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Dr Jon Copley BSc(Hons), MSc, PhD

Associate Professor in Ocean Exploration & Public Engagement

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Dr Jon Copley is Associate Professor in Ocean Exploration & Public Engagement (part-time) within Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton at the University of Southampton.

No human eye had glimpsed this part of the planet before us, this pitch-black country lighted only by the pale gleam of an occasional spiralling shrimp (Otis Barton, The World Beneath The Sea, 1953)

I am a marine biologist and 'bathynaut' who went on the first minisub dive to the world's deepest hydrothermal vents (5 km down on the ocean floor) and took part in the first minisub dives to 1 km deep in the Antarctic. I am also an award-winning communicator, educator, writer, and co-founder of a company that provides training for scientists to share their work with wider audiences.

My research explores colonies of animals on the ocean floor to understand patterns of life in the deep sea that covers most of our world. By studying marine life in "island-like" seafloor habitats such as hydrothermal vents, cold seeps and whale-falls, my work examines interactions between ecology ("who does what"), biogeography ("who lives where"), and evolution ("who is related to whom") in the deep ocean.

I have more than twenty years of experience in exploring deep-ocean environments, including leading expeditions aboard research ships and discovering new species of deep-sea animals. My work has contributed to consultations by policymakers to guide the protection of deep-sea habitats, and I produced a 4* 'Impact Case Study' in the UK's REF2014 assessment based on a programme of public engagement with my research.

I have taught undergraduate and Masters students in marine biology and oceanography since 2000, including creating new modules in degree programmes. I was Director of Postgraduate Taught Programmes in Ocean & Earth Science, and Programme Leader for the MSc Oceanography degree. I was also Lead Educator in the development of the university's free online course (a 'MOOC' - Massive Open Online Course) about 'Exploring Our Oceans', which has been taken by more than 40,000 people.

I work with TV, radio, and online documentary-makers to share the exploration of the deep ocean with people worldwide (for example as a science advisor for the BBC's Blue Planet II series) and I routinely interact with news media to raise awareness of deep-sea issues and my team's discoveries. I am the author of 'Ask an Ocean Explorer', published by Hodder & Stoughton in 2019, and I occasionally write "popular science" articles about marine science and technology for media outlets, having been a Reporter and Assistant News Editor at New Scientist magazine.

I provide training in popular science writing, presentation skills, media interviews, and online engagement for scientists at universities and organisations across the UK and in Europe. In 2006 I co-founded SciConnect Ltd, a company that has so far trained more than 12,000 researchers, from PhD students to Profs, in how to share their work with wider audiences, with the goal of enhancing the contribution of science to society (and vice-versa).

Other roles:

Since 2014: Scientific Associate of the Natural History Museum, London
Since 2011: National Geographic Explorer
2010-2012: Co-Chair of Interidge initiative coordinating international research at mid-ocean ridges
Since 2006: Co-founder & Director of SciConnect Ltd

Awards & nominations

Nominated by students for "Most Engaging Lecturer" Students' Union award 2019
Shortlisted for Vice-Chancellor's Award for Public Engagement 2018
Highly Commended in Boat International Media & Blue Marine Foundation's Ocean Awards 2016
Nominated by students for "Outstanding lecturer", "Innovative teaching", "Lifetime achievement" Students' Union awards 2013
Vice-Chancellor's Award for Postgraduate Training 2011
Royal Society of Biology Science Communication Award for Established Researchers 2008
Vice-Chancellor's Teaching Award 2007
British Science Association Charles Lyell Lecture Award 2007

What's related

Research interests

My work addresses three main topics (please see Publications tab for a full list of my research papers):

(1) Global biogeography of deep-sea chemosynthetic environments
(e.g. Chen et al., 2017; Copley et al., 2016; Chen et al., 2015a; Roterman et al., 2013; Connelly et al., 2012; Rogers et al., 2012; Copley et al. 2007; Copley et al., 1997)

Why do we find particular species of animals at hydrothermal vents in some areas but not elsewhere? Why are some types of animals more widespread than others in habitats such as hydrothermal vents or cold seeps around the world? These are the big questions, and answering them should give us a better understanding of how species disperse and evolve in deep-sea habitats. Answering them also involves describing new species from the areas that we are exploring, and analysing their genetic code to determine how they are related to other species elsewhere.

(2) Spatial & temporal dynamics of faunal assemblages in insular & ephemeral deep-sea habitats
(e.g. Amon et al., 2017; Copley et al., 2016; Amon et al., 2013; Marsh et al., 2013; Marsh et al., 2012; Copley et al., 2007; Copley et al., 1999; Copley et al., 1997)

Within a hydrothermal vent field, cold seep, or whale-fall, my goal is to understand what lives where and why. For example, why are some species abundant on vent chimneys, while other species only thrive at the edge of a vent field?

Unfortunately we can't stroll around the ocean floor as easily as ecologists do on rocky shores to investigate their patterns of life, so we are developing new techniques to study the microdistribution of animals in these environments, using high-definition cameras and the precision-control capabilities of the latest generation of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs).

(3) Life-history biology of species occupying insular & ephemeral marine habitats
(e.g. Chen et al., 2018; Roterman et al., 2016; Amon et al., 2015; Marsh et al., 2015; Nye & Copley, 2014; Nye et al., 2013; Copley et al., 2007; Copley & Young, 2006; Copley et al., 2003)

How do animals "hop" from vent to vent, or seep to seep, or whale skeleton to whale skeleton, in the deep ocean? The species we find in these island-like habitats on the ocean floor seem to have a variety of life cycles, types of larval development, and reproductive patterns. But are some features of their life-history biology "preadaptations" for success in these environments? And what are the consequences of differences in life-history biology for dispersal, gene flow, and ultimately biogeography?

