the merging of different fields of research and scholarship act as bridges, opening new ways of thinking about the ocean, or can they destabilise the status quo, questioning assumptions that have long gone unchallenged? I have long been interested in how knowledge about the deep-sea is produced and circulated, and how it feeds into global debates around the so-called green energy transition. I have also been supporting the global south’s proclamation of deep-sea protection, aligning with partners and coalitions from the Pacific and Caribbean. The EU and the UK have made strong commitments in this direction, yet the geopolitics are anchored elsewhere from colonial histories: the Caribbean, as home to the ISA, and the Pacific, which stands on the frontlines since the prospective mining sites are located in the Pacific Ocean, close to South Pacific Island states.

With the Republic of Nauru’s triggering of the so-called 2year rule in 2021, and the recent unilateral move by the The Metals Company to apply for mining permit in the U.S. legal system undermining the ISA,² my curiosity has also centred on the capacity of States, their positions, their knowledge, and their preparedness to engage with something as remote and elusive as the deep-sea. And then there is the matter of how those most connected local communities and stakeholders are responding to the deep-sea. My work has been also dedicated to how coastal and island communities most directly connected to the deep sea—through livelihoods, cultural practices and their knowledge of ocean ecologies are articulating their responses. This involves not only the ways they sustain long-standing relations with the deep-sea as a site of meaning and survival, but also how they are engaging with, resisting, or reframing the emerging pressures of deep-sea mining.

In recent years, civil society, States, financial institutions, and the media have begun to confront the question of deep-sea exploitation. To date, more than 35 States, most recently Croatia, have expressed support for a moratorium, precautionary pause, or outright ban.³ While these terms differ in scope, each signals growing recognition of the urgent need to halt seabed mining until its legal and ethical implications are better understood. There is a danger that the deep seabed could soon become a frontier for the mining of critical minerals such as cobalt, copper, lithium and nickel, far from humanity’s touch more than 4,500 metres below the surface. These earthy, palm-sized nodules lie in pressurised darkness, with sea creatures moving around them on their own timescales. Scientists have made clear that extracting these nodules, sucking them from the seabed with surface vessels and machines, would devastate the ocean, creating sediment plumes that travel for miles, generating noise pollution, and leaving permanent scars with no recovery possible within human timescales.⁴

From my observations, negotiations at the ISA are unpredictable and politically charged. It is an exercise and effort of what becomes of our future from the series of predictions we make today as a collective body. Yet what struck me most was the absence of cultures of ocean relations. Despite mounting evidence from environmental humanities, Indigenous knowledges, multispecies research and community perspectives that culture and nature are inseparable, this perspective remains largely excluded from the ISA’s deliberations. Indeed, during the Council meetings, some delegations went so far as to dismiss cultural rights as irrelevant. UNCLOSabsents culture, structuring the ocean primarily through zones and resources, determined by sovereign rights. Within the ISA, this translates into negotiations that are almost exclusively technical and economic, leaving little space for indigenous peoples and their relations to the ocean.

Currently, the ISA’s agenda is dominated by technical discussions spanning lack of environmental baselines, financial models, enforcement and compliance, liability concerns, and many more outstanding issues.⁵ While these are critical, they leave little procedural room for integrating concepts of heritage. What is it, and whose heritage are we talking about? However, a limited space for such discussions lies in intersessional working groups, particularly that on UCH, co-facilitated by Micronesia, Brazil and Greece, and within side events organised by Indigenous peoples, industries, NGOs and States, taking place around the official sessions.

There is a need to push the boundaries of UNCLOS and to think about it in more evolving ways. UCH offers a unique challenge in this regard; It carries an element of culture that is universal, our collective and relationships to the ocean through ancestral and lived experience, which the law must find ways to guarantee and protect. Within the ISA, however, this remains a difficult task. States are constrained in their capacity to define UCH, let alone uneasy to enforce such protections during the mining phase, and the current regulations leave significant gaps in the diverse cultures of the deep-sea. Culture is assumed to be, as if it were, universal, something everyone can claim in the same way. But this can easily slip back into modern or even colonial ways of thinking. Indigenous knowledge shows us something different: they are diverse, place-based, built through lived experience, and carried through relationships with the ocean.

Despite obligations under UNCLOS (Articles 149 and 303) to preserve archaeological and historical objects “for the benefit of humankind,” UCH remains weakly protected in ISA regulations.⁶ Further, States were apprehensive about aligning UNESCO and UNCLOS, even though the harmony between these legal regimes is, in fact, arguably clear. The UNESCO 2001 Convention sets clear standards, such as in situ preservation and a ban on commercial exploitation, but its limited ratification undermines its global reach.⁷ Yet despite this compatibility, ISA regulations have so far avoided integrating UNESCO principles into binding Mining Code provisions, leaving cultural protections fragmented and weak. Integrating these principles into the Mining Code would require binding measures: mandatory UCH impact assessments, contractor reporting requirements, no-disturbance zones, and effective sanctions.

Yet such proposals have faced resistance from several states, particularly regarding the definition of intangible heritage and the creation of an independent expert body to oversee UCH. Uncle Solomon Kaho‘ohalahala, through the Maui Nui Makai Network, regularly intervenes in discussions on UCH, one of the few advocates, raising concerns about the deep sea as an ancestral home within Hawaiian culture⁸. Yet, with Hawai‘i under the jurisdiction of the United States and lacking an independent seat at the ISA, its perspectives remain filtered through U.S. representation. This situation highlights a structural gap in international ocean governance, where Indigenous relationships to the ocean are acknowledged in discourse but remain without direct procedural recognition at the ISA.

As a rising coalition on culture at the ISA, within this fragile balance, Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Foundation (TBA21), with the Deep Currents Collective, an international network of artists, lawyers, activists and academics, made a joint written submission to the ISA Assembly, through TBA21’s observer seat, pushing for cultural recognition.⁹ Our statement urged caution against rushing to adopt regulations that may entrench extractive models, emphasised the lack of transparency regarding UCH, and warned against dismissing Indigenous and intangible heritage. It further highlighted the risk of creating irreversible “lost zones” through mining and questioned whether environmental management plans could meaningfully address such impacts.

Alongside these interventions within the Assembly, the Deep Currents Collective, in collaboration with the National Gallery of Jamaica and TBA21, organised a side event and an exhibition titled Our Collective Seabed on 22 July 2025. Supported and funded by the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute (SMMI) and the University of Southampton, the event brought together Caribbean scholars, artists, activists, scientists and ISA delegates to explore the many angles of cultures with the pull of Caribbean localities that underpin the deep sea but are often absent in Kingston’s official ISA Council and Assembly sessions.

Speakers included Alex Moore-Minott, who opened with a blessing contextualising Jamaica’s extractive history and the Maroon community’s spiritual and communal responses¹⁰; marine biologist Robyn Young, who reflected on Jamaica’s dependence on and vulnerability to the ocean; Prof Elizabeth DeLoughrey, who reframed the deep sea through Caribbean and Pacific transoceanic imaginaries; and Dr Jonathan Galka, who traced the connections between Jamaica’s bauxite industry and the establishment of the ISA in Kingston in 1994.

Dr Susan Reid warned of the irreversible damage as “lost zones” mining may cause, while Alejandro Limpo González and the museum head Nadine Goodman and curator Monique Barnett-Davidson spoke about the importance of reclaiming cultural heritage through expanded meanings and how museums meet with the local community to deliberate the future deep-sea. The event was co-moderated by me and Dr Giulia Champion, having supported the organisation of the exhibition together with the Chief Curator O’Neil Lawrence and Senior Curator Monique Barnett, and their team at the National Gallery.

