Integrating Macroecology and Modelling to Elucidate Regulation of Services from Ecosystems (IMMERSE)

Lead Research Organisation: Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Department Name: Plymouth Marine Lab

Abstract

Coastal and shelf marine ecosystems are highly productive, bringing great benefits to humans. These benefits, called "ecosystem services" include food supply, recycling and recreation. Coastal and shelf seas are rich, productive and close to large human populations, so they are under great pressure from factors such as fishing and climate change.

Despite years of intensive study, our knowledge of how shelf ecosystems work is still patchy. Therefore we cannot yet predict how they will respond to changes. IMMERSE combines researchers with complementary track records from across 11 UK institutes. We will develop an integrated, whole-ecosystem approach to understand how changes occur in marine ecosystems and how these affect the services they provide. We will a) synthesise and analyse the vast array of existing, but scattered, data, b) target key data gaps and choke-points in our understanding with focussed fieldwork and experimentation and c) combine these into a suite of computer models that explore future consequences of changes and perturbations for ecosystem services. Our geographical focus will be the western seas, from the western English Channel, through the Celtic and Irish Seas, to western Scotland, although relevant data will be included from a wider area.

The novelty of this project is fourfold:

First, we will use novel web-based approaches to combine existing datasets and rate process measurements, from microbes to whales, and at whole shelf scales. By combining these datasets and published data, we can deduce the underlying "ecological rules" that operate at the level of the individual but lead to patterns at the ecosystem scale - for example how an organism's mortality or feeding rate depends on its body size and the ambient temperature.

Second we will target key knowledge gaps by applying the latest method developments in understanding food webs. We will use isotopic methods to trace the relative input of seaweed and planktonic algae into the base of the food web; we will follow these isotopic tracers in the lab and in the wild to understand exactly how these plants are incorporated into the rest of food web; we will use new image analysis technology to quantify the full size range of organisms in the sea; and we will use the latest molecular techniques to trace who eats whom.

The third novelty is that we will use not just one model to understand these ecosystem linkages but six models, all based on different assumptions. This "ensemble" approach is similar to climate forecasting, but is in its infancy in the sea. We will inform these models with the data synthesised and collected above, and then compare the output across the whole ensemble. This approach limits the shortcomings of any single model for a more robust picture of how the ecosystem works. These models will then be challenged with different scenarios of change, for example changing fishing effort or establishing conservation zones, with and without warming.

The fourth novelty of our approach is that we include a small but important socioeconomic part to our proposal. This will enable policy makers to convert the output from models into economic valuations and indicators, so that judgements can be made on management decisions for a suite of marine ecosystem services.

IMMERSE is part of a larger NERC funding scheme, and its outputs spanning the whole of the food web will be tailored to support the next two rounds of funding: first in developing NERC's model of the lower reaches of the food web, and second in testing efficiency of potential management interventions. The legacies of this project will include tools and combined datasets that will place the UK in a leading position to understand whole ecosystems and the consequences of change in terms of ecosystem services.

Planned Impact

The IMMERSE programme will have far reaching impact upon a diverse range of beneficiaries, including policy makers, environmental managers, marine monitoring initiatives and wider society. The programme outputs will place the UK as an international leader in macroecology and ecosystem modelling by improving understanding of the regulation of key ecosystem services, scale-dependence in the underlying processes, functional diversity at different trophic levels and the impact of stressors on the marine environment. It will also provide vital data for, and improvements to, UK marine modelling to explore the impact of environmental change on the structure, function and services associated with marine food webs across scales.
The research and outputs generated by the programme will primarily be of direct relevance and benefit to UK and European policymakers and environmental managers working towards the sustainable exploitation of the UK and Europe's marine environment. These include those working within the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Marine Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, Natural Resources Wales, Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), United Nations Environmental Programme, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and others. By using already well-established links with these organizations and developing these further, targeted outputs will be disseminated to policy beneficiaries to help refine current indicators of state and drivers, ensuring a common currency and, therefore, a smooth transition of robust science between the scientific and policy communities.

The novel, whole system approach employed in IMMERSE will also be of benefit to a wide range of organisations and networks with an interest or involvement in marine monitoring, resource management, marine planning, fisheries, aquaculture, energy provision, licencing, predicting ecosystem change, conservation and food security. The programme will consolidate a range of data sources to provide these organisations and networks with clean, rationalised datasets that are of meaningful and add value to their activities. These include: AFBI, British Ecological Society (BES), Celtic Seas Partnership (CPS), Cefas, Sea Watch Foundation, fisheries Regional Advisory Councils, RSPB, Valuing Nature Network, Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership, and data networking and integrating groups such as Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS), World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), National Biodiversity Network, Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN), UK Integrated Marine Observing Network (UKIMON), European Marine Ecosystem Observatory (EMECO), UK Marine Monitoring and Assessment Strategy Evidence Groups, NERC Knowledge Exchange Programme on Sustainable Food Production, National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, British Marine Aggregate Producers Association, Ifremer and IUCN. Existing collaborations combined with new links will facilitate the dissemination and publicity of IMMERSE outputs to the benefit of these organisations and networks.

There is a wider public interest in the research of IMMERSE in that shelf seas are a source of food and energy that is susceptible to environmental change with subsequent socio-economic implications. This includes interest from educational institutes that often require societally-relevant, novel issues to provide context to the science curriculum. This programme will also demonstrate to wider interest groups the shift from individual, narrowly focused studies to "big picture" research endeavours, designed to feed into addressing large social challenges and illustrate how marine science can provide wide-ranging benefits to society.
Methods for engaging with stakeholders are described in the IMMERSE Pathways to Impact.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Title A day in the life of our research vessel 
Description Produced by Leigh Howarth of Bangor University. The short video shows the a day in the life aboard the RV Prince Madog as part of the Marine Ecosystems Research Program (http://www.marine-ecosystems.org.uk/). 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2016 
Impact The video promotes the activities and gives insight into life at sea of NERC funded scientists. It has been viewed over 2,3000 times via youtube. 
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=V3Xn-hgXZK4
 
Title Cultural values of UK Seas: Marine Ecosystems Research Programme 
Description The UK Marine Ecosystems Programme has been working to understand the ecological, economic and cultural impacts of changing management policies through a mix of ecological-economic modelling, ethnographic video interviews and stakeholder deliberation. This film highlights the values of diverse marine stakeholders in two case regions, the West Coast of Scotland, and Southwest England. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2018 
Impact The film was launched on 26 October 2018 at a policy and management measures workshop in Glasgow to participants representing marine management across Scotland. Modelled outcomes of different ecological and economic marine scenarios derived from six inter-linked MERP projects (Module 7) were presented, alongside the film which portrayed marine users' values and perceived outcomes of the four different marine storylines. Participants were invited to deliberate on and prioritise a set of policy options according to ecological, social, economic and cultural criteria. For example, should overall fisheries regulation focus on quota control, catch effort or be unregulated (open access)? The overall results, integrating scientific and stakeholder knowledge and values, will be published. This will feed into regional, devolved and national marine policy post-Brexit. 
URL http://sharedvaluesresearch.org/merp-marinevalues/
 
Title Introducting the Marine Ecosystems Research Programme 
Description A video introducing the Marine Ecosystems Research Programme 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2016 
Impact The video has been used to promote the Programme at various workshops and conferences as well as being available online linked through the project website. The vidoe has helped raise awareness of the programme and encourage dialogue with stakeholders. 
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=8ZHp9ZNORIs
 
Title Promotional leaflet 
Description Promotional leaflet aimed at non-specialists and directing recipients to further information about the programme 
Type Of Art Artefact (including digital) 
Year Produced 2014 
Impact Increased exposure of the programme 
 
Title Uncertainty in simulation models 
Description Michael Spence from the University of Sheffield describes different types of uncertainty found in simulation models. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2016 
Impact Increased understanding of how models are developed and can be used. 
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6e1RqGcUbn0
 
Description The focus of the programme was to integrate data, models and ecosystem services science, and the communities with expertise in these areas were brought together to collaborate. This process, getting people to think and operate outside their normal comfort zones, is bearing fruit. MERP has finished. The programme brought together existing data in novel ways to better understand patterns and processes (e.g. dynamics of cetacean distributions, foraging of seabirds, etc.), extensively developed existing ecosystem models (ERSEM, StrathE2E, regional Ecospace, etc.), made significant advances in understanding model certainty (bringing together different models in the MERP ensemble), derived important information on processes to include in models (functional responses, jellyfish dynamics, the importance of macro-algae in coastal dynamics, size-spectral dynamics, etc.), developed tools to link data and models (e.g. Trait explorer) and to link ecosystem models to ecosystem services.
Workpackage 3 was significantly delayed, and the 2 component projects required no-cost extensions. The first, led by Mike Heath (University of Strathclyde) looked at trade-offs aiming to expose the monetary and non-monetary implications of potential trade-offs among different uses of the sea, to determine the ways in which trade-offs may be exacerbated or alleviated by social, economic and cultural factors. This project worked with stakeholders to scope the potential of a range of marine management options to alleviate conflicts, and to work towards maximising the overall value of marine natural capital. The other, led by Tom Webb (University of Sheffield) examined cumulative impacts, exploring how extensive empirical data, statistical and mechanistic modelling, and expert judgement, can be translated into both context-specific guidance and generic principles for marine management.
Exploitation Route The programme goal was to provide pragmatic and useful results and tools which can feed into or underpin policy. The MERP Stakeholder Advisory Group played a key role in developing our thinking and guiding our engagement. Through regular meetings and discussions we were given clear advice, and we acted on it. We have provided targeted briefings to Defra and regional governments and their advisors. We organised and delivered a major Stakeholder Symposium at the Royal Society at the official end of the programme. This used targeted presentations and structured panel discussions to link science and policy. We updated the programme website to make it more policy relevant, and are updating our stakeholder-focused materials. We have engaged with international organisations, particularly ICES, to provide science underpinning advice.
Methods developed are being used to develop climate-ready Marine Spatial Plans in Ireland (funded by the Irish Government) and Vietnam (funded through GCRF Blue Communities).
The thinking and science underpinning MERP is now being further developed in the new Sustainable Management of Marine Resources research programme.
Sectors Agriculture

