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)
Jon is a marine ecologist exploring patterns of life in the deep ocean that covers most of our planet. His research investigates "island-like" habitats on the ocean floor such as hydrothermal vents, cold seeps, and whale-falls, where he studies the interactions between ecology ("who does what"), biogeography ("who lives where"), and evolution ("who is related to whom").
Jon has been involved in exploring the deep ocean over the past 25 years, using Human-Occupied Vehicles (HOVs) and Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), occasionally leading expeditions aboard research ships, and discovering new species of deep-sea animals. He took part in the first HOV dive to the world's deepest known hydrothermal vents (hot springs 5 km down on the ocean floor) and the first HOV dives to reach 1 km deep in the Antarctic.
Jon is a National Geographic Explorer, a Scientific Associate of the Natural History Museum in London, and a former Co-Chair of InterRidge, the organisation coordinating international research at mid-ocean ridges. He has published more than sixty research papers and been Principal Investigator or a Co-Investigator on research grants totalling >£6.6 million. His work has also involved advising policymakers on the protection of deep-sea habitats, and he produced a 4* "Impact Case Study" for the UK's REF2014 assessment.
Jon has taught marine ecology and oceanography since 2000, creating modules from first-year undergraduate to Masters level. He was Director of Postgraduate Taught Programmes in Ocean and Earth Science, and Lead Educator in the development of a free online course about Exploring Our Oceans, since taken by more than 50,000 people from 180+ countries. He has received Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Teaching and for Postgraduate Training, and been nominated several times by students for Students' Union teaching awards.
In the "public engagement" part of his role, Jon works with 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 he routinely interacts with broadcasters and news media to raise awareness of deep-sea issues and discoveries.
Jon is the author of the "popular science" book Ask An Ocean Explorer and has written more than 150 articles for outlets such as New Scientist magazine, where he was previously a Reporter and Assistant News Editor. He often talks about exploring the deep ocean at public events and festivals, and he is a recipient of the Royal Society of Biology Science Communication Award for Established Researchers and the British Science Association Charles Lyell Lecture Award.
Outside the University, in 2006 Jon co-founded SciConnect Ltd, a capacity-building company that has trained more than 15,000 scientists in communication skills to share their work with wider audiences, for clients including research institutions, funding bodies, government agencies, NGOs and companies across the UK and in Europe.
Other roles:
Since 2014: Scientific Associate of the Natural History Museum, London
Since 2011: National Geographic Explorer
Since 2006: Co-founder & Director of SciConnect Ltd
Previous roles:
2007-2017: Lecturer, then Associate Professor in Marine Ecology, University of Southampton
2010-2012: Co-Chair of Interidge initiative, coordinating international research at mid-ocean ridges
2000-2007: Teaching Fellow, then Senior Teaching Fellow in Marine Ecology, University of Southampton
2000-2004: Science Coordinator, UK Autosub Under Ice research programme
1998-1999: Reporter, then Assistant News Editor, New Scientist magazine
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 Supervision and 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
Education
PhD in Oceanography, University of Southampton, 1998
MSc in Oceanography, University of Southampton, 1994
- John Raymont Memorial Prize for top performance
First Class BSc(Hons) in Zoology, University of Sheffield, 1992
- JD Jones Prize for top performance