The event drew over seventy participants, including ISA delegates, ambassadors, artists, NGOs, and members of the Jamaican public, creating for the first time a one-of-a-kind, important forum for dialogue within the Jamaican community. The accompanying exhibition, featuring Caribbean artists from the National Museum collection and contributions of international artists curated by the Deep Currents Collective, ran until 22 August 2025. Our Collective Seabed featured a curated selection of artists from the National Gallery of Jamaica’s collection Nadia Huggins (Trinidad and Tobago), Colin Garland, Albert Huie, Archie Lindo and Barrington Watson (Jamaica), presented alongside international artists including Emma Critchley (UK), Hefrani Barnes (Fiji), Patty Chang and David Kelley (USA), Enar de Dios Rodríguez (Spain), Orchestras from Awe/dacity (seven ocean citizens), and Jonathan Galka’s Insurgent Seabed Archive.

Taken together, these engagements highlight both the urgency and the difficulty of integrating modes of questions and perspectives from the field of social sciences, humanities, the arts and cultures into the ISA’s plans, and question place within the UNCLOS. As the ISA edges closer to finalising the Mining Code, the question remains: will the governance of the deep sea be defined by extraction, or by stewardship of our collective seabed? Although the ISA space is closed off only to delegates, it cannot be understated that the relations we build here last. This is humanity coming together in a slim space, with the fate of the ocean in our hands. And it is this kind of culture, of dialogue, negotiation, co-learning and encounters that also meets with Indigenous ways of knowing, together with the deep sea, reminding us that governance is not only technical, but truly cultural.

The Deep Currents Collective are a group of researchers and seabed protectors including Khadija Stewart (Rise Up), Professor Elizabeth DeLoughrey (University of California, Los Angeles), Dr Susan Reid (University of British Columbia), Dr Mekhala Dave (University of Applied Arts Vienna), Dr Jonathan Galka (National University of Singapore) and Dr Giulia Champion and Alejandro Limpo González (University of Southampton).

I would like to thank the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute (SMMI) and the University of Southampton for their generous support of this important participation, as well as for their continued commitment over recent years.

The attendance was made possible through the Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Foundation’s observer seat and funded by the SMMI HEI Funding.

Author:

Dr Mekhala Dave is a lawyer and art academic based in Vienna. She is an Ocean Law and Policy Analyst/Researcher, formerly with the Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Foundation (TBA21). She earned a doctoral degree in contemporary art history and curatorial practice from the University of Applied Arts Vienna. In her past and current legal practice, as well as through her doctoral research, she advocates for a social turn in artistic practices and explores encounters located across knowledge spheres and communities in the Global South at the intersection of activism and newly shaping ocean policy.

From her lived experiences across borders, she draws inspiration and spiritual guidance from water to the questions of historicity and the search for emerging “new” relations of identity and belonging. She has been mapping deep-sea mining developments from a nuanced and transdisciplinary research at the intersection of art, law, and science, alongside participating in UN platforms like UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) and International Seabed Authority (ISA). She is a member of the international group Deep Currents Collective that envisions the deep seabed as an intrinsically relational world on which humans and nonhumans alike depend for their ecological and cultural wellbeing.

Footnotes:

¹The principle of the common heritage of (hu)mankind was first introduced by Maltese diplomat Arvid Pardo in his 1967 speech to the United Nations, calling for the deep seabed beyond national jurisdiction to be preserved for peaceful purposes and managed for the benefit of all humanity. It was later codified in Article 136 of the Part XI of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

² Singh, Pradeep A. 2021. “The Two-Year Deadline to Complete the International Seabed Authority’s Mining Code: Key Outstanding Matters That Still Need to Be Resolved.” Marine Policy 134: 104804. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104804. Also refer to The Metals Company. 2025. “The Metals Company to Apply for Permits under Existing U.S. Mining Code for Deep-Sea Minerals in the High Seas in Second Quarter of 2025.” Press release, March 27, 2025.

³ Seas At Risk, “Global Deep-Sea Mining Talks Yield Mixed Verdict: No Mining for Now but No Reform Either,” July 24, 2025, https://seas-at-risk.org/general-news/global-deep-sea-mining-talks-yield-mixed-verdict-no-mining-for-now-but-no-reform-either/.

⁴ Amon, Diva J., et al. 2022. “Assessment of scientific gaps related to the effective environmental management of deep-seabed mining.” Marine Policy 140: 105027. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X22000537. Also refer, Amon, Diva J., Lisa A. Levin, Anna Metaxas, Gavin Mudd, and Craig R. Smith. 2022. “Do we need deep-seabed mining?” One Earth 5, no. 3: 370-377. https://library.sprep.org/sites/default/files/2023-05/heading-deep-seaed-mining.pdf.

⁵ Singh, P., Jaeckel, A., & Ardron, J. A. (2025). A Pause or Moratorium for Deep Seabed Mining in the Area? The Legal Basis, Potential Pathways, and Possible Policy Implications. Ocean development and international law, 56(1), 18-44. doi:10.1080/00908320.2024.2439877.

⁶ United Nations. 1982. United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Articles 149 and 303.

⁷ United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). 2001. Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage. Adopted November 2, 2001. https://www.unesco.org/en/underwater-heritage/2001-convention.

⁸ Maui Nui Makai Network. Accessed October 2, 2025. https://www.mauinui.net.

⁹ Deep Currents Collective. 2025. “Voices from the Deep.” Accessed October 2, 2025. https://www.deepcurrentscollective.org/voices-from-the-deep. Also refer to TBA21 (Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary). 2025. Accessed October 2, 2025. https://www.tba21.org.

¹⁰ Alex Moore-Minott on Maroon Legacy, Ancestral Voices. “Maroon Legacy.” Accessed October 2, 2025. https://ancestralvoices.co.uk/maroon-legacy/.

Our Heritage and Futures: Negotiating the Deep Ocean - Reflections from the ISA 30th Session, Kingston

By Dr Mekhala Dave - Ocean Law & Policy Analyst

Members of the Deep Currents Collective with collaborators at the Our Collective Seabed exhibition, Kingston. © National Gallery of Jamaica

Audience at the Our Collective Seabed side event and exhibition, 22 July 2025, National Gallery of Jamaica, Kingston. © Photo by IISD/ENB – Andrés Felipe Carvajal Gómez

The attendance was made possible through the Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Foundation’s observer seat and funded by the SMMI HEI Funding.

Author

Footnotes

⁶ United Nations. 1982. United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Articles 149 and 303.

⁸ Maui Nui Makai Network. Accessed October 2, 2025. https://www.mauinui.net.

¹⁰ Alex Moore-Minott on Maroon Legacy, Ancestral Voices. “Maroon Legacy.” Accessed October 2, 2025. https://ancestralvoices.co.uk/maroon-legacy/.

Our Heritage and Futures: Negotiating the Deep Ocean - Reflections from the ISA 30th Session, Kingston

By Dr Mekhala Dave - Ocean Law & Policy Analyst

Members of the Deep Currents Collective with collaborators at the Our Collective Seabed exhibition, Kingston. © National Gallery of Jamaica

Audience at the Our Collective Seabed side event and exhibition, 22 July 2025, National Gallery of Jamaica, Kingston. © Photo by IISD/ENB – Andrés Felipe Carvajal Gómez

The attendance was made possible through the Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Foundation’s observer seat and funded by the SMMI HEI Funding.

Author

Footnotes

⁶ United Nations. 1982. United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Articles 149 and 303.

⁸ Maui Nui Makai Network. Accessed October 2, 2025. https://www.mauinui.net.

¹⁰ Alex Moore-Minott on Maroon Legacy, Ancestral Voices. “Maroon Legacy.” Accessed October 2, 2025. https://ancestralvoices.co.uk/maroon-legacy/.

‘New reality’ as world reaches first climate tipping point

With ministers gathering today ahead of the COP30 summit, the second Global Tipping Points Report finds that warm-water coral reefs are passing their tipping point.

Nearly a billion people and a quarter of all marine life depend on these reefs, and widespread dieback is taking place. Unless global warming is reversed, extensive reefs as we know them will be lost, although small refuges may survive and must be protected.