Food and Drink

Education

Energy

Environment

Leisure Activities

including Sports

Recreation and Tourism

Government

Democracy and Justice

Culture

Heritage

Museums and Collections

URL http://www.marine-ecosystems.org.uk
 
Description Findings were used to develop briefings to Defra, devolved governments and their advisors. These were well received and led to partnerships that outlive the programme. A major Stakeholder Symposium was held at the Royal Society in April 2018. Structured presentations and panel discussions were used to connect the science findings and scientists to policy needs, policy makers and their agents. The programme website was updated to focus on policy needs. Products have been used to provide scientific advice underpinning policy in the UK and EU (via ICES) on subjects ranging from distributions of cetaceans and seabirds to the management of demersal fishing. Tools developed in the programme are being used to develop Marine Spatial Plans in Ireland and Vietnam under new funding. Knowledge, tools and techniques developed in the programme are underpinning work in new programmes. Examples include SWEEP, focusing on Defra's 25 year plan and the North Devon pioneer, GCRF Blue Communities, focused on biosphere reserves in SE Asia, and the new Sustainable Management of Marine Resources research programme. Methods and approaches developed in the programme are contributing to important work on blue carbon.
First Year Of Impact 2016
Sector Agriculture, Food and Drink,Energy,Environment,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Government, Democracy and Justice
Impact Types Economic

Policy & public services

 
Description Cited as evidence for the impacts of ocean acidification on commercial fish stocks in the assessment that underpins the Agriculture, Forest, Seafood Sectoral Adaptation Plan, one of the sectoral plans that Government Departments in Ireland are required to prepare in relation to a priority area that they are responsible for, under Ireland's National Adaptation Framework (NAF). NAF was published by Minister Denis Naughten T.D. on 19 January 2018. The NAF sets out the national strategy to reduce the vulnerability of the country to the negative effects of climate change and to avail of positive impacts. The NAF was developed under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015.
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Citation in other policy documents
Impact The work cited highlights how ocean acidificaiton may affect the size-structure of commercial fished stocks, and may thus lead to needs in the adaptaiton of policy targets.
URL https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/ruralenvironment/climatechange/bioenergy/climatechang...
 
Description Contributed to UK Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology's briefing on Climate Change and Fisheries, acting as a reviewer of the briefing.
Geographic Reach Europe 
Policy Influence Type Citation in other policy documents
Impact Promoting awareness of decision support tools to address the impacts of climate change and ocean acidification through the management of wild capture fisheries.
URL https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/POST-PN-0604
 
Description Ecosystem Sevices Summer School
Geographic Reach Asia 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
Impact Training and understanding of researchers in policy related areas
 
Description Evidence cited in UK assessment that underpins the implementation of the UK Marine Strategy. Specifically, by identifying that the abundance of smaller-bodied Lusitanian species associated with rising sea temperature holds implications for Large Fish Index assessment thresholds (used ot monitor the achievement of Good Environmental Status in the UK), particularly in the more northerly regions of the north-east Atlantic (Queirós and others, 2018).
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Citation in other policy documents
Impact The evidence is used in the assessment to highlight how the impacts of climate change on the the distribution of fish species targeted by UK fishers affect the targets set for the Large Fins Index, one of the metrics used in the UK Marine Strategy to monitor the achievement of Good Environmental Status.
URL https://moat.cefas.co.uk/biodiversity-food-webs-and-marine-protected-areas/fish/large-fish-index/
 
Description Marine Board Working Group on environmental valuation, Chair 2013-2019
Geographic Reach Europe 
Policy Influence Type Membership of a guideline committee
 
Description Member of Defra Marine Pioneer (North Devon) Steering Group
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Membership of a guideline committee
 
Description Member of the Joint Committee that leads JNCC and has overall responsibility for its work.
Geographic Reach Europe 
Policy Influence Type Membership of a guideline committee
Impact As a member of the Joint Committee that leads JNCC and has overall responsibility for its work. JNCC is the public body that advises the UK Government and devolved administrations on UK-wide and international nature conservation. JNCC's work helps maintain and enrich biological diversity and conserve geological features. It also helps sustain natural systems, which provide the core "services" we all depend on like food, fresh water and clean air. In this way they contribute to economic growth and social well-being and are integral to sustainable development. JNCC itself is a forum that brings together the UK's four country conservation bodies. They advise Government and a wide range of bodies to help join up policy and to deliver a strong and cost-effective evidence base by helping to see that the best possible return is achieved from investment in research and surveillance in the UK and internationally. As chair of the Marine Protected Areas Sub-Committee we ensure that scientific advice on designating marine reserves across the UK is robust
URL http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-5349
 
Description North Devon Natural Capital Plan
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Citation in other policy documents
URL https://www.northdevonbiosphere.org.uk/mncp.html
 
Description Work cited as evidence for the effect of climate change on the size composition of fish communities, in the UK State of Nature report (2019).
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Citation in other policy documents
Impact The State of Nature presents an overview of how the country's wildlife is faring, looking back over nearly 50 years of monitoring to see how nature has changed in the UK, its Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories. Fisheries is one of the key sections of the report, and citation of our work serves to provide evidence of how climate change has the potential to modify the UK's marine wildlife which is exploited by its fishing sector. The report has been produced by a partnership of more than 70 organisations involved in the recording, researching and conservation of nature in the UK andits Overseas Territories. These include a broad spectrum of recording societies with expertise on a wide range of taxonomic groups, including our best and least known wildlife; research organisations responsible for gathering and analysing data that advances the knowledge of the UK's nature; conservation charities that take action for all elements of our wildlife and habitats; and the country nature conservation bodies for the UK and it's four countries which provided evidence and advice in the production of the report.
URL https://nbn.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/State-of-Nature-2019-UK-full-report.pdf
 
Description Work cited as evidence for the effect of climate change on the size composition of fish communities, in the UK State of Nature report (2019).
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Citation in other policy documents
Impact The State of Nature presents an overview of how the country's wildlife is faring, looking back over nearly 50 years of monitoring to see how nature has changed in the UK, its Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories. Fisheries is one of the key sections of the report, and citation of our work serves to provide evidence of how climate change has the potential to modify the UK's marine wildlife which is exploited by its fishing sector. The report has been produced by a partnership of more than 70 organisations involved in the recording, researching and conservation of nature in the UK andits Overseas Territories. These include a broad spectrum of recording societies with expertise on a wide range of taxonomic groups, including our best and least known wildlife; research organisations responsible for gathering and analysing data that advances the knowledge of the UK's nature; conservation charities that take action for all elements of our wildlife and habitats; and the country nature conservation bodies for the UK and it's four countries which provided evidence and advice in the production of the report.
URL https://nbn.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/State-of-Nature-2019-UK-full-report.pdf
 
Description Defra Invitation to Tender on Natural Capital Approach to the Marine Environment to Aid Decision Making Kick off
Amount £150,000 (GBP)
Organisation Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 02/2017 
End 02/2021
 
Description climate change projections of fish biomass by national EEZs 1850-2099
Amount € 57,609 (EUR)
Organisation Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country Italy
Start 03/2017 
End 12/2017
 
Title Indicators of marine ecosystem services, benefits and functions 
Description Indicators of all marine ecosystem services, with associated metrics, have been developed that will support assessments 
Type Of Material Physiological assessment or outcome measure 
Year Produced 2014 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact The indicators are being taken up and used in Marine Ecosystems Research Programme, the Marine Science Coordination Committee Modelling group and across the EU. 
 
Title Marine Optical pH Profiler (MOPP) 
Description Application of planar optode technology to facilitate pH profiling in marine ocean acidification and carbon and capture research. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2012 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Ability to profile at any depth within sediments (significant improvement in relation to microprofiling which is typically restricted to the first few cm below the sediment water interface). In addition the application supports fast data acquisition (online) enabling tracking of the same exact position of the sediment over time, which help resolve impacts caused by external stressors (e.g. manipulations of ocean acidification) from the natural spatial and temporal variability of pH in marine sediments. This characteristic supports the use of the application in replicated setups, typically required in ocean acidification and carbon capture and storage research to resolve the impact of experimentally manipulated treatments. 
 