My work in this area involves characterising the life-cycles of animals from hydrothermal vents, cold seeps, whale-falls, and wood-falls, in conjunction with studies of the genetics of their populations by colleagues around the world.

Research grants:

Co-Investigator, The colonisation of hydrothermal vents by complex life: a natural experiment in macroevolution (NERC £419k Standard Grant), 2017-2020

Principal Investigator, Hydrothermal activity and deep-ocean biology of the Mid-Cayman Rise (NERC £393k Standard Grant), 2009-2014

Co-Investigator, ChEsSo: Chemosynthetic Ecosystems of the Southern Ocean (NERC £927k Consortium Grant), 2008-2014

Principal Investigator, Biogeography and ecology of the first known deep-sea vent site on the ultraslow-spreading SW Indian Ridge (NERC £29k Small Grant), 2011-2012

Lead investigator, Deep-sea vents between the Azores and Iceland: missing piece in a global puzzle of marine life (£43k National Geographic Expeditions Fund Grant), 2011-2012

Partner, DEEPSETS: Deep-sea & Extreme Environments, Patterns of Species and Ecosystem Time Series (£164k EU FP6 MarBEF Network of Excellence project), 2004-2009

Other projects:

Advisory board member, EU Horizon2020 RETHINK project, examining science communication across Europe, 2019-2021

Project Partner, Blue seas thinking: a comparative approach to understanding deep-sea mining politics in the UK and Japan (ESRC network grant), 2019

Project Partner, Benthic biodiversity under Antarctic ice shelves: baseline assessment of the seabed exposed by the 2017 calving of the Larsen-C Ice Shelf (NERC urgency grant), 2017-2018

Exploring the deep (£7k NERC Summer of Science public engagement grant), 2016

Research Impact:

4* REF2014 Impact Case Study: "Explore the deep: public engagement with deep-ocean research"

Copley J (2018). Providing evidence of "impact" from public engagement with research: a case study from the UK's Research Excellence Framework (REF). Research For All, 2(2): 230-243, doi:10.18546/RFA.02.2.03.

PhD Supervision:

Regan Drennan (2019-): The origin of Antarctic ice shelf fauna, the timing of its emergence and the demographic stability of the fauna over time (co-supervised with Adrian Glover, Natural History Museum; Katrin Linse, British Antarctic Survey; Thomas Dahlgren, University of Gothenberg)

Amber Cobley (2015-): Open oceans, open data: biodiversity and policy in the global deep-sea mining frontier (co-supervised Adrian Glover, Natural History Museum; & Maria Baker, University of Southampton).

Dr Abbie Chapman (PhD, 2014-2018): A functional trait perspective on the biodiversity of hydrothermal vent communities (co-supervised with Amanda Bates, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada; Adrian Glover, Natural History Museum; & Verena Tunnicliffe, University of Victoria, Canada).

Dr Laura Hepburn (2009-2015): Geochemistry of hydrothermal systems south of the Antarctic Polar Front (co-supervised with Rachel Mills, University of Southampton).

Dr Chong Chen (DPhil 2011-2015, Oxford University): Systematics and population genetics of peltospirid gastropods at southern hemisphere hydrothermal vents (co-supervised with Alex Rogers, Oxford University; & Katrin Linse, British Antarctic Survey).

Dr Nicolai Roterman (DPhil 2009-2014, Oxford University): Biogeography of deep-sea polar hydrothermal vent and cold seep communities (co-supervised with Alex Rogers, Oxford University; & Katrin Linse, British Antarctic Survey).

Dr Leigh Marsh (2009-2013): Controls on faunal microdistribution and reproductive development in deep-sea chemosynthetic environments (co-supervised with Paul Tyler, University of Southampton).

Dr Verity Nye (2010-2013): Life history biology and biogeography of invertebrates in deep-sea chemosynthetic environments (co-supervised with Paul Tyler, University of Southampton).

Dr Diva Amon (2010-2013): Bone-eating worms and wood-boring bivalves: characterising the ecology of deep-sea organic falls from multiple ocean basins (co-supervised with Adrian Glover, Natural History Museum).

Dr Daphne Cuvelier (2006-2011, University of the Azores): Temporal evolution of Mid-Atlantic hydrothermal vent communities (co-supervised with DEEPSETS colleagues across Europe).

Dr Hannah Flint (2003-2007): Meiofaunal diversity of hydrothermal vents and cold seeps (co-supervised with Tim Ferrero, Natural History Museum).

Informing policy:

Provided written evidence to the House of Commons Environmental Audit Commitee inquiry on Sustainable Seas, quoted in its final report (2019).

Copley J (2018). Opportunities and challenges of the deep ocean: a choice for our future, Science In Parliament, Autumn 2018 issue, pg 7-8.

Guest speaker, Parliamentary & Scientific Committee "Into the deep - exploring our oceans" event (2018).

Provided written evidence to House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee inquiry on Marine Protected Areas, quoted in its final report (2016).

Contributor to Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology Briefing Note on deep-sea mining (2015).

Participant, Royal Society Parliamentary Pairing Scheme (2014).

Prepared case for an Ecologically or Biologically Sensitive Area (EBSA) in the Indian Ocean, submitted by the UK to a regional meeting of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (2013).

Deep-sea research expeditions:

Participant, MV Alucia expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula, December 2016, with the Nadir and Deep Rover 2 submersibles.

Participant, RV Yokosuka Voyage YK13-05 (Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology), Mid-Cayman Spreading Centre, Caribbean Sea, June 2013, with the Shinkai6500 submersible.