With global warming set to breach 1.5°C, the report by 160 scientists at 87 institutions in 23 countries, including the University of Southampton, argues that countries must minimise temperature overshoot to avoid crossing more tipping points. Every fraction of a degree and every year spent above 1.5°C matters.

Action to trigger “positive tipping points” of self-propelling change, such as the rollout of green technologies, now offers the only credible route to a safe, just and sustainable future, the report says.

The researchers are working with Brazil’s COP30 Presidency to ensure that tipping points are on the agenda at the summit.

Professor Tim Lenton at the University of Exeter, which led the report, said: “We are rapidly approaching multiple Earth system tipping points that could transform our world, with devastating consequences for people and nature. This demands immediate, unprecedented action from leaders at COP30 and policymakers worldwide.

“In the two years since the first Global Tipping Points Report, there has been a radical global acceleration in some areas, including the uptake of solar power and electric vehicles. But we need to do more – and move faster – to seize positive tipping point opportunities. By doing so, we can drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions and tip the world away from catastrophic tipping points and towards a thriving, sustainable future.”

Dr Mike Barrett, chief scientific advisor at WWF-UK and co-author of the report, said: “The findings of this report are incredibly alarming. That warm-water coral reefs are passing their thermal tipping point is a tragedy for nature and the people that rely on them for food and income. This grim situation must be a wake-up call that unless we act decisively now, we will also lose the Amazon rainforest, the ice sheets and vital ocean currents. In that scenario we would be looking at a truly catastrophic outcome for all humanity.

“As we head into the COP30 climate negotiations it’s vital that all parties grasp the gravity of the situation and the extent of what we all stand to lose if the climate and nature crises are not addressed. The solutions are within our reach. Countries must show the political bravery and leadership to work together and achieve them."

University of Southampton researcher Dr Kathryn Gunn contributed to a section of the report looking at Southern Ocean overturning circulation. This overturning is a key part of the global climate system, moving heat, carbon, and nutrients between the surface and deep ocean.

“This circulation depends on Dense Shelf Water—very cold, salty seawater that forms around Antarctica, sinks and flows along the ocean floor,” says Dr Gunn.

“But as Antarctic ice melts it adds freshwater to the Southern Ocean, which is less dense and less likely to sink, slowing the ‘engine’ driving the Southern Ocean overturning circulation.

“There is growing evidence that the formation of dense shelf water is declining. If this continues, long-standing connectivity between the surface and deep ocean may be disrupted, or stop entirely, with major impacts on global climate, sea level, and ocean ecosystems.”

“To understand these changes, we need more direct observations of this hard-to-reach area and continued improvement of computer simulations.”

The report says that the nature of abrupt and irreversible Earth system tipping points mean that they pose a different type of threat to other environmental challenges, and that current policies and decision-making processes are not adequate to respond.

It says global action must include accelerating emissions reductions and scaling up carbon removal to minimise temperature overshoot. The expected impacts of tipping processes need to be considered in risk assessments, adaptation policies, loss and damage mechanisms and human rights litigation.

Dr Manjana Milkoreit, from the University of Oslo, said: “Current policy thinking doesn’t usually take tipping points into account. Tipping points present distinct governance challenges compared to other aspects of climate change or environmental decline, requiring both governance innovations and reforms of existing institutions.

“Preventing tipping points requires ‘frontloaded’ mitigation pathways that minimise peak global temperature, the duration of the overshoot period above 1.5°C, and the return time below 1.5°C. Sustainable carbon dioxide removal approaches need to be rapidly scaled up to achieve this.”

The report’s authors are working with Brazil’s COP30 Presidency on the “Action Agenda” as a platform for accelerating climate transition plans and triggering self-reinforcing change across different sectors – from agriculture to energy, from forests to cities – towards low-carbon and climate-resilient global transformation.

The President Designate of COP30 in Brazil, Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, said: “As part of a global mobilisation against climate change – our ‘Global Mutirão’ – the COP30 Presidency invited community leaders, scholars and scientists to explore the best available science and ancestral wisdom around how our institutions can gain exponentiality in deploying solutions and versatility in responding to the climate crisis, including through agile, iterative and adaptive capabilities.

“I welcome the Global Tipping Points Report as a positive and timely response to our invitation. The report stands as hopeful and sober evidence that humanity can still choose to change and evolve towards a safe, prosperous and equitable future.”

Exhibition to celebrate 100 years of Discovery

Between Ice and Ocean: 100 Years of RRS Discovery marks the centenary of the Discovery Investigations, which heralded the modern era of British oceanographic research and conservation.

The RRS Discovery had originally been built in 1901 during what became known as the ‘Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration’. It was the first ship in the world purpose-built for scientific research in ice-packed Antarctica and launched the careers of Robert Falcon Scott, Ernest Shackleton and other notable polar explorers.

After being refitted by Vosper in Portsmouth in 1922, the ship became the first to carry the title Royal Research Ship (RRS).

The ship set sail from Falmouth in September 1925 with the aim of studying whale populations in the Southern Ocean, as well as the ecology and oceanography of the South Atlantic and Antarctic waters.

The Discovery Investigations continued until 1951 and provided evidence that several whale species were on the brink of extinction. This sparked some of the earliest marine conservation efforts and ultimately led to the global ban on commercial whaling, which remains in place today.

Today, the modern RRS Discovery, the fourth ship of its name and based at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton, continues this tradition of undertaking important oceanographic research, boasting state-of-the-art capabilities that had not even been imagined possible 100 years ago.

The exhibition tells the story of the ship and the lives of the crew, officers and scientists who sailed on board.

It features a 2.5-meter-long recreation of the original RRS Discovery hull, which Southampton scientists have been rigorously testing in the University’s towing tank. The replica was created using a ‘digital twin’ made by the same team.

The replica hull being tested in the towing tank

Dr Michael Grant, from Coastal and Offshore Archaeological Research Services at the University of Southampton, says: “RRS Discovery was a wooden ship built not only to undertake scientific exploration but also to traverse the equator through to the Southern Ocean, and survive the Antarctic ice. The need to deal with lots of different, contrasting conditions resulted in a ship with some very unique design choices to meet these challenging environments.

“By recreating these conditions within our towing tank, we can see how the ship would have handled and how this compares to reports we have from those onboard.”

Boards featuring documents, photographs and maps from the National Oceanographic Library’s archives reveal fascinating details about life onboard the ship, such as the clothing they were allocated to withstand polar conditions, the supplies onboard, and even reports of unruly conduct.

Officers and scientific staff of Discovery

Karen Robson, Head of Archives and Special Collections at the University of Southampton, said: “The National Oceanographic Library archive and the exhibition illustrate the fascinating story of human endeavour as well as dedication to scientific work in extreme conditions, which is a part of the Discovery history.”

Today, RRS Discovery is docked at the Dundee Heritage Trust in Scotland, where it has been joined by its modern-day namesake to celebrate the centenary of the inaugural Discovery Investigations voyage and the founding of the British Royal Research Ship fleet.

The exhibition will be open to the public throughout October in Hartley Library’s Level 4 Gallery.

Ancient plankton hint at steadier future for ocean life

Researchers show that warming in the tropical Pacific — home to some of the world’s most productive fisheries — may not trigger the severe declines predicted by earlier models. Instead, the region’s fisheries could remain productive even as ocean temperatures rise.

The study, co-led by the University of South Florida (USF) and the University of Massachusetts Boston, working with an international team of scientists, including the University of Southampton, is due to publish online in Science .

Co-lead Patrick Rafter, a chemical oceanographer at USF’s College of Marine Science, said the findings are welcome news: “Our measurements suggest that, on a warmer planet, the availability of marine nutrients to fuel plant growth and fisheries may not necessarily decline.”

Nitrogen isotope expert at the University of Southampton, Dr Alexandra Auderset , generated the Atlantic Ocean record for the study which was used as a baseline to interpret the Pacific records, and helped examine ocean nutrient levels across hundreds of thousands of years and thousands of miles.