Title 16S rRNA gene V6 sequence data from station L4 in the Western English Channel, 2003 - 2008 
Description Surface samples were collected between January 2003 and December 2008. For DNA analysis 5 L of seawater was filtered through a 0.22-µm pore Sterivex GP filter (Millipore) and stored at -80°C. Prokaryotic 16S rRNA gene fragments were amplified targeting the V6 region (68 bp) of the 16S rRNA gene with the with the bacterial forward 967F and reverse 1046R primer sets (Sogin et al., 2006). Barcode incorporation, library generation and 454-pyrosequencing using the GS-flx platform and LR70 kit was performed according to the method described by Huber and colleagues (2007) at the ICoMM Initiative laboratory at Woods Hole. Detailed protocols regarding sampling, extraction, amplification, and sequencing protocols are described by Gilbert et al. (2009). ASV tables were rarefied to the lowest sampling depth which was 2916 reads. The raw .fna sequence data are available at the NCBI under accession numbers SRA009436 but lack matching .qual files. We have therefore now uploaded the original non-rarefied OTU-sequence table to the British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC) along with the relevant metadata. These data are available under the doi doi:10.5285/caeb879f-776a-2757-e053-6c86abc0efbb 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Finding that day-length (seasonality) is a key driver of marine microbial diversity. Led to a range of outcomes e.g. Ocean Sampling Day. OSD is a worldwide research campaign where marine biologists around the globe participate in sampling surface waters of the world's coastal areas. The campaign takes place yearly during the northern hemisphere's summer solstice (on or around June 21st). Data underpinning further research. 
 
Title 3D two-way coupled plankton-fish simulations for the North-West European Shelf 
Description First multi-year simulations for online, two-way coupled ERSEM-MIZER (MIZER fish grow by consuming ERSEM plankton, ERSEM plankton decreases through predation by fish) for the North-West European Shelf at 7 km resolution (AMM7). 
Type Of Material Computer model/algorithm 
Year Produced 2018 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact Presented initial research at the fish-modelling-focused 3rd meeting of the EU network for "ReDEveloping Models of the European Marine Environment" (20-21 March 2018, Brussels), and at the Ocean Prediction Workshop of the UK National Partnership for Ocean Prediction (NPOP) (15-17 May 2018, Liverpool). As a result, we a re now involved in several proposals where the same plankton-fish modelling system will be leveraged. 
 
Title Conceptual models linking multiple ecosystem services to ecological research 
Description Conceptual models linking ecological knowledge to ecosystem services, intended to form the basis for developing computer algorithms/models. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact To early to say, article (Broszeit S, Beaumont NJ, Hooper TL, Somerfield PJ, Austen MC (in press) Developing conceptual models that link multiple ecosystem services to ecological research to aid management and policy, the UK marine example. Mar. Pollut. Bull.) in press. 
 
Title KRILLBASE: A database of Antarctic krill and salp densities in the Southern Ocean, 1926 to 2016. 
Description KRILLBASE is a data rescue and compilation project which aims to improve the availability of information on two of the Southern Ocean's most important zooplankton taxa: Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) and salps (Family Salpidae). In 2016, the project released a database of information from 15,194 scientific net hauls, collected between 1926 and 2016 by scientists from ten countries. These data, on the density of Antarctic krill and salps, provide a resource for analysing the distribution and abundance of these taxa throughout the Southern Ocean, to support ecological and biogeochemical research as well as fisheries management and conservation. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2016 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/00915
 
Title Plymouth L4 time series (1988-2017) of zooplankton abundance, biomass and traits. 
Description Plymouth L4 time series (1988-2017) of zooplankton abundance, biomass and traits. British Oceanographic Data Centre 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Use of the data for policy reporting (MSFD/OSPAR) and other publications 
URL https://www.bodc.ac.uk/data/published_data_library/catalogue/10.5285/827b5179-90a1-69d8-e053-6c86abc...
 
Title Simulation datasets 
Description Outputs from simulations done with the ecosystem model Ecopath with Ecosim. Data contain future estimates of catch and biomass calculated for a given climate scenario (i.e. IPCC projection), for each species included in the model. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/3587948
 
Title Simulation datasets 
Description Outputs from simulations done with the ecosystem model Ecopath with Ecosim. Data contain future estimates of catch and biomass calculated for a given climate scenario (i.e. IPCC projection), for each species included in the model. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://zenodo.org/record/3587949
 
Title fabm-mizer: size-based fish modelling in FABM 
Description Implementation of fish model "mizer" (https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12238) in the Framework for Aquatic Biogeochemical Models (http://fabm.net). The model is specifically designed to be compatible with ERSEM, and to support two-way ERSEM-mizer coupling in spatially explicit (1D, 3D) systems. 
Type Of Material Computer model/algorithm 
Year Produced 2017 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact This model underpins the modelling of future fish catch projections for the Food and Agriculture Organization, in support of their 2018 update of technical paper 530 (tentative title "Impacts of climate change for Fisheries and Aquaculture") 
 
Title pydeb: a high performance implementation of the Dynamic Energy Budget model 
Description High performance implementation of Dynamic Energy Budget model equations in Python and C 
Type Of Material Computer model/algorithm 
Year Produced 2017 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Supports functionality of Trait Explorer, http://www.marine-ecosystems.org.uk/Trait_Explorer 
 
Description Collaboration with CEFAS 
Organisation Centre For Environment, Fisheries And Aquaculture Science
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Bringing together data, novel statistical methods and policy requirements to develop new science. Focusing on benthic systems.
Collaborator Contribution making data available, policy insights, researcher time to develop the work.
Impact Collaboration within research projects; collaboration in ICES WGBIODIV; PhD proposals; collaborative manuscripts; developing policy links for projects
Start Year 2014
 
Description EU Project partnership:DEVelopment Of innovative Tools for understanding marine biodiversity and assessing good Environmental Status 
Organisation European Commission
Department Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)
Country European Union (EU) 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution PML leads a workpackage Socio-economic implications for achieving GES and participates in several of the other workpackages
Collaborator Contribution joint research and collaboration
Impact see website http://www.devotes-project.eu/ The work is interdisciplinary
Start Year 2012
 
Description Hellenic Center for Marine Research 
Organisation Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR)
Country Greece 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Presentations and discussions at international conferences to explain how Marine Ecosystems Research Programme works, and how the approach may benefits others. Work on developing continental-scale infrastructures.
Collaborator Contribution Invitations to speak at international conferences to explain how Marine Ecosystems Research Programme works, and how the approach may benefits others. Collaborative conference presentations. Funding to attend conferences.
Impact Arvanitidis C, Warwick RM, Somerfield PJ, Pavloud C, Pafilis E, Oulas A, Chatzigeorgiou V, Patkos T, Faulwetter S, Bailly N, et 200+ al., Research Infrastructures offer capacity to address scientific questions never attempted before: Are all taxa equal? 4th World Conference on Marine Biodiversity (WCMB), Montréal, May 2018. Somerfield PJ, Predicting the consequences of marine ecosystem change in a complex world. Invited plenary, 12th Panhellenic Symposium of Oceanography and Fisheries, Corfu, June 2018. Arvanitidis C, Warwick RM, Somerfield PJ, Pavloudi C, Pafilis E, Oulas A, Chatzigeorgiou G, Gerovasileiou V, Patkos T, Bailly N, Hernandez F, Vanhoorne B, Vandepitte L, Appeltans W, Keklikoglou K, Chatzinikolaou E, Michalakis N, Filiopoulou I, Panteri E, Gougousis A, Bravakos P, Christakis C, Kassapidis P, Kotoulas G, Magoulas A, Research Infrastructures and their collaborative potential in addressing challenging scientific questions at global scale. Hellenic Bioinformatics 11, Thessalonica, November 2018. Current invitation to ERIC conference, Rome, May 2019.
Start Year 2018
 
Description ICES WGBIODIV 
Organisation Centre For Environment, Fisheries And Aquaculture Science
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Collaborative work on marine biodiversity of relevance to ICES, in particular the effects of physical disturbance from trawling on the seabed. Trait explorer, developed in the Marine Ecosystems Research Programme, being used. Manuscript on a biological trait indicator submitted.
Collaborator Contribution Collaborative work on marine biodiversity of relevance to ICES, in particular the effects of physical disturbance from trawling on the seabed. Manuscript on a biological trait indicator submitted. New ToR agreed for next 3 years.
Impact http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Expert%20Group%20Report/EPDSG/2018/01%20WGBIODIV%20-%20Report%20of%20the%20Working%20Group%20on%20Biodiversity%20Science.pdf
Start Year 2017
 
Description ICES WGBIODIV 
Organisation International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES)
Country Denmark 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Collaborative work on marine biodiversity of relevance to ICES, in particular the effects of physical disturbance from trawling on the seabed. Trait explorer, developed in the Marine Ecosystems Research Programme, being used. Manuscript on a biological trait indicator submitted.
Collaborator Contribution Collaborative work on marine biodiversity of relevance to ICES, in particular the effects of physical disturbance from trawling on the seabed. Manuscript on a biological trait indicator submitted. New ToR agreed for next 3 years.
Impact http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Expert%20Group%20Report/EPDSG/2018/01%20WGBIODIV%20-%20Report%20of%20the%20Working%20Group%20on%20Biodiversity%20Science.pdf
Start Year 2017
 