Principal Scientist, RRS James Cook Voyage 82, Mid-Cayman Spreading Centre, Caribbean Sea, February 2013, with the Isis remotely operated vehicle (ROV).

Principal Scientist, RRS James Cook Voyage 67, SW Indian Ridge, November 2011, with the Kiel6000 ROV.

Participant, RV Celtic Explorer Voyage CE11009 (Irish Marine Institute), northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge, July-August 2011, with the Holland-1 ROV.

Participant, RRS James Cook Voyage 55, Southern Ocean, January-February 2011.

Participant, RRS James Cook Voyage 44, Mid-Cayman Spreading Centre, Caribbean Sea, March-April 2010, with the Autosub6000 autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV).

Participant, RRS James Cook Voyage 42, East Scotia Ridge, Southern Ocean, January-February 2010, with the Isis ROV.

Participant, RRS James Clark Ross Voyage 224, East Scotia Ridge, Southern Ocean, January-February 2009.

Participant, Sumatra Earthquake And Tsunami Offshore Survey (SEATOS), MV The Performer with Magellan 825 ROV, Indian Ocean, May 2005.

Participant, RV Knorr expedition to Mid-Atlantic Ridge hydrothermal vents with Jason-2 ROV, November 2004.

Participant, RV Seward Johnson expedition to Gulf of Mexico cold seeps with Johnson Sealink submersibles, November 2003.

Participant, RRS James Clark Ross Voyage to Amundsen Sea with Autosub-2 AUV, February-April 2003.

Participant, RV Seward Johnson expedition to Gulf of Mexico cold seeps with Johnson Sealink submersibles, February 2003.

Participant, RV Edwin Link expedition to Gulf of Mexico cold seeps with Johnson Sealink submersibles, March 2002.

Participant, RRS Charles Darwin Voyage 120 to NE Atlantic.

Participant, DSSVS Laney Chouest expedition to Juan de Fuca Ridge hydrothermal vents with DSV Sea Cliff and Advanced Tethered Vehicle ROV of US Navy Deep Submergence Unit, September-October 1995.

Participant, British-Russian Atlantic Vents Expedition 1994 (BRAVEX/94) aboard RV Academik Mstislav Keldysh with Mir submersibles of the Russian Academy of Sciences, July-September 1994.

Research group

Marine Biology and Ecology

Research project(s)

Exploring the Deep Ocean

Sort via:TypeorYear

Articles

Book Chapter

Conferences

Letter/Editorial

Education Innovation & Research:

Fielding S, Copley JT & Mills RA (2019). Exploring Our Oceans: using the global classroom to develop ocean literacy. Frontiers In Marine Science, 6: 340, doi: 10.3389/fmars.2019.00340

MiniROV for teaching

Copley JT (2007). Audio and video podcasts of lectures for campus-based students: production and evaluation of student use. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 44: 387-399

Current Teaching (2019/20):

SOES6008 Deep-Sea Ecology - coordinator

SOES1006 Introduction to Marine Ecology & Evolution - lecturer

SOES1011 Functional Marine Biology - lecturer

Previous Teaching Roles:

Director of Postgraduate Taught Programmes in Ocean & Earth Science

Programme Leader, MSc Oceanography degree

Programme Leader, MSc Marine Resource Management degree

Lead Educator, Exploring Our Oceans Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)

Creator & coordinator, SOES6020 Structure & Dynamics of Marine Communities

Creator & coordinator, SOES6018 MSc Key Skills

Coordinator, SOES6039 MSc Research Projects

Coordinator, SOES2030 Marine Biology Field Skills

Coordinator, SOES1003 IT, Communication, Field & Laboratory Skills

Coordinator, OA634 Coastal & Estuarine Oceanography

Lecturer, SOES1008 Earth & Ocean System

Fieldwork tutor, SOES3018 Applied Oceanography & Fieldwork

Tutor, SOES6074 Contemporary Topics in Oceanography & Marine Biology

TV & Film documentaries:

Narrator, "Deepest dive in Antarctica reveals a seafloor teeming with life", OceanX & BBC Earth online short,
winner of 2019 Webby Award for Social - Education & Discovery

Academic consultant, "Oceans: Our Blue Planet" (2018),
3D IMAX documentary produced by BBC & OceanX

Onscreen contributor, BBC Four "From Ice to Fire: The Incredible Science of Temperature",
Episode 2: A Temperature for Life, 22 Feb 2018

Onscreen contributor, Discovery SCI "Strange Evidence" (2017):
Series 1, Episode 6: Monster of the Deep
Series 1, Episode 8: Lake of the Dead
Series 1, Episode 9: Ghost in the Abyss

BBC Natural History Unit "Blue Planet II" (2017):
academic consultant (Episode 2: The Deep) &
onscreen contributor (Episode 7: Our Blue Planet)

Scientific consultant, BBC Natural History Unit "Atlantic: The Wildest Ocean On Earth",
Episode 2: Mountains of the Deep, 06 Aug 2015

Narrator, "Hydrothermal vents: what does the future hold?" by Fereday Films (2014),
Emerging Film-maker finalist in the Blue Ocean Film Festival Awards

Onscreen contributor, BBC World "Treasures of the Deep", 28 Jun 2013

Onscreen contributor, National Geographic TV "Alien Deep" (2012),
Episode 3: It's Alive

Onscreen contributor, BBC One "Country Tracks", 08 Aug 2010

Onscreen contributor, BBC Four "Under Laboratory Conditions", 11 Jan 2006

Onscreen contributor, BBC One "Unstoppable Wave", 21 Dec 2005
& Discovery US "America's Tsunami", 18 Dec 2005

TV news & other:

Studio guest expert, "Jon Richardson: Ultimate Worrier", UKTV Dave, 04 Sep 2019
Live interview (remote studio), BBC News channel, 13 May 2019
Live studio discussion (Skype), Sky News, 29 Aug 2018
Interview (pre-rec), ABC Nightline (US), 11 Mar 2018
Live interview (OB), BBC Earth Unplugged, Blue Planet II World Premiere: Blue Carpet Live, 27 Sep 2017
Interview (pre-rec), Ten O'Clock News, BBC One, 06 May 2016
Interview (pre-rec Skype), ITV News At Ten, 06 May 2016
Interview (pre-rec), Sky News, 15 Apr 2014
Interview (pre-rec), Daily Planet, Discovery Canada, 25 Apr 2013
Live studio discussion, Channel 4 News, 22 Mar 2013
Interview (pre-rec), Cayman27 TV news, 25 Feb 2013
Interview (pre-rec), BBC One Breakfast, One O'Clock News, Six O'Clock News, Ten O'Clock News, & BBC World bulletins, 21 Feb 2013 (from RRS James Cook at sea)
Interview (pre-rec), Channel 4 News, 26 Mar 2012
Live interview (Skype), BBC News Channel, 28 Dec 2011
Interview (pre-rec), Six O'Clock News, BBC One, 28 Dec 2011
Live interview (remote studio), Channel 4 News, 03 Aug 2010
Interview (pre-rec), CNC3 News, Trinidad & Tobago, 25 Mar 2010
Interview (pre-rec), BBC News Channel, 29 Jul 2008
Studio guest, The Paul O'Grady Show, Channel 4, 28 Sep 2007
Live interview (OB), BBC News 24, 10 Sep 2007
Onscreen contributor, Einstein TV, 22 Feb 2002
Onscreen contributor, Einstein TV, 22 Dec 2001
Onscreen contributor, Sky Futurefile, 13 Mar 2001
Interview (pre-rec), BBC News 24, 21 Jan 2001
Studio guest, Livewire, Carlton Digital, Nov 1999

Radio documentaries & podcasts:

Contributor, Blue Planet II: The Podcast (7-part series), BBC iPlayer Radio, Oct-Dec 2017
(featuring "Copley's Catch Of The Day", talking about the science of one animal each week)

BBC Radio 4:

Contributor, Inside Science, BBC Radio 4, 01 Aug 2019

Contributor, Naturebang, BBC Radio 4:
Episode 3: The Portuguese Man O'War and the Individual, 19 Jun 2019

Live studio guest, Saturday Live, BBC Radio 4, 16 Feb 2019

Panelist, The Infinite Monkey Cage, BBC Radio 4, 07 Jan 2019
Panelist, The Infinite Monkey Cage, BBC Radio 4, 06 Feb 2017

Contributor, Costing The Earth, BBC Radio 4, 01 May 2018
Contributor, Costing the Earth, BBC Radio 4, 25 May 2011
Contributor, Costing The Earth, BBC Radio 4, 14 Apr 2010

Live interview, Today programme, BBC Radio 4, 10 Apr 2014
Interview, Today programme, BBC Radio 4, 21 Feb 2013
Interview, Today programme, BBC Radio 4, 16 Oct 2009

Live interview, World At One, BBC Radio 4, 29 May 2013
Interview, The World Tonight, BBC Radio 4, 28 Dec 2011

Contributor, "Into The Abyss", BBC Radio 4, 23 Jul 2014
Contributor, "Oceans: What Lies Beneath?", BBC Radio 4 series, Mar 2009
Studio guest, The Material World, BBC Radio 4, 27 Apr 2006

BBC World Service:

Studio guest, The Science Hour, BBC World Service, 21 Jul 2018
Studio guest, The Science Hour, BBC World Service, 05 May 2018
Studio guest, The Science Hour, BBC World Service, 17 Mar 2018
Studio guest, The Science Hour, BBC World Service, 19 Aug 2017

Contributor, The Compass: Ocean Stories (4-part series), BBC World Service
Episode 1: The Atlantic, 26 Nov 2017
Episode 2: The Indian Ocean, 03 Dec 2017
Episode 3: The Arctic and Southern Oceans, 10 Dec 2017
Episode 4: The Pacific Ocean, 17 Dec 2017

Interview, Science In Action, BBC World Service, 01 May 2014
Live interview, Newsday, BBC World Service, 11 Apr 2014
Contributor, Discovery, BBC World Service, 20 May 2013
Interview, Newshour, BBC World Service, 26 Mar 2012
Interview, World Update, BBC World Service, 28 Dec 2011
Live interview, Analysis, BBC World Service, 20 Jul 2009
Interview, Newshour, BBC World Service, 02 Aug 2007

BBC Radio 5 Live:

Live Q & A, BBC Radio 5 Live Your Call, 11 Dec 2017
Live interview, BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, 07 Nov 2017
Interview, The Naked Scientists, BBC Radio 5 live, 23 Jul 2017
Live interview, Morning Reports, BBC Radio 5 Live, 24 Mar 2014
Live interview, BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, 20 Mar 2012
Live interview, Drive, BBC Radio 5 Live, 28 Dec 2011
Live interview, Up All Night, BBC Radio 5 Live, 28 Dec 2011

BBC Radio Solent:

Live studio guest, Ask an expert, BBC Radio Solent, 14 Oct 2019
Interview, Drivetime, BBC Radio Solent, 13 May 2019
Live studio guest, Sasha Twining, BBC Radio Solent, 30 Nov 2017
Live interview, BBC Solent, 07 Nov 2017
Live interview, Drivetime, BBC Radio Solent, 07 Nov 2013
Live interview, Drivetime, BBC Radio Solent, 26 Mar 2012
Live interview, Drivetime, BBC Radio Solent, 28 Dec 2011
Interview, BBC Radio Solent, 11 Aug 2008
Live studio guest, review of the papers, Nick Girdler, BBC Radio Solent, 15 Jul 2005
Interview, BBC Radio Solent, 11 Dec 2003
Interview, BBC Radio Solent, 22 Jan 2002
Interview, BBC Radio Solent, 18 Jan 2001

Other BBC regional radio:

Interview, Nicky Price show, BBC Radio Gloucestershire, 05 Jun 2019
Interview, BBC Lincolnshire, 13 May 2019
Interview, BBC Hereford & Worcester, 13 May 2019
Interview, BBC Radio Jersey, 13 May 2019
Interview, BBC Radio Scotland, 13 May 2019
Interview, BBC Newcastle, 13 May 2019
Interview, BBC Cumbria, 13 May 2019
Interview, Adam Tomlinson & Anna Wallace show, BBC Radio York, 11 Apr 2019
Live interview, Drivetime, BBC Berkshire, 24 May 2018
Live interview, BBC Wales, 11 Dec 2017
Live interview, BBC Wales, 07 Nov 2017
Live interview, Drivetime, BBC Berkshire, 06 Nov 2017
Live interview, Drivetime, BBC Berkshire, 23 Oct 2017
Live interview, BBC Radio Scotland, 10 Apr 2014
Interview, BBC Radio Three Counties, 23 Feb 2012
Live interview, BBC Radio Wales, 23 Feb 2012
Interview, The Naked Scientists, BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, 16 Jan 2012
Live interview, BBC Radio Wales, 28 Dec 2011
Live interview, BBC Radio Scotland, 28 Dec 2011
Interview, BBC Radio Somerset, 28 Dec 2011
Live interview, BBC West Midlands, 20 Aug 2008
Interview, BBC Caribbean, 13 Aug 2008
Interview, BBC Three Counties Radio, 31 Aug 2001

Other Radio & Podcasting:

Interview, Overnights with Paul Ross, talkRADIO, 24 Sep 2018
Interview, Radio France Internationale, 16 Dec 2017
Interview, New Scientist podcast, 30 Nov 2017
Interview, The Anthill podcast from The Conversation UK, 26 Jul 2017
Interview, Pythagoras's Trousers, Radio Cardiff, 15 Sep 2014
Interview, People Behind the Science podcast, 29 Aug 2014
Interview, Jack FM, 08 Nov 2013
Interview, The Story, US National Public Radio, 14 Aug 2013
Interview, PRI's The World science podcast, 21 Feb 2013
Interview, The Pod Delusion podcast, 03 Aug 2012
Interview, Naked Oceans podcast, 11 Apr 2012
Interview, The Takeaway, US Public Radio, 26 Mar 2012
Interview, Future Tense, ABC, Australia, 26 Feb 2012
Interview, Voice of America news, 13 Jan 2012
Interview, Radio New Zealand, 24 May 2010
Interview, PRI's The World science podcast, 18 Feb 2010
Live interview, Wave105 drivetime, 12 Aug 2008
Interview, Original 106 FM, 11 Aug 2008
Interview, Vega 95.3, Sydney, Australia, 22 Dec 2005
Interview, The Science Show, ABC, Australia, 06 Nov 2004
Interview, Deutschlandfunk, 14 Oct 2004

Print & Online Media (coverage of my research):

BBC News online:

BBC News, 04 Dec 2017
BBC Earth, 13 Apr 2017
BBC News, 19 Dec 2016
BBC News, 14 Dec 2016
BBC News, 23 Jul 2014
BBC News, 12 May 2014
BBC News, 29 Jun 2013
BBC News, 18 May 2013
BBC News, 21 Feb 2013
BBC News, 10 Jan 2012
BBC News, 28 Dec 2011
BBC News, 12 Apr 2010
BBC News, 09 Aug 2008
BBC News, 10 Sep 2007
BBC News, 12 Jul 2007

New Scientist:

New Scientist, 09 Mar 2019, p 16
New Scientist, 11 Aug 2018, p 34-35
New Scientist, 03 Jun 2017, p 9
New Scientist online, 10 Jan 2012
New Scientist online, 05 Jul 2011
New Scientist, 02 Jul 2011, p 8
New Scientist online, 11 Apr 2010
New Scientist, 06 Dec 2008, p 6
New Scientist, 01 Dec 2007, p 6
New Scientist, 20 Aug 2005, p 6

National Geographic:

National Geographic News, 04 Jan 2012
National Geographic News, 26 Oct 2011
National Geographic News, 08 Aug 2011
National Geographic News, 27 Jul 2011
National Geographic News, 12 Apr 2010

Other print & online:

The Guardian online, 20 May 2019
The Times, 05 Apr 2019, p 11
Daily Express, 11 Mar 2019, p 23
Daily Express online, 13 Mar 2019
Daily Express online, 10 Mar 2019
iNews, 17 Sep 2018
Double Helix magazine, 15 Jul 2018, p 26
Daily Star, 09 Mar 2018
Earthzine, 05 Mar 2018
SCI blog, 11 Dec 2017
Evening Standard, 06 Dec 2017
BuzzFeed News, 21 Aug 2017
Live Science, 16 Dec 2016
Christian Science Monitor, 11 Aug 2016
The Washington Post, 29 Jul 2016
Borneo Post online, 15 May 2016
Geospace AGU blog, 25 Jan 2016
Technologist magazine, 07 Dec 2015
Daily Mail online, 03 Mar 2015
Southern Daily Echo, 25 Apr 2015
Earth magazine, 27 May 2014
The Guardian online, 30 Apr 2014
Wellington Weekly News, 10 Jul 2013, p 5
Yahoo! News, 19 Mar 2013
Daily Mail online, 19 Mar 2013
Southern Daily Echo, 18 Mar 2013
Associated Press, 27 Feb 2013
Daily Express, 21 Feb 2013
REDES magazine, Spain, Jun 2012
The Ecologist, 21 Feb 2012
Caymanian Compass, 12 Jan 2012
Daily Mail online, 12 Jan 2012
Macleans magazine, Canada, 11 Jan 2012
scientias.nl, 11 Jan 2012
Southern Daily Echo, 10 Jan 2012, p 4
MSNBC.com, 10 Jan 2012
ScienceNews, 10 Jan 2012
LiveScience.com, 10 Jan 2012
Discovery News, 10 Jan 2012
Nature News Blog, 04 Jan 2012
The Washington Post, 03 Jan 2012
The Times, 29 Dec 2011, p 17
The Guardian, 29 Dec 2011, p 18
Southern Daily Echo, 29 Dec 2011, p 3
The Irish Times, 16 Dec 2011
CNN.com, 13 Apr 2010
Associated Press, 13 Apr 2010
Metro, 12 Apr 2010, p 15
The Times, 11 Apr 2010, p 19
Daily Mail Online, 11 Apr 2010
Caymanian Compass, 31 Mar 2010
The Daily Telegraph, 8 Oct 2009
The Times, 7 Oct 2009, p 4
Daily Telegraph, 12 May 2009
Caymanian Compass, 12 Jan 2009
Caymanian Compass, 12 Aug 2008
Daily Mail online, 12 Aug 2008
Metro, 12 Aug 2008, p 3
Southern Daily Echo, 11 Aug 2008, p 3
Southern Daily Echo, 20 Oct 2007
Independent on Sunday, 16 Sep 2007
The Daily Telegraph online, 10 Sep 2007
The Guardian online, 10 Sep 2007
The Times, 10 Sep 2007
The Independent online, 10 Sep 2007
Stranger magazine, Feb 2007
Nature News online, 06 Aug 2004
Nature, 29 May 2003, vol 423 p 469

'Face-to-face' Public Engagement:

Keynote talks:

New Scientist Live Main Stage speaker, Sep 2018: "Blue planet, unseen"
Keynote speaker, European Marine Science Educators Association conference, Oct 2018
Keynote speaker, Royal Society of Biology Education Awards Ceremony, Jul 2018
Keynote speaker, European Maritime Day, May 2017
Keynote speaker, 12th Marine Biological Association Postgraduate Conference, May 2015
Keynote speaker, 24th International Conference on College Learning & Teaching, Apr 2013

2019 talks:

Gateshead Words Weekend, 09 Dec 2019
Wantage Literary Festival, 30 Oct 2019
Dorchester Literary Festival, 15 Oct 2019
New Scientist Live, 13 Oct 2019: "Trekking across the abyss", Earth Stage
Morley Arts Festival, Leeds, 07 Oct 2019
Henley Literary Festival, 02 Oct 2019
The Diving Museum, Gosport, 13 Jul 2019
Royal Shakespeare Company writers' group, 04 Jul 2019
West Kirby Literary Festival, 08 Jun 2019
Royal Geographical Society "How To Save The Oceans" event, London, 05 Jun 2019
Cheltenham Science Festival, 04 Jun 2019
Hay Festival, 29 May 2019
Wimborne Literary Festival, 11 May 2019
Stratford-upon-Avon Literary Festival, 04 May 2019
Books By The Beach, Scarborough, 11 Apr 2019
Edinburgh Science Festival, 10 Apr 2019
Bath Theatre Royal, 05 Apr 2019
Huddersfield Literature Festival, 21 Mar 2019
Words by the Water Festival, Keswick, 17 Mar 2019
Authors4Oceans, Oxford, 23 Feb 2019
Gresham College public lecture, 15 Jan 2019

Previous talks:

Pondero talk, Winchester, Nov 2018
Royal Society Beyond Challenger meeting, Nov 2018
Institute of Fisheries Management, London & SE Branch Sherry Evening, Oct 2018
New Scientist Live, Sep 2018: "Inventions inspired by ocean life", Engineering Stage
Bluedot Festival, Jul 2018
The Diving Museum, Gosport, Jul 2018
New Forest Rotary, Jul 2018
Parliamentary & Scientific Committee, Apr 2018
GW4 Crucible, Jan 2018
Royal Society of Biology Wessex Branch AGM, Nov 2017
Lyndhurst U3A, Nov 2017
Chemical & Physical Society, UCL, Jan 2017
Medicine Unboxed, Cheltenham, Nov 2016
U3A at the Ri, Royal Institution, Oct 2016
Bluedot festival, Jodrell Bank, Jul 2016
British Science Festival, Bradford, Sep 2015
Lloyd's Register maritime media dinner, Feb 2015
RCUK/NERC HQ lunchtime staff talk, Feb 2015
Hampshire & Wight Wildlife Trust, Nov 2014
Odiham U3A, Oct 2014
Mayoral charity talk, Wellington, May 2014
Basingstoke Cafe Scientifique, Apr 2014
Wallace in Bristol event, Aug 2013
Hamble Valley Probus, Mar 2013
TEDxSouthamptonUniversity, Mar 2013
Nature Live, Natural History Museum, Feb 2013 (live from sea)
Horsham Geological Field Group, Nov 2012
Winchester Science Festival, Jul 2012
University of Southampton Jubilee Open Day, Jun 2012
Wessex Society of Biology, May 2012
Wykeham Probus, Apr 2012
Open Day, National Oceanography Centre, Mar 2012
Winchester Cafe Scientifique, Feb 2012
Chandler's Ford & Itchen Valley Rotary Club, Jan 2012
Wellington & Monument Probus, May 2011
Dorset Natural History Society, Apr 2011
Winchester U3A, Apr 2011
Open Day, National Oceanography Centre, Mar 2011
London Diving Chamber Dive Lectures, Royal Geographical Society, Mar 2011
Ecology & Conservation Studies Society, Birkbeck University of London, Nov 2010
University of Southampton Alumni Reunion, Sept 2010
Royal Society Cafe Scientifique, Jun 2010
Planet Ocean Seminar, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Nov 2009
Science Live Oxford, Oct 2009
Bartley Group of Women's Institutes, Jun 2009
Countryside Education Trust, Beaulieu, Mar 2009
Endeavour Soc, University of Wales Bangor, Mar 2009
London Vascular Biology Forum, Dec 2008
Biosciences Federation, London, Nov 2008
Chichester University of the Third Age, Jul 2008
Open University Geological Society, May 2008
NOCS Corporate Climate Seminar, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, London, Feb 2008
Wellcome Trust annual media dinner, Oct 2007
Cafe Scientifique, Portsmouth, Oct 2007
Manchester Science Festival, Oct 2007
Charles Lyell Award Lecture, British Association Festival of Science, York, Sep 2007
Hampshire Fed WI & Southampton U3A, Aug 2007
Endeavour Soc, University of Wales Bangor, Feb 2006
John Jolly Memorial Colloquium, Trinity College Dublin, Nov 2005
Institute of Biology members evening, Sep 2005
Oceanography Centre Marine Life Talks, Jun 2005
5th Winfrith Annual Lecture, NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Mar 2005
Wrexham Science Festival, Mar 2005
Southampton Geology Field Studies Group, Sep 2004
British Association Festival, Exeter, Sep 2004
Science and the Oceans, Oxford University, Jan 2004
Edinburgh Geological Society, Nov 2003
University of Liverpool Herdman Society, Nov 2002
Cambridge University Department of Zoology, Nov 2001
Brighton & Hove Geological Society, Nov 2001
Southampton Geology Field Studies Group, May 2001
Oceanography Centre Marine Life Talks, Nov 2000
Geologists' Association, London, Sep 1999
British Association Festival, Cardiff, Sep 1998

Schools outreach:

Forres Sandle Manor School "EcoDay", May 2019
Hampshire Collegiate School, Mar 2019
Thomas Hardye Community Lecture, Dorchester, Mar 2019
Coylton Grammar School, Devon, Mar 2019
Forres Sandle Manor School, Feb 2019
UWC Atlantic College, Glamorgan, Nov 2018
Whitley Bay High School, Newcastle, Oct 2018
St Swithun's School, Apr 2018
Forres Sandle Manor School, Jan & Feb 2018
Wellington School "Horizons" lecture, May 2017
Bryanston School Science Society, Nov 2014
University of Southampton A-level Summer School, Jul 2014
Wellington School, Jul 2014
Richard Huish College, Jun 2014
Downside School, Nov 2013
Academic Summer, Sidcott School, Somerset, Jul 2013
University of Southampton Summer School, Jul 2013
Bournemouth School, May 2013
Ferndown Upper School, Feb 2013 (live from sea)
Downside School, Feb 2013 (live from sea)
Thomas Hardye School, Feb 2013 (live from sea)
Downside School, Oct 2012
Wellington School, Oct 2012
Thomas Hardye School, Oct 2012
London International Youth Science Forum, Aug 2012
University of Southampton A-level Summer Schools, Aug 2012
Thomas Hardye School, May 2012
The Prince's Teaching Institute, Mar 2012 (CPD event for biology teachers)
Lychett Minster School, Dorset, Feb 2012
Brentford School for Girls, May 2011
Ferndown High School, Mar 2011
The Prince's Teaching Institute, Mar 2011 (CPD event for biology teachers)
Bedales School, Mar 2011
Stonar School, Mar 2011
Thomas Hardye Community Lecture, Sep 2010
Thomas Hardye School, May 2010
Chichester College, Oct 2009
Thomas Hardye School, Jun 2009
Havant College, Nov 2008
Chichester College, Nov 2008
Society for Underwater Technology Christmas Lectures, National Maritime Museum, Dec 2005
Rendcomb College, Cirencester, Feb 2005
Monmouth Group Biology Meeting, Taunton, Jun 2004 (CPD event for teachers)
Kings College, Taunton, Oct 2003
Taunton School Scientific Society, Sep 2003
Hayfield School, Doncaster, Nov 2001

Events & exhibitions:

The Ocean Debates, Royal Institution, Oct 2015
NERC RRS Discovery in London event, Oct 2015
Science Uncovered, Natural History Museum, Sep 2015
Southampton Boat Show, Sep 2013
Science Uncovered, Natural History Museum, Sep 2012
INTECH Science Centre adults evening, May 2012
World Conference on Marine Biodiversity, Sep 2011
Southampton Boat Show, Sep 2010
Southampton Boat Show, Sep 2009
Lyme Regis Fossil Festival, May 2009
Southampton Boat Show, Sep 2008
Science Museum Aliens of the Abyss event, Jul 2005
Royal Society & Royal Society of Edinburgh Summer Science exhibitions, Jun 2000

Popular Science Writing:

Author, Ask an Ocean Explorer, published by Hodder & Stoughton (2019):

"deftly conjures the wonders of a bathynaut's world"
- Nature review

"an engaging book sprinkled with mind-blowing facts about the deep ocean"
- Daily Express review