Dr Auderset comments: “Our findings show that looking deep into Earth’s past with new geochemical tools can reshape how we think about the future of ocean life. We are opening a new window into how resilient marine ecosystems might be in the face of future climate change.”

Foraminifera in a microscope slide. Credit: Kaitlin Prince/UMass Boston

The team turned to the Pliocene Epoch, 5.3 to 2.6 million years ago, when ocean warming trends were similar to today’s. By analysing nitrogen isotopes preserved in the shells of tiny plankton called foraminifera (forams), researchers reconstructed nutrient characteristics in the tropical Pacific.

Today, nutrient upwelling in the region supports vast blooms of plankton — the base of the marine food chain. During warming events like El Niño, this process weakens, reducing nutrients and harming fisheries. Previous studies suggested such conditions could become permanent in a hotter world.

But Patrick Rafter and his colleagues found no evidence of reduced nitrate concentrations — a key nutrient for plankton — in the eastern tropical Pacific over the last five million years. The results suggest that nutrient upwelling and biological productivity remained stable, despite higher global temperatures.

“We’ve used this nitrogen isotope like a geochemical fingerprint,” Patrick said. “We don’t have a time machine, but we can use our detective toolkit to reconstruct what happened in the ocean the last time Earth was as warm as today.”

Extracting the isotopes required painstaking work. Researchers from USF, the University of Massachusetts Boston, University of Southampton, the University of California Irvine and Princeton University hand-sorted foram shells from deep-sea cores, dissolved them and analysed the nitrogen isotopes with the help of bacteria.

“Analysing nitrogen isotopes derived from forams has allowed us to reconstruct the past with precision,” Patrick Rafter said. “We can compare these past conditions to today and make better predictions about the future. The methods we’ve used represent a big step forward in improving our predictive capabilities.”

Jesse Farmer, co-lead author and assistant professor at UMass Boston, thinks the findings provide cautious optimism.

“Our current warming is happening so quickly that the ocean may behave differently than it does when it’s been warm for a long time, as was the case in the Pliocene,” Jesse says, also noting modern threats such as ocean acidification and overfishing. He adds: “It’s good news that the nutrient supply to the eastern Pacific food web will be maintained in a warmer ocean.”

Looking ahead, the team plans to apply their ‘detective toolkit’ to other parts of the ocean.

“We’re looking at a changing system,” says Patrick Rafter. “What’s clear from this study is that the system is more complicated than we previously thought.”

This project first began in the lab of Daniel Sigman, the Dusenbury Professor of Geological and Geophysical Sciences at Princeton University.

Partners in the study are University of South Florida, University of Massachusetts Boston, UC Irvine, Princeton University, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, UC Santa Cruz, University of Colorado Boulder, ETH Zürich, National Taiwan University and University of Southampton.

Global partnership launches new maritime research centre

The new virtual centre aims to advance research and development in low- and zero-carbon maritime technologies, intelligent ship systems and digital innovation.

It will serve as a global platform for collaboration between industry and academia, supporting the sector’s transition towards a smarter and more sustainable future. The focus will be on translating research into practical, scalable solutions for deployment across global fleets.

Led by COSCO Shipping Group, the Centre will draw on each partner’s specialist strengths in technical standards, alternative fuels, vessel performance, intelligent navigation and digital modelling. Using COSCO Shipping’s extensive operational data and fleet network, it will test and validate new technologies that can deliver practical, real-world decarbonisation solutions.

The University of Southampton will use its expertise in maritime engineering, in particular in providing systems-level modelling of vessel energy use and provision to assess potential alternative fuels for large ocean-going vessels.

The expertise of the University in applying machine-learning to minimising fleet emissions, using our world-leading hydrodynamic testing facilities to understand complex fluid dynamics around ships (allowing emissions reductions), and autonomy for surface vessels, will all contribute to this centre. The institution’s experience in working with data recorded on ships at sea and of working with ship owners and operators will also be invaluable.

Professor Fraser Sturt, Director of Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute (SMMI) at the University, said: “It is exciting for the University of Southampton to be a partner in this Global Centre. We have worked alongside LR for many years and this is a great opportunity to work with other leading organisations in the maritime sector."

Professor Dominic Hudson, who leads the Centre for Maritime Futures at the University of Southampton, noted: “The challenges the maritime industry faces in decarbonisation are global and can only be tackled through global collaboration. We look forward to building on our research with other leading ship operators through this new partnership to really impact the shipping industry.”

Nick Brown, LR’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “This partnership is about turning ambition into action. Together with our partners, we are investing in the ideas, data and technologies that will help the maritime industry meet the challenges of the energy transition head-on and drive change that benefits both business and society.”

The founding partners have also established a Technical Committee to oversee research direction, ensure the continuity of innovation and align the Centre’s work with the maritime industry’s evolving technical and regulatory needs.

Prior to the Centre’s establishment, LR worked alongside the Shanghai Shipping and Science Research Institute (a branch of COSCO Shipping Group) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University to develop a techno-economic model for fleet energy transition. The model assesses multiple decarbonisation pathways and their associated costs, providing data-driven tools to support informed decision-making across the sector. The success of this collaboration laid an important foundation for the creation of the new innovation centre.

Ends

Celebrating 80 Years of UNESCO’s work on Heritage, Climate and Education Priorities

The debate, led by Jonathan Davies MP, recognised the organisation’s origins in London in 1945 and emphasised the continued need for international cooperation in addressing global challenges.
Members highlighted the strength and diversity of UNESCO designations across the UK, including World Heritage Sites, Biosphere Reserves, Global Geoparks and Creative Cities. MPs noted the value these designations bring to local communities, supporting cultural identity, tourism and economic development, while reinforcing the UK’s contribution to global cultural and scientific engagement.

Climate and Funding Challenges for UK UNESCO Sites

The debate addressed ongoing pressures facing UK heritage sites, particularly the rising costs of protection, conservation and restoration. MPs identified climate change as a significant threat, citing risks such as flooding, coastal erosion and degradation of fragile landscapes and historic structures.
A recurring concern was the balance between conservation and development, particularly where major planning and renewable energy projects intersect with protected areas. Members called for sustainable decision-making that recognises both the UK’s environmental commitments and its heritage responsibilities.

Education, Multilingualism and Global Leadership

Beyond heritage, the debate spotlighted UNESCO’s wider mission, including science diplomacy, multilingual education, cultural protection in conflict zones and ethical frameworks for emerging technologies. MPs emphasised that 40% of the world’s children are not taught in a language they understand, reinforcing the need for global educational equity.

Renewed Commitment to UNESCO’s Mission

The session concluded with calls for sustained UK leadership within UNESCO, including support for communities managing designations and stronger engagement in global education, science and cultural cooperation. The UK’s continued participation was described as both a national responsibility and an opportunity to support innovation, community resilience and international collaboration.

See the debate transcript for full details.

UNESCO and the University of Southampton’s excellence in maritime heritage

The Centre for Maritime Archaeology at the University of Southampton is a world leader in Maritime and Underwater Archaeology and represents the UK as a founding Member and former Chair of the UNESCO UNITWIN Network for Underwater Archaeology.

Our maritime archaeologists have worked closely with UNESCO to set the standards of best practice to safeguard underwater heritage and to disseminate our findings to the public. As an island nation, we have a long heritage of maritime activity: migration, fishing, naval and merchant maritime histories.

Through close work with UNESCO, the University of Southampton has driven the discourse surrounding the protection of coastal and underwater heritage, ocean security and sustainability. Ratification of the 2001 Convention is the next step in moving forward with UK’s leadership in ocean science and literacy.

“Being the national lead for our UNITWIN Network within the UK National Commission has enabled me to advise on policy and work with other UNESCO Chairs across the country” says Prof. Helen Farr. “It is a great way of amplifying the interdisciplinary work we do here at the University and advocating for the importance of studying and protecting our maritime cultural heritage.”