Description Meiofauna collaboration 
Organisation Centre For Environment, Fisheries And Aquaculture Science
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Collaborative work developing networks and publications concerning meiofauna. Publications submitted and in preparation. Meioschool on-line has worldwide participation.
Collaborator Contribution Collaborative work developing networks and publications concerning meiofauna. Publications submitted and in preparation. Meioschool on-line has worldwide participation.
Impact Paper (Schratzberger and Somerfield 2020) published. Book in preparation (O Geire ed.) with Springer. Other papers in prep.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Meiofauna collaboration 
Organisation Florida State University
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Collaborative work developing networks and publications concerning meiofauna. Publications submitted and in preparation. Meioschool on-line has worldwide participation.
Collaborator Contribution Collaborative work developing networks and publications concerning meiofauna. Publications submitted and in preparation. Meioschool on-line has worldwide participation.
Impact Paper (Schratzberger and Somerfield 2020) published. Book in preparation (O Geire ed.) with Springer. Other papers in prep.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Meiofauna collaboration 
Organisation Texas A&M University
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Collaborative work developing networks and publications concerning meiofauna. Publications submitted and in preparation. Meioschool on-line has worldwide participation.
Collaborator Contribution Collaborative work developing networks and publications concerning meiofauna. Publications submitted and in preparation. Meioschool on-line has worldwide participation.
Impact Paper (Schratzberger and Somerfield 2020) published. Book in preparation (O Geire ed.) with Springer. Other papers in prep.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Partnership for Research In Marine Renewable Energy - PRIMaRE 
Organisation Marine Biological Association
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Member of Steering Committee: The Partnership for Research in Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) is a network of world-class research institutions based in the west, south, and south west of England who undertake research and development to address challenges facing the marine renewable energy industry at the regional, national and international level.
Collaborator Contribution The Partnership for Research in Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) is a network of world-class research institutions based in the west, south, and south west of England who undertake research and development to address challenges facing the marine renewable energy industry at the regional, national and international level.
Impact Annual meeting Workshops Production of a Research Strategy
Start Year 2013
 
Description Partnership for Research In Marine Renewable Energy - PRIMaRE 
Organisation South West Marine Energy Park
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Member of Steering Committee: The Partnership for Research in Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) is a network of world-class research institutions based in the west, south, and south west of England who undertake research and development to address challenges facing the marine renewable energy industry at the regional, national and international level.
Collaborator Contribution The Partnership for Research in Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) is a network of world-class research institutions based in the west, south, and south west of England who undertake research and development to address challenges facing the marine renewable energy industry at the regional, national and international level.
Impact Annual meeting Workshops Production of a Research Strategy
Start Year 2013
 
Description Partnership for Research In Marine Renewable Energy - PRIMaRE 
Organisation University of Bath
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Member of Steering Committee: The Partnership for Research in Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) is a network of world-class research institutions based in the west, south, and south west of England who undertake research and development to address challenges facing the marine renewable energy industry at the regional, national and international level.
Collaborator Contribution The Partnership for Research in Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) is a network of world-class research institutions based in the west, south, and south west of England who undertake research and development to address challenges facing the marine renewable energy industry at the regional, national and international level.
Impact Annual meeting Workshops Production of a Research Strategy
Start Year 2013
 
Description Partnership for Research In Marine Renewable Energy - PRIMaRE 
Organisation University of Bristol
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Member of Steering Committee: The Partnership for Research in Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) is a network of world-class research institutions based in the west, south, and south west of England who undertake research and development to address challenges facing the marine renewable energy industry at the regional, national and international level.
Collaborator Contribution The Partnership for Research in Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) is a network of world-class research institutions based in the west, south, and south west of England who undertake research and development to address challenges facing the marine renewable energy industry at the regional, national and international level.
Impact Annual meeting Workshops Production of a Research Strategy
Start Year 2013
 
Description Partnership for Research In Marine Renewable Energy - PRIMaRE 
Organisation University of Exeter
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Member of Steering Committee: The Partnership for Research in Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) is a network of world-class research institutions based in the west, south, and south west of England who undertake research and development to address challenges facing the marine renewable energy industry at the regional, national and international level.
Collaborator Contribution The Partnership for Research in Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) is a network of world-class research institutions based in the west, south, and south west of England who undertake research and development to address challenges facing the marine renewable energy industry at the regional, national and international level.
Impact Annual meeting Workshops Production of a Research Strategy
Start Year 2013
 
Description Partnership for Research In Marine Renewable Energy - PRIMaRE 
Organisation University of Plymouth
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Member of Steering Committee: The Partnership for Research in Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) is a network of world-class research institutions based in the west, south, and south west of England who undertake research and development to address challenges facing the marine renewable energy industry at the regional, national and international level.
Collaborator Contribution The Partnership for Research in Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) is a network of world-class research institutions based in the west, south, and south west of England who undertake research and development to address challenges facing the marine renewable energy industry at the regional, national and international level.
Impact Annual meeting Workshops Production of a Research Strategy
Start Year 2013
 
Description Partnership for Research In Marine Renewable Energy - PRIMaRE 
Organisation University of Southampton
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Member of Steering Committee: The Partnership for Research in Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) is a network of world-class research institutions based in the west, south, and south west of England who undertake research and development to address challenges facing the marine renewable energy industry at the regional, national and international level.
Collaborator Contribution The Partnership for Research in Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) is a network of world-class research institutions based in the west, south, and south west of England who undertake research and development to address challenges facing the marine renewable energy industry at the regional, national and international level.
Impact Annual meeting Workshops Production of a Research Strategy
Start Year 2013
 
Description Partnership for Research In Marine Renewable Energy - PRIMaRE 
Organisation Wave Hub Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Member of Steering Committee: The Partnership for Research in Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) is a network of world-class research institutions based in the west, south, and south west of England who undertake research and development to address challenges facing the marine renewable energy industry at the regional, national and international level.
Collaborator Contribution The Partnership for Research in Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) is a network of world-class research institutions based in the west, south, and south west of England who undertake research and development to address challenges facing the marine renewable energy industry at the regional, national and international level.
Impact Annual meeting Workshops Production of a Research Strategy
Start Year 2013
 
Description Research collaboration with Dr Tom Webb 
Organisation University of Sheffield
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Provision of data, supervision of students, collaborative analyses, seminars, joint proposals (SOFI grant, studentships, MERP) Co-supervision of current PhD student
Collaborator Contribution Provision of data, supervision of students, collaborative analyses, seminars, joint proposals (SOFI grant, studentships, MERP)
Impact Publications PhD studentships
 
Description Royal Statistical Society Panel on Statistics for Ecosystem Change 
Organisation Royal Statistical Society
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Provision of expertise, participation in discussions, development of outputs
Collaborator Contribution Provision of expertise, participation in discussions, development of outputs
Impact 2 papers published, along with reports etc. to RSS. Conference held in London on statistics for ecosystem services science. Successful proposal (Inquest) to VNN.
Start Year 2008
 
Description Shark Hub UK 
Organisation Angling Trust
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution We will be working with others to analyze long-term trends in top-predator populations in the western English Channel and surrounding areas.
Collaborator Contribution Shark Hub UK is a new collaborative partnership between the Angling Trust, Shark Angling Club of Great Britain (SACBG), Sportfishing Club of the British Isles (SCBI) and researchers from Bournemouth University, University of York and Plymouth Marine Laboratory.
Impact We have submitted data papers to ICCAT. The one on porbeagle populations (1960-2020) is published. The one on blue sharks is accepted but yet to appear in print. These datasets will underpin management decisions for these species in the north-west Atlantic.
Start Year 2021
 
Description Shark Hub UK 
Organisation Bournemouth University
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We will be working with others to analyze long-term trends in top-predator populations in the western English Channel and surrounding areas.
Collaborator Contribution Shark Hub UK is a new collaborative partnership between the Angling Trust, Shark Angling Club of Great Britain (SACBG), Sportfishing Club of the British Isles (SCBI) and researchers from Bournemouth University, University of York and Plymouth Marine Laboratory.
Impact We have submitted data papers to ICCAT. The one on porbeagle populations (1960-2020) is published. The one on blue sharks is accepted but yet to appear in print. These datasets will underpin management decisions for these species in the north-west Atlantic.
Start Year 2021
 
Description Shark Hub UK 
Organisation University of York
Department Department of Biology
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We will be working with others to analyze long-term trends in top-predator populations in the western English Channel and surrounding areas.
Collaborator Contribution Shark Hub UK is a new collaborative partnership between the Angling Trust, Shark Angling Club of Great Britain (SACBG), Sportfishing Club of the British Isles (SCBI) and researchers from Bournemouth University, University of York and Plymouth Marine Laboratory.
Impact We have submitted data papers to ICCAT. The one on porbeagle populations (1960-2020) is published. The one on blue sharks is accepted but yet to appear in print. These datasets will underpin management decisions for these species in the north-west Atlantic.
Start Year 2021
 
Description Training with PRIMER 
Organisation Primer-E Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Working with company to develop statistical methods and advise on software implementation Giving bespoke commercial courses on use of the software worldwide - training courses now being delivered on-line
Collaborator Contribution Developing statistical methods for use in research, provision of test software
Impact Many publications (with KR Clarke and others) Many courses worldwide - now being delivered on-line International networking Research opportunities
 