"a new informed perspective on the wide, watery world we inhabit"
- Coast magazine Book of the Month, May 2019

"the gripping story of how ocean science has advanced in recent years is captivatingly told by Jon Copley in this introduction to the deep ocean"
- China Dialogue review

Diarist, Science, not Art: Ten Scientists' Diaries, published by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (2003)

I explored the Antarctic deep seas for Blue Planet II
(The Independent, Metro, Huffington Post UK, & The Conversation, 06 Nov 2017)

Just how little do we know about the ocean floor?
(Scientific American, IFLScience, & The Conversation, 09 Oct 2014)

Five thousand metres under the sea: my journey to another world
(The Guardian, 05 Jul 2013)

Litter found in deepsea survey of one of Earth's final unexplored realms
(The Guardian, 25 Feb 2013)

Bylined articles in New Scientist:

When politics met science: harmony or hegemony? 05 Dec 2014
Into the dragons' den, 07 Apr 2007
Springtime in the abyss, 12 Nov 2005
Millions of bacterial species revealed underfoot, 25 Aug 2005
From shore to shining shore, 28 May 2005
Sports events leave a giant 'ecological footprint', 16 Apr 2005
Lonely whale's song remains a mystery, 10 Dec 2004
Beach blob mystery solved at last, 27 Jun 2004
Toxic brew engulfs Namibia's fisheries, 07 Feb 2004
Utopia under the sea, 02 Aug 2004
Rime of the ancient submariner, 14 Jun 2003
Proof of life, 22 Feb 2003
Icy waste, 12 Oct 2002
Body gets a healing boost from its inner electric fields, 28 Sep 2002
Rodents to rat on criminals, 15 Jun 2002
Coral reefs operated free-market economy, 28 Apr 2002
Water world, 30 Mar 2002
...and taxes, 23 Feb 2002
Planespotters to be freed on bail, 13 Dec 2001
Deep-sea bugs produce super sunscreen, 02 Nov 2001
Why the Earth is blue, 13 Oct 2001
Sea level study reveals Atlantis candidate, 19 Sep 2001
Love is in the air, 18 Aug 2001
Spoiling for a fight, 28 Jul 2001
Sea spirit, 28 Jul 2001
Fair-weather friends, 16 Jun 2001
Raging bull, 30 May 2001
Here's looking at you, 12 May 2001
Fussy fish fake it, 17 Mar 2001
Load of old bull, 17 Feb 2001
Hit and run on the high seas, 27 Jan 2001
Deep sea vents are giants, 14 Dec 2000
Sneak attack, 02 Dec 2000
Tainted wilderness, 14 Oct 2000
Master blaster, 14 Oct 2000
In a spin, 07 Oct 2000
Speaking in whistles, 02 Sep 2000
Making waves, 03 Jun 2000
Deeper meaning to a glittering enigma, 13 May 2000
In from the cold, 15 Apr 2000
Rival species indulge in sperm warfare, 25 Mar 2000
Ooze cruise, 11 Mar 2000
Cut off in their prime, 19 Feb 2000
Bear trails, 19 Feb 2000
Under pressure, 11 Dec 1999
The Cold War resurfaces, 20 Nov 1999
Gifts and gore, 20 Nov 1999
The worms that turned into mega-breeders, 06 Nov 1999
Indestructible, 23 Oct 1999
Golden probe, 09 Oct 1999
Brisk swimmers, 04 Sep 1999
Smoke on the water, 21 Aug 1999
Hello, boys, 17 Jul 1999
Let the people speak, 22 May 1999
Cheep thrills, 08 May 1999
Squeaky clean, 01 May 1999
Namibian bugs crash through the size barrier, 24 Apr 1999
Back to basics, 17 Apr 1999
Ulcers on tap, 03 Apr 1999
Off their food, 03 Apr 1999
Seeing the light, 20 Mar 1999
Wet welcome, 20 Mar 1999
Organs take sides, 27 Feb 1999
Acne and ecstasy, 27 Feb 1999
Artful dodgers, 20 Feb 1999
Fleeting return of the native, 13 Feb 1999
Deep life, 13 Feb 1999
Milk me, please, 30 Jan 1999
Why we do it, 23 Jan 1999
A runt for life, 09 Jan 1999
Hunger striker pulls back from the brink, 12 Dec 1998
IVF is a pain in the back, 12 Dec 1998
Going for a spin, 12 Dec 1998
Portrait of an artist, 05 Dec 1998
Burning question, 28 Nov 1998
Recipe for disaster, 14 Nov 1998
Putting life on hold, 07 Nov 1998
Enter a new dimension, 07 Nov 1998
Lifting the lid, 31 Oct 1998
Right on target, 31 Oct 1998
Running on air, 24 Oct 1998
Sea signals, 17 Oct 1998
Battle of the bilge, 10 Oct 1998
Nearly out of Africa, 10 Oct 1998
It's no way to go, 10 Oct 1998
Slave labour, 26 Sep 1998
Hot spots left to cool, 19 Sep 1998
Pinpoint precision, 12 Sep 1998
Walk this way, 05 Sep 1998
Fancy a spot of dinner? 22 Aug 1998
Deadly diet, 08 Aug 1998
Sniffing danger, 01 Aug 1998
Mine hunter, 01 Aug 1998
Tar babies, 25 Jul 1998
Tainted catch, 18 Juy 1998
Secret life of the shrimp, 01 Nov 1997

 

Dr Jon Copley
Ocean and Earth Science
National Oceanography Centre Southampton
University of Southampton Waterfront Campus
European Way
Southampton SO14 3ZH
UK

Room Number: NOCS/164/11


Dr Jon Copley's personal home page
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