A few examples of the major Maritime Archaeology projects that the University of Southampton has led across the globe:

Black Sea MAP, the largest maritime archaeological project to have been conducted since the raising of the Mary Rose. This collaboration between UK, Bulgarian, Swedish and US institutions deployed cutting-edge technologies to transform our knowledge of sea-level change and seafaring, including identification of 65 new shipwrecks including the oldest intact wreck ever found, an Ancient Greek sailed galley from the classical era (c. 2500 years old). This project also included an education outreach programme using maritime science and archaeology to support STEM education to over 22,000 schools across England.
The MarEA project is documenting endangered maritime heritage across the Middle East and North Africa. The project works with local communities and partner organisations, using satellite and remote sensing data to create new, openly accessible datasets in order to record cultural heritage and aid coastal decision making and planning for the future.
Unpath’d Waters: Working with colleagues from across all four home nations, the University of Southampton developed AI tools to link and unlock hidden details held by each devolved body. The results allowed a first view of our shared maritime past, enabling new insights into change through time, guiding how we manage maritime space for future planning, offshore development, marine renewables and environmental sustainability.

“Our work follows Best Practice and implements the UNESCO 2001 Convention on Underwater Cultural Heritage, addressing many of the concerns raised in the parliamentary debate surrounding protection of heritage sites and the challenges that are faced today” shared Prof. Farr. “Whilst there are still legislative and administrative complexities with UK ratification, we believe that it still provides the best opportunity to safeguard our maritime heritage. Here at the CMA, we are well placed to work with interdisciplinary academics, industry and community stakeholders to learn about, communicate and protect our maritime and coastal heritage.”

Author

Nadiya Catel-Arutyunova is a Specialist Policy Officer at the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute (SMMI). She strengthens the policy impact of marine and maritime research at the University of Southampton by building links between academics, policymakers and industry leaders. Drawing on expertise in law, diplomacy, and sustainability, she works across disciplines to ensure research and innovation inform policy and practice.

Professor Robert Nicholls recognised in 2025 Highly Cited Researcher List

The annual list, released by Clarivate Plc, recognises researchers whose contributions have demonstrated broad and significant influence in their fields.

It is compiled through rigorous analysis of global citation data, highlighting researchers whose work has had exceptional reach and influence, ranking in the top 1 per cent of citations for their fields.

Eight researchers from the University of Southampton are featured in the 2025 list – with four of these from FELS.

They are:

Professor Samuele Cortese – NIHR Research Professor, School of Psychology
Professor Justin Sheffield – Head of School, School of Geography and Environmental Science
Professor Andrew Tatem – Personal Chair, School of Geography and Environmental Science
Professor Robert Nicholls – Professor in Coastal Engineering, School of Ocean and Earth Science

The list, compiled by analysts from the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) at Clarivate, recognises 6,868 individuals from more than 1,300 institutions in 60 countries and regions. The selection process uses quantitative metrics and qualitative analysis to identify individuals whose work has had a genuine, global influence on their fields.

Each researcher selected has authored multiple Highly Cited Papers which rank in the top 1% by citations for their field(s) and publication year in the Web of Science Core Collection over the past eleven years. This list, based on citation data, is then refined using other quantitative metrics, as well as qualitative analysis and expert judgment.

View the 2025 Highly Cited Researcher list

Continents peel from below, triggering oceanic volcanoes

The research, led by the University of Southampton, shows how slivers of continents are slowly stripped from below and swept into the oceanic mantle – the hot, mostly solid layer beneath the ocean floor that slowly flows. Here, the continental material fuels volcanic activity for tens of millions of years.

The discovery solves a long-standing geological mystery: why many ocean islands far from plate tectonic boundaries contain materials that look distinctly continental, despite being found in the middle of oceans.

The study, published in Nature Geoscience , was led by the University of Southampton, and involved the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam, Germany, the University of Potsdam, Queen’s University Canada, and Swansea University.

Ancient chemical trails in the mantle

Many ocean islands, such as Christmas Island in the northeast Indian Ocean, contain unusually high levels of certain so-called ‘enriched’ elements that are normally found in continents – possibly because deep Earth processes have folded in older, recycled material, much like a churning cake mixer.

It was thought these elements came from sediments that get recycled when ocean plates dive into the mantle, or by columns of hot rock, known as mantle plumes, which rise from deep within the Earth.

But these explanations fall short, as some volcanic regions show little sign of crustal recycling, while others appear too cool and shallow to be driven by mantle plumes.

“We’ve known for decades that parts of the mantle beneath the oceans look strangely contaminated, as if pieces of ancient continents somehow ended up in there,” said Thomas Gernon, Professor of Earth Science at the University of Southampton, and lead author of the study. “But we haven’t been able to adequately explain how all that continental material got there.”

The continents are peeling from below

A piece of the lowermost continental mantle (the crystalline roots of the continents). This represents the material that the research proposes is removed and swept sideways into the oceanic mantle. Credit: Prof Tom Gernon

The study proposes a novel answer: continents don’t just rift apart at the surface – they also peel away from below, and over much greater distances than previously thought possible.

The scientists developed simulations to mimic the behaviour of continents and mantle as they are stretched by tectonic forces.

Their work builds on their previous research showing that when continents break apart, deep tectonic forces trigger a wave of instabilities – a ‘mantle wave’ – that sweeps along the continents’ base, disturbing their roots at depths of 150 to 200 km.

This sweeping movement unfolds at an incredibly slow pace, just a millionth the speed of a snail, gradually stripping material from the deep roots of continents.

These peeled fragments are then swept sideways – sometimes over more than 1,000 km – into the oceanic mantle, where they feed volcanic eruptions in the ocean over tens of millions of years.

Study co-author Professor Sascha Brune, of GFZ in Potsdam, said: “We found that the mantle is still feeling the effects of continental breakup long after the continents themselves have separated. The system doesn’t switch off when a new ocean basin forms – the mantle keeps moving, reorganising, and transporting enriched material far from where it originated.”

Evidence from the Indian Ocean

The team analysed geochemical data from areas of the Earth including the Indian Ocean Seamount Province, a chain of volcanic features formed after the supercontinent Gondwana broke apart over 100 million years ago.

Through simulations and chemical analysis, they discovered that soon after Gondwana broke apart, a burst of unusually enriched magma rose to the surface.

Over tens of millions of years, that chemical signal faded as the flow of material from beneath the continent waned. This happened without a mantle plume coming from deep in the Earth, which geologists had long assumed must be responsible.

Professor Gernon explained: “We’re not ruling out mantle plumes, but this discovery points to a completely new mechanism that also shapes the composition of the Earth’s mantle. Mantle waves can carry blobs of continental material far into the oceanic mantle, leaving behind a chemical signature that endures long after the continents have broken apart.”

The study builds on the team’s recent discovery that mantle waves can also stir dramatic changes deep within continents. Their earlier work showed that these slow, rolling movements in the Earth’s mantle can help trigger diamond eruptions and even reshape landscapes thousands of kilometres from the edges of tectonic plates.

‘From Plankton to Plate’ event marks World Fisheries Day at Southampton

Researchers, students, practitioners and community partners came together in the Southampton city centre on Wednesday, 19 November for From Plankton to Plate, an event to celebrate World Fisheries Day.

World Fisheries Day is held each year on 21 November to highlight the vital role of fisheries in food security, livelihoods and healthy oceans. The day calls attention to the need for sustainable fish stocks and better support for the communities who depend on fishing, especially small-scale and coastal groups.

The evening explored how marine life connects across the food chain, from microscopic plankton to whales, fisheries and the coastal communities shaped by the sea. It was hosted by the Southampton Marine & Maritime Institute, iPACT and the Future Towns Innovation Hub.

Researchers from across the University shared perspectives on marine ecosystems, aquaculture, fisheries systems and the changing relationships between people and the sea. The talks prompted thoughtful questions from attendees and showed how strongly these issues resonate across our region.