Description University of Exeter collaboration 
Organisation University of Exeter
Department Medical School
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Development of Oceans and Human Health area of research by bringing understanding of marine ecosystems and services to the collaboration
Collaborator Contribution contribution of expertise in human and public health
Impact Conference on Oceans and Human Health in March 2014; This produced the 'Message from Bedruthan' which called for a coordinated, transnational and interdisciplinary oceans and human health research programme in Europe. It recommended that research should be solutions-oriented, supporting health and wellbeing promotion and disease treatment, and informing maritime, environment, public health and innovation policy.
Start Year 2010
 
Title Catalogue of marine biodiversity indicators to assess the environmental status - a software and a review of the current indicator set 
Description A Catalogue of Biodiversity Indicators useful for the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) was developed by the DEVOTES FP7 Project with the aim of providing the basis for assessing the environmental status of European seas. It is available online through the DEVOTool 0.64 software application that allows navigating a database of indicators related to the following MSFD descriptors: biological biodiversity, non-indigenous species, food webs, and seafloor integrity. The catalogue (v.6) contains over 500 indicators used by different initiatives, in national and international contexts. A comprehensive overview of these indicators is given: descriptions, data requirements, developmental status, geographical coverage and applicable habitats, biodiversity components and descriptors targeted, and related human pressures. The DEVOTool provides a query and analysis function for browsing the metadata, extracting and ranking lists of indicators best fulfilling pre-set criteria; enabling users to search, for example, for indicators suitable to fill in an identified gap or address a particular pressure in a marine area. The major strengths and gaps of the indicator set (at EU level) allow to focus the development of new indicators where it is most urgently needed, and to foster transfer of know-how across marine regions. 
Type Of Technology Webtool/Application 
Year Produced 2017 
Impact Engament with EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive working groups, to support indicator selection. 
URL https://digital.csic.es/handle/10261/140819
 
Title Trait Explorer 
Description For many applications we need to know the traits of marine species. This is crucial for understanding ecosystem function and building ecosystem models. Unfortunately, while literature and online databases are replete with trait values, we are still a long way away from a complete characterization of every species. The Trait Explorer web service addresses this issue by estimating traits for any species, through a form of "automated expert judgement" that combines large datasets with published trait values and the latest taxonomic information. Its results account for taxonomic relationships between species (related species tend to have similar traits) and power law-like relationships between traits (e.g., organism mass is a good predictor for other size metrics and many physiological traits). 
Type Of Technology Webtool/Application 
Year Produced 2017 
Impact The Trait Explorer web service is used in the NERC/Defra Shelf Seas Biogeochemistry (SSB) programme and the Marine Ecosystem Research Programme (MERP) to estimate the size and carbon mass of a wide variety of marine species, which in turn is used for validation of model results, notably of the European Regional Seas Ecosystem Model (ERSEM). 
URL http://www.marine-ecosystems.org.uk/Trait_Explorer
 
Title Trait Explorer extensions 
Description The Trait Explorer web service has been expanded with additional datasets and functionality, including the ability to estimate parameters of Dynamic Energy Budget models 
Type Of Technology Webtool/Application 
Year Produced 2017 
Impact In the first 10 months of availability (Jan-Oct 2017), the web service received more than 800 queries from 101 unique users from 20 different countries. 
URL http://www.marine-ecosystems.org.uk/Trait_Explorer
 
Description R Code to support analysis linking taxonomic, occurrence, genetic, and conservation dimensions of marine animal diversity. This code reproduces figures and analyses fromWebb & Vanhoorne Linking dimensions of data on global marine animal diversity, Phil Trans R Soc B, doi: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0445, to quantify and visualise the availability of data on geographic occurrences, genetic sequences, conservation assessments, and DNA barcodes across all phyla and broad functional groups for >200,000 marine animal species. The data files accessed by our code are archived under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License in the Marine Data Archive with full meta-data available in IMIS here: https://doi.org/10.14284/417 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2020 
Open Source License? Yes  
URL https://figshare.shef.ac.uk/articles/software/Linking_dimensions_of_data_on_global_marine_animal_div...
 
Description " License to Krill" - film documentary 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact A documentary film made by Dox productions, London, about Antarctic krill conservation, fisheries and climate change, including interviews with Angus Atkinson recorded at Plymouth Marine Laboratory. The film was shown at Sheffield film festival and the documentary was broadcast on TV across France and Germany on 25August 2015
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description 2nd workshop of the EU Network of Experts for ReDEveloping Models of the European Marine Environment (MEME) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact The second workshop of the 'Network of Experts for ReDeveloping Models of the European Marine Environment' was held on 22-23 March 2017 in Brussels, Belgium, jointly organized by DG Environment and DG JRC (Water and Marine Resources Unit) within the framework of the Administrative Arrangement (N110661/ENV.C.2/2016/733192) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MFSD). The aim of this workshop was to continue the information exchange between the Commission and marine modelling experts. Another important objective of this initiative is to narrow the gap between modellers and decision makers in order to better exploit the full utility of models. In this context, the workshop consisted of 17 presentations covering the wide use of marine ecosystem models to address several indicators of the MFSD in coastal zones and European regional seas, including assessment, indicator development and scenario building. The presentations dealt with (1) General lectures, (2) Eutrophication, (3) Hydrography, (4) Higher Trophic Levels and (5) Fish. The participants were invited to join the network informal 'Network of experts on the Modelling of the European Marine Environment (MEME)'. DG Environment and DG JRC emphasized the added value of a joint effort to further develop modelling capabilities with the objective of providing useful advice for policy makers.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description 7th June PEMSEA webinar. Invited speaker. The ecosystem services (ES) approach, its application and the assessment of marine and coastal ecosystems to support marine management 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact 7th June PEMSEA webinar. Invited speaker. The ecosystem services (ES) approach, its application and the assessment of marine and coastal ecosystems to support marine management
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Addressing of policy questions by MERP 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The MERP Policy Interactive provides a broad overview of how MERP research fits with policy questions. By exploring the various categories users are directed to specific questions and can learn how MERP can help address them. This interactive was developed in close consultation with the MERP Stakeholder Advisory Group and was launched at the Stakeholder Conference held at the Royal Society in April 2018. The interactive is updated as new information becomes available in final stages of the programme. The interactive includes contact details of the relevant MERP scientists so that people can easily follow up if they require any further details about the research. Since the launch of the interactive we have received follow up requests for more details.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.marine-ecosystems.org.uk/Research_outcomes/Policy_Interactive
 
Description BBC TV interview 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Live interview conducted at 18:30 on 19 June 2015 with Kristian McConville from Plymouth Marine Laboratory to discuss the high numbers of jellyfish being seen off the South Coast. Kristian also provided live jellyfish to support a pre-recorded interview with Steve Widdicombe which was also shown as part of the jellyfish news arcticle
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description British Ecological Society Aquatic Macroecology Conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact MERP were co-sponsors of the Aquatic Macroecology Meeting at Charles Darwin House, London on September 30th 2016, organised by the British Ecological Society's Aquatic and Macroecology Groups, which included MERP scientists Nessa O'Connor (QUB) and Tom Webb (Sheffield). The meeting included talks from world-leading experts in the development and application of macroecological tools, who were all invited to discuss how these advancements inform our understanding of aquatic ecosystems.

It was a very successful meeting attracting 65 delegates representing nine countries. A lively panel discussion was held after the talks and a paper is in preparation, which aims to evaluate the key themes and areas for further research that emerged during the meeting.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description British Science Week Plymouth 2016 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact MERP offered a small bursary to MERP partners to help with BSW activities. With this bursary, PML and local partners ran a week long BSW exhibition at the Plymouth Museum called 'What's on the Menu? Life & death in the food web'. Targeted at KS2 students and based around the key MERP themes of food-webs and ecological trade-offs, a record 921 students took part in the interactive activities and received a packed goodie bag of further information, including MERP stickers for each student to take away. The PML activities took the form of creating 3D food-webs and learning about trophic cascades and the impact of overfishing. Feedback from the pupils showed that they liked the range of activities offered and the fact that 'real scientists' were talking to them. Teachers commented that they were surprised by some pupils who were normally very quiet in the classroom, actually thrived in this environment, demonstrating the value of this event for learning outside the classroom.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description British Science Week at Plymouth Museum with year 4 pupils 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact We carried out an event based on food webs to distribute MERP outputs to pupils and the general public
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Canadian Healthy Oceans Network project - CHONe II, member of Board of Directors 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact member of Board of Directors guiding research activities of Canadian research network Canadian Healthy Oceans Network project - CHONe II,
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL http://www.oceannetworks.ca/about-us/funders-partners/partners/canadian-healthy-oceans-network-chone
 
Description Celtic Seas Partnership England Workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Participants in your research and patient groups
Results and Impact Scientists and decision makers gathered to discuss the partnership and make plans for the future.

