Dr Jonathan Copley BSc(Hons), MSc, PhD
Associate Professor in Ocean Exploration & Public Engagement
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Dr Jonathan 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)
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" habitats such as hydrothermal vents, my work examines interactions between ecology ("who does what"), biogeography ("who lives where"), and evolution ("who is related to whom") in the ocean depths.
I have more than twenty years of experience in exploring the deep ocean, including leading expeditions aboard research ships, using Human-Occupied Vehicles (HOVs) and Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), and discovering new species of deep-sea animals.
In June 2013 I became the first British person to dive more than 5 km deep in the ocean, taking part in the first dive by a human-occupied vehicle to the world's deepest known hydrothermal vents. In December 2016 I also took part in the first dives by human-occupied vehicles to 1 km deep in the Antarctic, during filming of the BBC's Blue Planet 2 series.
As our everyday lives are connected to the deep ocean in ways we seldom realise, I work with documentary makers to share the exploration of the deep ocean with people worldwide, and routinely interact with news media to raise awareness of deep-sea issues and my team's discoveries.
I frequently talk about about exploring the deep ocean to public audiences ranging from local school and community groups to major events and festivals, and have created online resources for people to join in our voyages. This overall programme of public engagement with ocean exploration resulted in a successful "Impact Case Study" for REF2014.
As a "popular science" writer, I have also published more than 150 articles in magazines and newspapers such as The Guardian, Nature, and New Scientist (where I was a Reporter and Assistant News Editor).
Positions held
Since 2014: Scientific Associate of the Natural History Museum
2011-2012: National Geographic Explorer (recipient of Expeditions Fund Grant)
2010-2012: Co-Chair of InterRidge initiative for international cooperation in mid-ocean ridge research
2007-2013: Lecturer in Marine Ecology, University of Southampton
2005-2007: Senior Teaching Fellow in Marine Ecology, University of Southampton
2000-2004: Science Coordinator, NERC Autosub Under Ice research programme
2000-2005: Teaching Fellow in Marine Ecology, University of Southampton
1998-1999: Intern, then Reporter, then Assistant News Editor, New Scientist magazine
Education
PhD in Oceanography, University of Southampton, 1998
MSc in Oceanography, University of Southampton, 1994
First Class BSc(Hons) in Zoology, University of Sheffield, 1992