Discussion shaped by community questions

Audience questions covered areas from climate-driven species shifts to the future of coastal livelihoods. Speakers reflected on how communities are adapting to fast-moving environmental and economic pressures, with Dr Sien van der Plank noting that constant change “comes with a cost” for those who depend on the sea.

Panellists also explored the pressures facing traditional industries, including the decline of dry-fish production in parts of India and the growing challenge of recruiting younger generations into fisheries. Questions about ecological resilience, carbon cycling, vessel safety and the potential use of AI for data analysis highlighted both the complexity of today’s coastal challenges and the appetite for new tools and collaborative approaches.

Across the discussion, one theme stood out: the need to connect ecological science with social realities and community priorities, as Professor William Powrie emphasised when he said, “These issues have to be defined by the community, not by us as academics.”

Engaging talks sparked thoughtful questions and lively conversations from the audience

Launching Coastal Communities South

The event also marked the launch of Coastal Communities South, a new network designed to bring together local authorities, community groups, researchers, charities, businesses, and organisations across the south coast.

The network’s aim is to define shared challenges, strengthen collaboration, amplify local voices and help coastal places navigate environmental, social and economic change.

Join the mailing list to be updated on future events and opportunities as part of the Coastal Communities South initiative.

Professor Paul Kemp outlining the vision for Coastal Communities South

Acknowledgements

Our sincere thanks to all who made the evening possible. With thanks to Professor Paul Kemp for hosting the evening and chairing the panel, and to our speakers for sharing their expertise and enthusiasm: Dr Cathy Lucas, Dr Julie Mestre, Avanthika Kamath, Dr Sien van der Plank, Imali Manikarachchige, Freya Ivy Palmer, Professor William Powrie and Professor Fraser Sturt.

Thank you also to the organising team, Jenny Knight, Ruby Jackson and Carin Reisinger.

SMMI at the Solent Forum in Cowes, Isle of Wight

On 15 October 2025, Dr Sien van der Plank presented the SMMI Special Interest Groups (SIGs) to the Solent Forum, highlighting upcoming research exploring access to blue and green spaces on the Isle of Wight.

Sien showcased two projects that have grown from previous SMMI workshops focused on improving local access to natural spaces.

Green-Blue Connections explores how people on the Isle of Wight experience and use natural green and blue spaces. Through surveys, creative engagement, and collaboration with local partners, the team is uncovering what makes these spaces valuable for health and wellbeing, and how they can be made more accessible and enjoyable for the community.

Building Resilience through Nature-based Solutions investigates how coastal communities can benefit from green and blue spaces in their everyday lives. By combining fieldwork with community engagement, the team is developing ways to measure and enhance access to these spaces, ensuring that all residents, particularly those facing challenges, can benefit from their mental health and wellbeing potential.

In her own Forum update, Solent Forum Manager Kate Ansell highlighted growing interest in how people engage with blue and green spaces across the Solent, demonstrating the potential for further joint research and collaborative action in this area.

The Solent Forum brings together over 50 stakeholders across the Solent, including harbour authorities, marine businesses, charities, and agencies. It provides an important space for SMMI members to connect with local partners, understand pressing challenges, and explore new research opportunities. As an SMMI member, our community has access to Forum resources, and our named representatives or delegates participate in their twice-yearly meetings.

There are many benefits to engaging with the Forum and staying updated:

The Solent Forum Monthly News and biannual newsletter provide opportunities to share research outputs with over 500 direct subscribers.
The website receives over 5,000 unique visitors each month, and members can contribute content for publication.
The Solent Forum Information database summarises available data on local coasts and provides a platform for researchers to promote their open-access datasets.
The Forum can support research proposals through letters of support and networking opportunities.

The Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute connects researchers from across all five faculties of the University of Southampton to work with businesses, governments, and organisations to address marine and maritime challenges. This collaborative effort takes place at global meetings, the national policy agenda, and on our doorstep – the south coast of the UK.

The SMMI is well placed to lead Forum-university collaborations, and it would be great to see SMMI and SIG members attending and presenting at future Forum meetings.

To stay informed or share Solent-based projects, colleagues can sign up to the Forum’s monthly e-news distribution list by emailing info@solentforum.org. You can also follow them on LinkedIn.

Dr Sien van der Plank is a Lecturer in the School of Geography and Environmental Science and serves as the Champion of the SMMI Coastal Communities SIG. Her research focuses on how communities adapt to coastal change, including citizen science, oral histories, and local-scale strategies for resilient coastal futures.

Ancient Australian settlers

The genetic research reveals two distinct groups of settlers dispersed into the region from different parts of what is now South East Asia.

The study, published in the journal Science Advances, is a collaboration between archaeogeneticists, archaeologists, earth scientists and oceanographers. It clarifies the much-debated who, where and when of this early maritime migration.

The work was funded by a European Research Council grant to Professor Helen Farr of the University of Southampton’s Centre for Maritime Archaeology, with the archaeogenetics team led by Professor Martin Richards at the University of Huddersfield’s Archaeogenetics Research Group.

During the last Ice Age, when sea levels were much lower than they are today, New Guinea and Australia were part of a single landmass, known as Sahul. There has been a long-running discussion about both the timing of the first settlement of Sahul and the routes by which people first travelled to the ancient super-continent.

A map showing migration routes into the ancient super-continent of Sahul that encompassed modern day Australia.

It is widely known that the ancestors of New Guineans and Aboriginal Australians have inhabited Sahul for tens of thousands of years, with many Aboriginal Australians understanding that they have always been ‘on country’.

However, for western scientists and archaeologists, the details of global dispersals have remained controversial.

There are two views on the timing of the settlement – the ‘long chronology’, suggesting that the first settlement goes back to around 60,000 years and the ‘short chronology’, which argues for a first landfall around 45,000 to 50,000 years.

The interdisciplinary team, including colleagues at the University of Minho in Portugal, at La Trobe University in Australia, and the University of Oxford, focused firstly on human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genomes to address this question. The mtDNA is inherited only from the mother, and the way the mtDNA sequences vary from one person to the next can therefore be used to recreate the maternal genealogy in great detail.

The team analysed almost 2,500 mtDNA genomes from Aboriginal Australians, New Guineans, and people from the western Pacific and Southeast Asia. They used these to build a genealogical tree and looked at the way the lineages in the tree were distributed from one population to the next. As all DNA changes gradually over time, they used the amount of change in the lineages – known as the ‘molecular clock’ – to date lineages from each region.

Their findings showed that the most ancient lineages seen either in Aboriginal Australians, New Guineans, or both, but nowhere else, dated to around 60,000 years, coming down firmly in support of the long chronology.

The ancestry of the most ancient lineages could be traced back to Southeast Asia. But the team also found that while the majority traced back to more northerly parts of Southeast Asia – northern Indonesia and the Philippines – a significant minority traced to more southerly parts – southern Indonesia, Malaysia and Indochina. This suggested there were at least two distinct dispersal routes into Sahul with lineages from both routes dated to around the same arrival time.

Professor Martin Richards and Professor Helen Farr.

Southampton’s Professor Helen Farr comments: “This is a great story that helps refine our understanding of human origins, maritime mobility and early seafaring narratives. It reflects the really deep heritage that Indigenous communities have in this region and the skills and technology of these early voyagers.”

The work is especially significant as although the new genetic results fit well with the archaeological and palaeoenvironmental picture, in the last few years many geneticists have been moving in the opposite direction, towards a short chronology

Professor Martin Richards said: “We feel that this is strong support for the long chronology. Still, estimates based on the molecular clock can always be challenged, and the mitochondrial DNA is only one line of descent. We are currently analysing hundreds of whole human genome sequences – 3 billion bases each, compared to 16,000 – to test our results against the many thousands of other lines of descent throughout the human genome.