Strengthened collaborations with other related programmes, specifically between Celtic Seas Partnership and the Marine Ecosystem Research Programme.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
URL http://celticseaspartnership.eu/
 
Description Co-chair of MSP workshop in Ireland 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact As part of a project funded by the Irish government, Dr Somerfield co-chaired a workshop with policy makers and professionals in the Marine Institute, Galway. The workshop combined presentations and structured discussions, leading to a report with recommendations on the incorporation of climate change into marine spatial planning in Ireland.
Queirós AM, Beaumont NJ, Pascoe C, Somerfield PJ (2018) Spatial Data and Evidence Project, Marine Spatial Planning and Climate Change - A Best Practices Report for Marine Spatial Planning in Ireland. Produced by PML and ABPmer (ABPmer Report No. R.3008) for the Irish Marine Institute, December 2018.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Coastal Futures 2015: Ecosystems Goods and Services in the Marine Environment: Indicators and Monitoring 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Gave invited presentation at Coastal Futures 2015 on Ecosystems Goods and Services in the Marine Environment: Indicators and Monitoring, London
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Conference Presentation - CF19 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Somerfield PJ, The Marine Ecosystems Research Programme - an update. Coastal Futures 2019, London, January 2019.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL http://www.marine-ecosystems.org.uk
 
Description Conference Presentations - 17IMCO 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Somerfield PJ, Widdicombe S, The influence of bioturbatory macrofaunal species diversity on nematode communities. 17th International Meiofauna Conference (17imco), Evora, July 2019.
Somerfield PJ, Collaborative opportunities with the Plymouth Marine Laboratory. 17th International Meiofauna Conference (17imco), Evora, July 2019.
Pascoe CK, Dashfield SL, Somerfield PJ, Widdicombe S, Effects of Changing Ice Cover on Arctic Meiofaunal Assemblages. 17th International Meiofauna Conference (17imco), Evora, July 2019.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Conference Presentations - EMBS 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Pino L, Webb T, Somerfield PJ, Spatial distribution patterns of Chilean benthic marine macroinvertebrates. 54th European Marine Biology Symposium, Dublin, August 2019

Nunes J, Beesley A, Dashfield S, McNeill CL, Mesher T, Pascoe C, Queirós A, Somerfield PJ, Talbot E, Widdicombe S, Strong inter-annual and seasonal patterns revealed by a 10 year time-series of benthic community data. 54th European marine Biology Symposium, Dublin, August 2019
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Conservation science/policy interface: challenges and opportunities symposium, Zoological Society of London 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact 'Multiple needs for science evidence in marine policy and regulation' invited presentation
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Contributed to Careers Fair at School of Creative Arts, Plymouth 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Participated in the Plymouth School of Creative Arts Career Fair (6th of February) to raise awareness with pupils about how science and arts cross overs can lead to career paths for creative thinkers form an arts background. Materials for dissemination were contributed by Thecla Keiser, Plymouth Marine Laboratory. Attendance supported by Paul Somerfield and the Marine Ecosystems Research Programme.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://twitter.com/DrAnaQueiros/status/828594418160631808
 
Description Defra 2-page programme summary 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact A 2-page summary of MERP was produced on request of Defra to provide department Ministers and policy advisors with an overview of MERP, the research and the programme's aims and objectives. This document is updated regularly with progress information and, in addition to being circulated at Defra, is available from the MERP website.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014,2015,2016
URL http://www.marine-ecosystems.org.uk/getattachment/33fe0c22-3af9-4a4f-908b-fc585949311a/33fe0c22-3af9...
 
Description Defra Ministerial workshops to shape the 25 year Environment Plan 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Ministerial workshops to shape the 25 year Environment Plan - discussion workshop
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Defra briefing to present outputs of Marine Ecosystems Reserach Programme 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Briefing to staff of UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, in order to show case policy-relevant outputs of the Marine Ecosystems Research Programme. Attended by 13 Defra staff, working on topics including marine evidence, fisheries, and marine protected areas. Presented spatially explicit fish projections for UK seas under scenarios for riverine nutrient reduction.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Developing marine biodiversity science at the JNCC 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presenting work done in the Marine Ecosystems Research Programme at a conference organised by JNCC.
Thompson M, Cooper K, Couce E, Schratzberger M, Webb T, Grace M, Somerfield P, Assessing biodiversity stocks and flows and the emerging use of eDNA to support offshore science. Beyond the Coast 2018: JNCC's conference on the future of our offshore marine environment, University of Hull, June 2018.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Development of first ever marine National Park 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Participated in events (29 June, 7 December) and writing groups to develop proposals and launch prospectus for a possible first ever marine National Park in Plymouth
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description EUROCEAN 2014: Valuing Marine Ecosystem Services and Benefits 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation paper presentation
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Presentation to fellow scientists and European policy makers on the achievements made in the the area of valuing marine ecosystem services and benefits.

Sharing of knowledge across the scientific and decision-making communities.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
URL http://eurocean2014.eu/
 
Description Ecosystem Services Valuation for Coastal Managers 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact PML led a workshop with regional stakeholders in the southwest to inform them how ecosystems services could be incorporated into policy implementation and day to day management in their local areas.
A survey was conducted before and after the workshop to gauge the perception and understanding of ES of the participants and to gauge whether this had improved, as a way of evaluating the success of the workshop. The trends showed that most people's confidence in ES increased from before to after the workshop. The greatest improvements seem to be for 1) understanding how ES can be used in management plans; and 2) being confident in using the approach within their profession.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Ecosystem Services presentation to the Oil Spill Response (OSR) Industry Technical Advisory Committee (ITAC) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact key note presentation to the Oil Spill Response (OSR) Industry Technical Advisory Committee (ITAC) raising awareness of opportunities to prioritise oil spill response measures by considering ecosystem services
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description European Marine Board modelling workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact n July 2017, the European Marine Board (EMB), in association with Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), organized an expert workshop 'Towards end-to-end (E2E) marine ecosystem models: R&D needs for ecosystem-based management'. The main purpose of the workshop was to bring together experts in marine ecosystem modelling to assess how such models are currently used as support tools in environmental decision-making and policy-setting. The workshop was co-chaired by MERP scientist Sheila Heymans (SAMS) and over 10 MERP scientists joined the discussions providing their expert advice to help identified research and development needs for developing next generation end-to-end (E2E) marine ecosystem models to meet existing and emerging policy drivers. Community-driven recommendations and key messages from the workshop were taken forward by the EMB Working Group on Marine Ecosystem Modelling into an EMB Policy Brief in which MERP is featured as a case study.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.marineboard.eu/sites/marineboard.eu/files/public/publication/EMB_FSB4_MarEco_Modelling_We...
 
Description European Parliament , Brussels 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact MERP Scientist Peter Evans of Seawatch gave a talk to the European Parliament on marine mammal by catch issues in relation to reforms to the Common Fisheries Policy.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2008,2017
 
Description Exhibit stand at the PEMSEA East Asian Seas Congress in Iloilo, Philippines (27-30 November 2018) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact An exhibition stand hosted by Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) was present throughout the PEMSEA East Asian Seas Congress, where the research activities of PML in the Southeast Asia region were highlighted in particular the GCRF Blue Communities programme. The exhibition stand was managed by several members of the GCRF Blue Communities programme (Prof. Austen, Dr. Loveday, Dr. Cheung) as well as other staff from PML (Prof. Allen, Dr. Evers-King). Nearly 1000 delegates attended the Congress and visitors to the stand included the Ministers from the East Asia region.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Filling the gaps for predicting the future 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Article in the Challenger Society magazine highlight the Marine Ecosystem Research Programme's activities and outcomes as the programme drew to a close. The 4 page article reached a wide audience of those interested in marine issues.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.challenger-society.org.uk/oceanchallenge/2018_23_1.pdf
 
Description Guest speaker at the final workshop of the BlueBRIDGE project (EU Horizons 2020), Brussels, Belgium 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presented recent work on fish catch projections for a varied audience including academics and representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization, the Marine Stewardship Council, the EU Copernicus program, the EC Directorate-General for Research, the EC Directorate-General for Environment and several SMEs.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.bluebridge-vres.eu/events/bluebridge-workshop-supporting-blue-growth-innovative-applicati...
 
