Skip to main navigation Skip to main content
The University of Southampton
Research

Explore Blue Planet II

Have you been inspired by the BBC's Blue Planet II?

Find out about our academics' involvement in the series and how you can dive into the world of ocean and marine science.

Fish sheltering under flotsam. (C) David Valencia (BBC)
The University of Southampton is working to preserve marine habitats

We're creating a sea change

As world leaders in research and education in Marine and Ocean Science, the University of Southampton is tackling the most pressing scientific questions about our aquatic world – from the coast to the deep ocean.

Southampton graduates, turned academics, Dr Jon Copley and Dr Cathy Lucas were asked by the BBC to be scientific advisors on this latest Blue Planet series.

Here you can learn more about our oceans and join in the conversation @OceanEarthUoS .

What's it like studying our Blue Planet at Southampton?

Student Kieran Murray

Read our student blog

After every episode of Blue Planet II our students Kieran and Elin will be blogging about the programme and relating it back to what they are learning on their course.

Prof Wiedenmann diving

The degrees we offer

Explore all our undergraduate and postgraduate degree opportunities in marine and ocean science.

Photo of Elin Thomas, MSci Marine Biology, final year
The Blue Planet series inspired me to follow a career in marine biology......[My] project is supervised by Dr Jon Copley, whose work on Yeti Crabs will be featured in the upcoming Blue Planet II series.
Elin Thomas, MSci Marine Biology, final year
Photo of Kieran Murray, MSci Marine Biology
It is difficult to overstate the importance of the original Blue Planet on my generation's understanding of the Earth. The first time I had ever seen a deep sea creature was in the second episode of the first series, and 16 years later I'm studying deep sea ecology.
Kieran Murray, MSci Marine Biology

Marine Biology field trip

Find out what life is like on a Southampton University Marine Biology field trip

About this course

Inspired by Blue Planet

Kelly Greener, a current undergraduate, tells how she came to study Oceanography and how Blue Planet inspired her.

About this course

Extend your knowledge of subjects covered in Blue Planet II

Research undertaken by staff here at the University of Southampton has informed much of the science that is covered in Blue Planet II.

Episode by episode you will be able to find articles and videos explaining more about the science behind Blue Planet, plus expert commentary from our staff and students and links to Dr Jon Copley's 'Catch of the Day' in the BBC's weekly podcast.

Deep sea Neolepas

Our research on the deep sea

Watch Dr Jon Copley's TEDx talk and hear about how a Southampton team discovered the world's deepest known undersea volcanic vent.

Fish swimming amongst kelp

Our research on green seas

Read about our PhD student's close encounter with sharks in a mangrove swamp and our discoveries about marine bacteria.

Wandering Albatross in South Georgia (copyright BBC)

Preserving our blue planet

We are determined to make a sea change. Read how our research preserved a fragile coral reef and how our work is helping to predict flooding and global sea levels.

3 June 2024

Most dangerous areas for whale shark-shipp...

Researchers have found that heavily used shipping lanes pass throug...

Read More
3 June 2024

Volcanic ash reveals chaos-causing seaweed...

Scientists have used volcanic ash and ocean models to track the jou...

Read More
3 June 2024

Global activity of seafloor biodiversity m...

A team of scientists from the USA and UK has used artificial intell...

Read More

Dr Jon Copley, scientific advisor Blue Planet II

Dr Cathy Lucas, scientific advisor Blue Planet II

Learn more about our oceans

In partnership with FutureLearn we offer a free online course, open to anyone who would like to find out more about our oceans.

Over the four week course you will be able to explore ocean biodiversity, life in the deep sea and how humans are impacting the deep ocean.

The course is now signing up for February 2018.

Isopod

Take our free online course

Explore the oceans in this four week online course.

Sign up now
Privacy Settings