“In the future there will be further archaeological discoveries, and we can also hope that ancient DNA might be recovered from key remains, so we can more directly test these models and distinguish between them.”

The work is published in the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s journal Science Advances. A companion paper by a similar interdisciplinary team including both Professor Richards and Professor Farr and led by Dr Pedro Soares of the University of Minho, used to check the accuracy of the molecular clock data, was published in October in the journal Scientific Reports.

Science Policy Secondment into the UK Civil Service Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)

It was a unique opportunity for Dr Kwa to gain first-hand experience on how scientific research can be used to inform the policymaking process and explore potential routes to accelerate and enhance research impact. Dr Kwa’s secondment was enabled by an EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) award and support from SMMI and the Royal Academy of Engineering. Dr Kwa was inspired to pursue the secondment after attending the Royal Society Policy Primer , a residential course that aims to help researchers better understand the rapidly changing policy landscape in the UK, and how science research helps to shape and is shaped by Government policy.

Dr Kwa worked with the DESNZ Energy Engineering Team to enable scaling up of floating offshore wind (FLOW) around the UK, identifying ways to overcome barriers in FLOW commercial viability and supply chain pressures, by reducing costs and material requirements for the FLOW support structure. Deployment of farm scale FLOW around the UK is essential to achieve the UK’s 2040 offshore wind target of 34 GW of electricity generation, because FLOW unlocks access to more wind energy and ocean space further from shore, in deeper waters where fixed bottom offshore wind is not feasible. However, while the UK has a very high potential for floating offshore wind, the current levelized cost (LCOE) of floating offshore wind needs to decrease (from £0.15 per kwh) to be more comparable to commercially viable fixed bottom offshore wind (at £0.059 per kwh). The material cost of FLOW support structure components, which includes the tower, floater and mooring line chain components, is not commercially scalable, as it is 10 times more expensive per MW of generated electricity compared to fixed bottom offshore wind, and the steel material requirements for these components exceed current supply chain capacity.

Dr Kwa’s work on ‘Using artificial intelligence to optimise the capital cost of floating offshore wind’ involved creating a novel automated design optimisation framework that treats the design of the full FLOW support structure holistically, to capture beneficial coupled design optimisation between support structure components. The analysis identified an optimised FLOW support structure design that could save up to 18% in the capital cost and 10% in material requirements. This translates to a potential upscaled cost saving of £4.3 billion for future farm scale UK FLOW.

The secondment’s project findings were compiled into a report that Dr Kwa presented at the London Whitehall office to the Science and Innovation for Climate Energy (SICE) Directorate within DESNZ, which includes a number of teams with expertise in Energy Engineering, Policy and Innovation Delivery. The presentation was very well received, prompting lots of interesting questions and discussions.

Dr Kwa has described her secondment as ‘an enriching and worthwhile experience. I learnt a lot and it has been an excellent opportunity to highlight the expertise we have at Southampton in the Energy Engineering space, through working with the DESNZ Energy Engineering Team and also from having them come to visit some of the University of Southampton laboratories as one of their Away Days .’ She is ‘happy to share (her) experience with others and connect SMMI colleagues who are interested in pursuing a secondment with DESNZ in the future.’

SMMI and partners deliver a successful two‑day course in Larnaca on Autonomous Futures

The course, Autonomous Futures: Drones for Health, Heritage, Transport, Science and Security, brought together researchers, practitioners, and early‑career professionals to explore the rapidly evolving role of autonomous systems across multiple sectors.

Designed as an accessible yet academically rich introduction to autonomous operations, the course combined informal lectures with hands‑on practical activities led by experts including Professor Tom Cherrett, Professor David White, Professor Fraser Sturt, Professor Damon Teagle, Dr Katherine Theobald, Dr Felix Pedrotti, and Dr Emma Curtis. Participants from a wide range of professional backgrounds gained new skills in mission planning, operational risk assessment, data analysis, and the evaluation of real‑world applications.

Interactive sessions included VR‑based autonomy scenarios, AI‑assisted seabed mapping, and a popular gamified exercise in which teams designed drone delivery routes across Cyprus. Practical demonstrations of heritage mapping and environmental monitoring—both terrestrial and marine—provided direct insight into how autonomous tools are being used to support archaeology, ecology, logistics, and public services.

The programme was enriched by a public lecture delivered by Professor Tom Cherrett, “Drones in Society: The Scope for Drone Logistics to Improve Healthcare Provision.” Hosted at CMMI and attended by representatives from local government, academia, and industry, the lecture explored how drone logistics can support more resilient and equitable healthcare, particularly in remote or resource‑limited communities.

Alongside the course, the CMMI hosted a showcase of ongoing research projects, giving attendees the opportunity to meet scientists working across the institute’s autonomy programmes and learn more about developments taking place in the Eastern Mediterranean. The presence of the Mayor of Larnaca, Mr Andreas Vyras, underscored the city’s commitment to innovation and to strengthening partnerships with European research institutions.

The course forms part of SMMI’s ongoing collaboration with CMMI and the Lorelei‑X project to build capacity in autonomous systems, support innovation in maritime and coastal environments, and develop the next generation of researchers and practitioners. The enthusiasm and engagement seen throughout the two days highlighted both demand for these skills and the growing impact of autonomous technologies across sectors.

Funded through Horizon Europe, the Lorelei‑X project is accelerating the development and testing of autonomous systems for marine and maritime applications. This short course demonstrates how international collaboration can translate cutting‑edge research into practical training, supporting both regional and global innovation in autonomous operations.

The SMMI extends its thanks to all instructors and participants whose energy and expertise made the event a success.

Group photo including members of the SMMI research team involved in leading the Autonomous Futures short course

Tom Cherrett (middle) and Katherine Theobald (right) at the research showcase

Cedric Muscat wins Malta Intellectual Property Award for Emerging Innovation

Supervised by Prof. Susan Gourvenec (SMMI Deputy Director and IROE chair) and Dr Hugo Putuhena for his individual project at part of his undergraduate civil engineering course at the University of Southampton, Cedric identified suitable locations for offshore wind in Malta. The results proved promising; with 40% of Malta’s marine space suitable for offshore wind and only a tenth of that would provide enough electricity to supply 7 times Malta’s peak energy demand, providing attractive export potential. For this research and findings, Cedric was awarded the winner for Technological Initiative by Hon. Silvio Schembri, Minister for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects in Malta.

The Malta Intellectual Property Awards are awarded to 6 individuals or companies to recognise their efforts in developing their ideas, concepts and operational processes. In doing so the Government of Malta aims to encourage the development of innovative ideas and products which have a degree of potential that is both unique and sustainable. The winners of the Malta Innovation Awards also receive an award from the World Intellectual Property Organisation.

You can watch Cedric’s interview presentation on YouTube.

The Malta Intellectual Property Award follows on from Cedric’s previous work which he presented at Thalassa 2024 and published on the EMODnet portal. Since then, Cedric has continued this research, supervised by Prof. Susan Gourvenec and Dr Hugo Putuhena for his PhD by conducting a geospatial analysis for offshore renewable energy for the rest of Europe.

Find out more about IROE: Intelligent and Resilient Ocean Engineering.

Spatial datasets of Malta’s EEZ

Cedric Muscat and the other winners at the Malta Intellectual Property Awards 2025

University of Southampton researchers visit the House of Lords for a policy‑engagement masterclass

Joined by researchers from the University of Sussex they attended an in‑depth session on how academics can inform and influence policymaking.

The visit, held in the Palace of Westminster, brought together both early‑career and established researchers for a practical masterclass on engaging effectively with both Houses of Parliament.

Hosted by Lord Rupert Redesdale, a long-standing champion of environmental responsibility and biodiversity, with contributions from Earl Russell and senior committee clerks, the session provided valuable insight into how Select Committees operate, how evidence is gathered, and how academic expertise can shape debates and scrutiny.