Description Hub session in Blue Economy Track at PEMSEA East Asian Seas Congress in Iloilo, Philippines (27-30 November 2018) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact During the PEMSEA East Asian Seas Congress, Partnership Hubs were held as side events with 7 tracks as the main themes and 3-5 sessions held within each track. Within the Blue Economy Track, 6 representatives from the GCRF Blue Communities partnership were involved in the session. Dr. Bell was the Chair of the Session, presentations were given by Prof. Austen, Dr. Praptiwi, Prof. Creencia, Prof. Fleming and Dr. Goh on the topic of "Interdisciplinary research to underpin sustainable planning and management for Blue Economy". This was followed by a discussion session with the speakers as panellists and the audience contributing to the discussions. The presentations sparked questions and discussion afterwards with the audience which comprised of representatives from intergovernmental organisations, NGOs and academia. The session enabled further networking opportunities and potential collaborations going forward.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://eascongress2018.pemsea.org/eas-congress-2018/official-programme/partnership-hubs-programs/
 
Description ICES Annual Science Conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact PM's Pennie Lindeque convened a session "Molecules and morphology; integrative taxonomic analysis of marine planktonic assemblages" at the ICES Annual Science Conference with co-conveners Lidia Yebra (Spain) and Ann Bucklin (USA) in Hamburg, 26th and 27th September.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description ICES WG BIODIV 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Working with international colleagues to develop practical indicators for marine management. Latest report: ICES (2018) Report of the Working Group on Biodiversity Science (WGBIODIV), 5-9 February 2018, ICES Headquarters, Copenhagen, Denmark. ICES CM 2018/EPDSG:01. 82 pp.
Latest meeting online - agreed new ToR for next 3 years. Manuscript being finalised for publication.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018,2019,2020,2021
URL http://www.ices.dk/community/groups/Pages/WGBIODIV.aspx
 
Description ICES working group on biodiversity (WG BIODIV) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact This ICES working group is developing a trait-based disturbance indicator for use in managing impacts on benthic communities within the marine environment. Participation in this group resulted in new and re-established collaborative links with marine scientists from across Europe. MERP research was closely aligned and contributed to this international activity and is expected to continue.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description IPCC Special Report Meeting: Climate Change Around the Globe organised by the Royal Metereological Society, Panellist for session: The Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate, BEIS Conference Centre, London, November 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Discussion on how Climate change is affecting the Oceans and the implications for UK policy based on the IPCC SROCC report
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Identifying the implications of different possible future trends for Horizon 2020 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Participated in exploratory, forward-looking workshop with a view to identifying the implications of different possible future trend for the implementation of Horizon 2020 in the year 2018-2019.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Interdisciplinary marine research to make a difference to lives and livelihoods presentation at PlymSEF 2018, Plymouth, February 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Presentation on creating impact from research, stimulated discussion
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description International Marine Science Communication Conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The International Marine Science Communication Conference (CommOcean) brings together marine scientists, communication professionals, policy managers and private sector professional to discuss and share expertise on marine science communication. MERP Communications leader attended the conference to highlight the Programme, showing the recently made MERP video and discussing advancements in communication techniques and best practice through a series of hands-on workshops. This resulted in enhanced networking opportunities, closer links with NERC Press Office and plans for future collaborations for outreach products.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Interview to the official United Nations Sustainable Development Goals social media TV channel at the 23rd United Nations Conference of Parties 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Interview describing innovative data on the blue carbon potential of coastal systems, which is emerging from the programme as a result of a benthic research led by PML (Queiros).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://twitter.com/SDGMediaZone/status/929286290348142593
 
Description Interviewed by Reuters 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Interviewed by Reuters on the impacts of climate change on marine-based food resources.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.reuters.com/article/climatechange-oceans-fishing-idUSL8N1DP46Y
 
Description Invited Plenary - Lifewatch 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Somerfield PJ, Data, models and ecosystem services. Invited plenary. LifeWatch ERIC Scientific Community Meeting, Rome, May 2019
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Invited Plenary at National Conference in Greece 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Dr Somerfield was invited to give a plenary at Greece's premier marine conference. He based his talk on the Marine Ecosystems Research Programme as an example of how to make progress by bringing people together.
Somerfield PJ, Predicting the consequences of marine ecosystem change in a complex world. Invited plenary, 12th Panhellenic Symposium of Oceanography and Fisheries, Corfu, June 2018.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Invited lecture, University of Newcastle 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact Invited lecture to marine biodiversity students, describing how Dr Somerfield developed a career in science and what lessons were learnt along the way. Lecture entitled 'Little to large: a marine biological ramble through time.'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Invited oral presentation at Gordon Research Conference on Ocean Global Change Biology 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact On invitation by the conference organizing committee, I presented work on modelling adaptation and evolution of thermal tolerance in phytoplankton. This has led to several new contacts, some able to provide key new datasets. This has increased the likelihood of creating a high-impact publication about this work.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.grc.org/ocean-global-change-biology-conference/2018/
 
Description Invited presentation 'Natural Capital: Can it be operationalised for the marine environment?'at Coastal Futures Conference, Royal Geographic Society, London. 23-24 Jan 2019 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Prof. Austen was invited to give a platform presentation at the Coastal Future conference, at the Royal Geographical Society, London (23-24 January 2019). The presentation was entitled 'Natural Capital: Can it be operationalised for the marine environment?'. The audience was able to ask questions and engage in discussions afterwards.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL http://coastal-futures.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Austen-Natural-Capital-Can-it-be-operationlise...
 
Description Invited speaker to give Introduction at European Parliament Intergroup Seas, Rivers, Islands and Coastal Areas (SEARICA) conference on 'Valuing Marine Ecosystem services - Taking into account the value of ecosystem benefits in the Blue Economy, European Parliament', Brussels, Belgium, April 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Discussion of use of valuation of marine ecosystems in policy development and regulation
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description L4 30th anniversary science day 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Organised by Angus Atkinson and others, the L4 30th Anniversary Science Day took place at PML on October 2nd 2018. The aim was to celebrate the value of marine time series and was timed to mark the 30th anniversary of weekly sampling at the Plymouth L4 site. Invitations reached several hundred people and over 100 attended on the day. A series of science talks and posters throughout the day presented the value of time series from across Europe as well as L4, and a lunchtime series of tours showed members of public and other interested parties the newly refurbished labs. Anniversary mugs and other merchandise were available.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Lecture at the University of the 3rd age science study day 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Presented a talk entitled "The value of monitoring our seas to understand the climate change and pollution effects on our environment" at the University of the 3rd Age Science study day, 29.10.19, reaching about 120 members of the general public
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Linking ecosystem change & economics' at MSCC/MASTS Bioeconomic modelling & policy workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Gave presentation on 'Linking ecosystem change & economics' at MSCC/MASTS Bioeconomic modelling & policy workshop
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description MARINE ECOSYSTEMS RESEARCH PROGRAMME - FISH, FISHERIES AND FISHING 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Summary cards were created to distill MERP research and outputs. This publication relates to fish and fisheries and is designed to highlight where MERP can provide information and fill knowledge gaps. The publication supports further information that is available on the website and provides contact information to follow up for further information.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.marine-ecosystems.org.uk/getmedia/89f2afd2-5447-4d3b-b011-676397ead1ae/MERP_Fish-Fisherie...
 
Description MARINE ECOSYSTEMS RESEARCH PROGRAMME - Final Science Meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact MERP hosted its final Science Meeting at the Royal Society in London, April 2018. The event was attended not only by the full MERP science community but also by people from statutory agencies and other interested organisations including but not limited to: Natural England, Defra, JNCC, MMO, Marine Scotland, Marine Stewardship Council, National Federation of Fishermans Organisation, Natural Resources Wales, Scottish Natural Heritage, WWF and other businesses. The scientific outcomes and achievements of the programme were shared across the community. The meeting included plenty of time for discussion and questions from the diverse audience.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.marine-ecosystems.org.uk/Resources/Events
 
Description MARINE ECOSYSTEMS RESEARCH PROGRAMME - MODELLING 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Summary cards were created to distill MERP research and outputs. This publication provides an overview of the MERP models and the food-web categories that are their inputs and outputs. The publication supports further information that is available on the website and provides contact information to follow up for further information.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.marine-ecosystems.org.uk/getmedia/cd177284-a9b2-4e02-9b70-9a27aaf24a21/MERP_Modelling_Lea...
 
Description MARINE ECOSYSTEMS RESEARCH PROGRAMME - NATURAL CAPITAL 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Summary cards were created to distill MERP research and outputs. This publication relates to MERPs work in support of the Natural Capital approach and is designed to highlight where MERP can provide information and fill knowledge gaps. The publication is updated as new information becomes available and provides contact information to allow readers to follow up for further information.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.marine-ecosystems.org.uk/getmedia/7acf319e-084a-4eaa-87d7-807df4581aa8/MERP_Natural_Capit...
 
Description MARINE ECOSYSTEMS RESEARCH PROGRAMME - TOP PREDATORS 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Summary cards were created to distil MERP research and outputs. This publication relates to MERPs work in relation to top predators and their distribution, diet and support of the Natural Capital approach and is designed to highlight where MERP can provide information and fill knowledge gaps. The publication is updated as new information becomes available and provides contact information to allow readers to follow up for further information.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.marine-ecosystems.org.uk/getmedia/11b65b7d-10aa-476f-abf1-dee76c11b818/MERP_Top_Predators...
 
Description MARINE ECOSYSTEMS RESEARCH PROGRAMME -ADDRESSING POLICY QUESTIONS 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Summary cards were created to distill MERP research and outputs into policy-relevant topics, aimed at non-expert stakeholders. The Addressing Policy Questions documents is centered around key policy questions developed by our Stakeholder Advisory group and is designed to highlight where MERP can provide information and fill knowledge gaps. The publication supports the interactive available on the website.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.marine-ecosystems.org.uk/getmedia/67a5a7cc-ca6e-4d76-a595-f27c7115904d/MERP_Policy_Leafle...
 