Discussions focused on the pathways through which research informs parliamentary activity, from written and oral evidence to informal engagement with peers and clerks. Participants heard candid reflections on what makes academic contributions useful, timely, and impactful, and how researchers can build confidence in approaching Parliament as part of their wider impact and engagement work.

Key takeaways from the session centred on locating and connecting effectively with the parts of Parliament most relevant to your research, and understanding how and when to engage for meaningful impact:

Know your allies: A major barrier to public policy engagement is knowing who your potential allies are. Free online tools such as Hansard help identify parliamentarians who share your interests, making it easier to target your engagement effectively.
Get the timing right: Parliamentary timetables move quickly. Align engagement with live inquiries, ongoing debates, or committee calls for evidence. Approaching the right people at the right moment increases the chances your contribution will be read and used.
Know the value you’re adding: Be clear about the outcome you hope to influence and what practical insight you can offer. Communicating technical solutions in accessible language makes your contribution more compelling and easier for busy parliamentarians to act upon.
Submit clear written evidence: Academics of all stages can contribute directly by sending written evidence to Select Committees or All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs). Keep submissions succinct, free of abbreviations and jargon, and focused on clear recommendations or practical solutions.
Be persistent: Policy engagement rarely progresses through a single interaction. Follow up, stay connected, and continue offering relevant insight over time; building familiarity helps your expertise gain traction in parliamentary settings.

Participants reflected that the session itself was a strong sign of Parliament’s appetite for high quality academic engagement; the willingness of Lords, clerks, and staff to give their time demonstrated how valuable academic expertise is to evidence-informed policymaking.

SMMI Director Professor Fraser Sturt joined as part of the Southampton delegation, which included representatives from across the faculties at the University:
Professor Helen Farr, Professor Jo Sofaer, Professor AbuBakr Bahaj, Dr. Mohammad Soorati, Professor Patrick James, Professor David Bream, Dr. Nat Easton, Dr. Gordon Inglis, Professor Christopher Prior, Dr. Arjun Awasthi, Dr Bahar Rastegari, Dr. Rafael Mestre, and Dr. Anna Collar.

The House of Lords masterclass offered an invaluable opportunity for researchers to understand parliamentary processes first‑hand and to explore how their work can meaningfully inform UK policy. The SMMI continues to support initiatives that help embed research expertise within policymaking communities.

This collaborative opportunity was organised by PublicPolicy|Southampton and the University of Sussex, with special thanks to Tiffany Withers and Rebecca Bond from the respective institutions for co-leading the visit.

For guidance on how the SMMI supports policy engagement – including tailored advice, training, and opportunities to connect your research with policymakers – visit the SMMI Policy Engagement pages on SharePoint. There you’ll find practical resources, support routes, and details on how the SMMI and PublicPolicy|Southampton teams can help you translate your research into real‑world policy impact.

Southampton secures major grant to advance sustainable offshore wind planning in the Greater North Sea

This major grant recognises Southampton’s growing strength in marine, coastal, and offshore systems research and marks a significant success for project lead Dr Hugo Putuhena and the team.

The four‑year programme (January 2026–December 2029) will generate vital new knowledge about how offshore wind interacts with other human activities and the marine environment. As offshore wind expands at unprecedented speed, decision‑makers increasingly need tools that help balance energy development with fishing, shipping, biodiversity, and coastal community interests. This project aims to provide exactly that.

Working alongside Hugo is a strong interdisciplinary team of co‑investigators from across the University of Southampton: Dr Alexandra Karamitrou, Dr Sien Van Der Plank, Professor Jasmin Godbold, Professor David White and SMMI Director, Professor Fraser Sturt. The team covers expertise in Spatial analysis, Archaeology, Human Geography, Marine Biology and Ecology, and Engineering.

Hugo, Alexandra, and Sien also serve as champions of two of the SMMI Special Interest Groups for Digital Oceans and Coastal Communities, helping to shape the Institute’s strategic research activities in these areas.

The team will assess how offshore wind development affects other marine activities, the seabed, and wider ecosystems, while developing new tools that can help governments and industry plan responsibly. The project will bring together existing data, apply artificial intelligence to fill key evidence gaps, and produce new digital maps, models, and an open decision‑support tool to guide future ocean planning across the Greater North Sea.

"With the project, we will conduct a thorough assessment of how offshore wind impacts other human activities, the seabed and ecosystems” says Hugo. “The goal is to gain a deeper understanding of the overall consequences. At the same time, we will develop new decision support tools that provide unprecedented insights into the cumulative effects of offshore wind development in the North Sea,"

The project will be delivered in collaboration with research groups, authorities, industry partners, and coastal communities across the region, ensuring the outcomes support a more holistic, evidence‑based approach to offshore wind expansion.

Learn more about the wider programme via the VELUX FOUNDATION announcement.

Smmi news feed

Scientists develop new technology to detect deep sea gas leaks

Onboard monitoring on 67m Hetairos ketch.

The 2011 Shipwrights Lectures announced

Droplet in the ocean: Three Minute Thesis success

Droplet in the ocean: Three Minute Thesis success

Droplet in the ocean: Three Minute Thesis success

Thalassa 2024: Marine Science conference&comma; Larnaca&comma; Cyprus

crucial role of co2 decarbonisation

Transforming sargassum monitoring

Enhancing monitoring with cutting-edge technology

Transforming sargassum monitoring

Enhancing monitoring with cutting-edge technology

Creating Positive Change Coastal Communities

From Deep-Ocean Discoveries to Decision-making: Bridging Marine Fieldwork and Ocean Governance

Lines of Discovery: A Journey Through Time and Waves

Honouring a Legacy

Science in Action

Connecting Past and Future

Celebrating 100 Years

Author:

Our Heritage and Futures: Negotiating the Deep Ocean

Our Heritage and Futures: Negotiating the Deep Ocean - Reflections from the ISA 30th Session&comma; Kingston

By Dr Mekhala Dave - Ocean Law & Policy Analyst

Author

Footnotes

Our Heritage and Futures: Negotiating the Deep Ocean - Reflections from the ISA 30th Session&comma; Kingston

By Dr Mekhala Dave - Ocean Law & Policy Analyst

Author

Footnotes

‘New reality’ as world reaches first climate tipping point

Exhibition to celebrate 100 years of Discovery

Ancient plankton hint at steadier future for ocean life

Global partnership launches new maritime research centre

Celebrating 80 Years of UNESCO’s work on Heritage&comma; Climate and Education Priorities

Climate and Funding Challenges for UK UNESCO Sites

Education, Multilingualism and Global Leadership

Renewed Commitment to UNESCO’s Mission

UNESCO and the University of Southampton’s excellence in maritime heritage

Author

Professor Robert Nicholls recognised in 2025 Highly Cited Researcher List

Continents peel from below&comma; triggering oceanic volcanoes

‘From Plankton to Plate’ event marks World Fisheries Day at Southampton

Discussion shaped by community questions

Launching Coastal Communities South

Acknowledgements

SMMI at the Solent Forum in Cowes&comma; Isle of Wight

Ancient Australian settlers

Science Policy Secondment into the UK Civil Service Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)

SMMI and partners deliver a successful two‑day course in Larnaca on Autonomous Futures

Cedric Muscat wins Malta Intellectual Property Award for Emerging Innovation

University of Southampton researchers visit the House of Lords for a policy‑engagement masterclass

Southampton secures major grant to advance sustainable offshore wind planning in the Greater North Sea

Thalassa 2024: Marine Science conference, Larnaca, Cyprus

Our Heritage and Futures: Negotiating the Deep Ocean - Reflections from the ISA 30th Session, Kingston

Our Heritage and Futures: Negotiating the Deep Ocean - Reflections from the ISA 30th Session, Kingston

Celebrating 80 Years of UNESCO’s work on Heritage, Climate and Education Priorities

Continents peel from below, triggering oceanic volcanoes

SMMI at the Solent Forum in Cowes, Isle of Wight