Description MERP Final Stakeholder Advisory Group Workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact The Marine Ecosystems Research Programme actively engaged with a Stakeholder Advisory Group, primarily policy-makers and agencies but also representatives from industry and NGOs, who helped us align our work with their needs. This final workshop discussed impact, and how the work from MERP could be taken forward. feedback on the impact f the programme was very positive, and stakeholders are still in touch with MERP members developing new ideas and proposals (e.g. SMMR).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL http://www.marine-ecosystems.org.uk
 
Description MERP Modelling Interactive 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The MERP Modelling interactive allows users to explore MERP models and the food web categories that are their inputs and outputs. The interactive allows the user to easily learn about what each model does and what information it can provide at varying spatial scales. It tells you about what categories are included within each model and importantly who to contact for further information. The aim of this interactive is to inform people about the model and how they might be applied for decision making in a clear and transparent manner. The interactive was developed conjunction our Stakeholder Advisory Group in order to ensure it was fit for purpose.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.marine-ecosystems.org.uk/Research_outcomes/Model_Interactive
 
Description MERP Newsletter series 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The MERP newsletter is sent out biannually and highlights the ongoing activities and achievements of the Programme. It is targeted not only at programme partners but at many external stakeholders and communication channels, such as the Marine Ripple Network.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014,2015
URL http://us10.campaign-archive1.com/?u=0a1f17d91ab0b711be36f6f70&id=c546006116&e=dd5288513d
 
Description MERP Policy Briefing for Natural Resources Wales (NRW) & Welsh Government (WG) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Briefing between MERP scientists and Welsh policy-makers to provide opportunity for regional input into the direction of MERP science and to help the MERP consortium maximize the policy-relevance of research products. the briefing also gave a further opportunity for MERP to provide scientific advice proactively to policy-makers. The briefing was well received with new networking relationships created, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) & Welsh Government (WG) were keen for follow up information and research outputs as they are ready.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description MERP Science in the news 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact MERP scientists were filmed during their benthic sampling cruise by the news station Al Jazeera for a news segment looking at marine science across the UK. The programme explored how different research methods are being bought together to understand the complexity of the marine environment, the footage aired on Saturday 26th November every hour for a 24hr period.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description MERP Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting: Addressing key policy questions to stakeholders 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact This workshop gathered MERP scientists with the stakeholder advisory group to share project outcomes and gather their feedback and comments on how to maximize broader dissemination with wider stakeholder communities. The meeting sparked interested discussion and keen interest for further follow up information and details on how to access more information. The stakeholder group also agreed to participate in the wider Stakeholder Symposium (to be held in April 2018) as panel members.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description MERP Stakeholder Symposium 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact In April 2018 MERP hosted a symposium for a broad range of stakeholders. Throughout the 4-year programme MERP has engaged actively with stakeholders including relevant marine policy formers, managers, regulators, NGOs, and industry. The Symposium was design to allow us to share with stakeholders across the UK how the advances made across MERP could support the broad management and sustainable use of the UK's marine environment.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description MERP Twitter feed 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The @merp_updates Twitter feed is intended for those interested in marine ecosystems research and management, with varying levels of expertise in marine science. Tweets consist of interesting information and events relating to marine ecosystems as well as media-rich updates about MERP research.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014,2016
URL https://twitter.com/merp_updates
 
Description MERP briefing for Defra 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Briefing to staff of UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, in order to show case policy-relevant outputs of the Marine Ecosystems Research Programme. Attended by 13 Defra staff, working on topics including marine evidence, fisheries, and marine protected areas. Presentations given included: connecting ecosystem services and understanding natural capital, synthetic mapping of NW European shelf sedimentary environment for applications in marine science, ecosystem trade-offs, impact of fishing on diversity of large marine species, spatially explicit fish projections for UK seas under scenarios for riverine nutrient reduction. Following presentations were interactive discussions with the Defra delegates.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description MERP newsletter February and September 2017 editions 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact This regular newsletter is targetted at a wide group of MERP stakeholders, ranging from policymakers to potential end-users of MERP products. Content is taylored for a non-science but interested and engaged audience and subscribers have mostly signed up to the newsletter through the MERP website. Through these newsletter, we have been contacted for further information about MERP and specific elements of science as well as initiating further collaboration, for example, with wider groups in Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC). The nesletters can be found at https://mailchi.mp/cbafce50f5ae/marine-ecosystems-research-programme-merp-newsletter?e=dd5288513d & https://us10.campaign-archive.com/?u=0a1f17d91ab0b711be36f6f70&id=fecc06bf41&e=%5bUNIQID.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://mailchi.mp/cbafce50f5ae/marine-ecosystems-research-programme-merp-newsletter?e=dd5288513d
 
Description MERP policy briefing for Defra, London 27 Sep 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Discussion of marine ecosystem service research and its relevance to current marine policy developments in Defra
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description MMO Science Alignment Workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact The aim of the workshop was to foster collaboration between academia and marine managers, developing both research projects and programmes to create excellent science that has maximum impact
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Mapping cetacean bycatch risk 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Talk given at the UNEP Convention on Migratory Species (joint ASCOBANS-ACCOBAMS) meeting on Unacceptable Interactions and bycatches in marine mammals, UN Campus, Bonn, Germany. MERP Scientist Peter Evans of Seawatch discussed his latest work on mapping cetacean bycatch with the audience.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Marine Ecosystem Research Programme/Defra Briefing 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Members of the Programme met with a range of Defra customers to discuss how outputs from the ongoing work could be potentially tailored to meet future policy needs. The aim is to ensure that scientific outputs will have maximum impact and reach the right audiences at the right time. By starting the dialogues at this early stage we hope to ensure a clear chain for supporting policy and management.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Marine Ecosystem Valuation Policy Brief invited presentation to British Irish Parliamentary Meeting, Co. Wicklow, Ireland May 13th 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Presentation made on the European Marine Board Marine Ecosystem Valuation Policy Brief to Parliamentarians from the UK and the Republic of Ireland at their bilateral meeting. Questions afterwards
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Marine Ecosystems Research Programme video 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact This introductory video was produced to provide and overview of the Marine Research Ecosystems Research Programme to general audiences. The video has been uploaded to the website and YouTube and publicised via Twitter and FB. It has also been used by PIs at meetings and other events to communicate about the programme and its goals.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.marine-ecosystems.org.uk/News/Video_introducing_the_work_of_MERP_is_now_availabl
 
Description Marine Ecosytems Research Programme Briefing for Scottish Government 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Key representatives from MERP held a briefing with Scottish Government to discuss how MERP work may be of use to them. The meeting involved short presentations followed by feedback and discussion. The intended outcome was continued further engagement and follow up for further information on MERP.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Marine Management Organisation (MMO) visit to PML 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Marine Management Organisation (MMO) visit to PML: Dickon Howell, Acting Chief Scientific Advisor and Adam Cook Head of Evidence met for 3 hours
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Marine Management Organisation - MERP meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact MMO meeting to discuss the application of MERP research to MMO evidence needs
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Marine Management Organisation MMO Science Alignment Workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact MMO Science Alignment Workshop to align UK marine science research to the evidence needs of the MMO
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Marine Management Organisation and WWF Marine Pioneer workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Contributed to Marine Management Organisation and WWF workshop onDefra's Marine Pioneer (Woking, 28 Jun)
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Marine Natural Capital Workshop for Defra and Defra agencies . 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact PML organised a workshop and Prof Mel Austen and Dr Nicola Beaumont provided scene setting presentations to explore what is known about UK marine natural capital and its valuation with Defra and Defra agencies such as Marine Management Organisation, Natural England, JNCC, Scottish Natural Heritage, Marine Scotland as well as international participants from TEEB and academia. Abingdon, Oxford 13 Jun 2018
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Marine Plastic Debris Meeting with international lawyers at Dentons London 4 Apr 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Discussed impact of plastics on marine ecosystem services and the legal implications
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Marine ecology and ecosystem services 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact PML (and MERP) Scientist Stefanie Broszeit participated in the SoapBox Science day in Exeter City Centre. Together with some of Devon's leading female scientists Stefanie took to her soapbox to showcase science to the general public. She discussed her work on linking marine ecology to ecosystems services undertaken through the Marine Ecosystem Research Programme. This event engaged with broad spectrum of the general public.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Marine science and policy: match and mismatch Opening Keynote presentation at North Sea Science Conference, Ostend, November 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact An international audience of policy makers, Belgian and EU politicians and academics attended my opening keynote presentation to the North Sea Open Science Conference in Ostend, Belgium, 7th November 2016. I set the theme for the conference which was reflected in further discussion after my presentation and during the remainder of the conference
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Meeting between MERP and MMO 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact A meeting was organised to initiate closer working relationship between the MMO and MERP (both the whoel programme and the individual researchers), and to assist the MMO to develop closer working relationships with the academic community and a clearer line of sight between scientific research and management decisions. Following the meeting the MMO have continued to be engaged in MERP activities and are helping to support the overall impact on policy of the programme.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Meeting with Therese Coffey (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact The meeting took place to inform the Minister of the work going on with the programme, and its links to other initiatives.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Member of SCOR Working Group 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Pennie Lindeque is an invited member of the new SCOR Working Group for 2019-2022 entitled, MetaZooGene: Toward a new global view of marine zooplankton biodiversity based on DNA metabarcoding and reference DNA sequence databases
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description National Biodiversity Conference 'New Horizons for Nature' ,Dublin Castle 19-21 Feb 2019. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Prof. Austen attended and presented at the National Biodiversity Conference 'New Horizons for Nature' , Dublin Castle, Ireland 19-21 Feb. Prof. Austen was an invited panel member for session ''How can we value natural capital in marine ecosystems?'' and gave an introductory presentation
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.biodiversityconference.ie/
 
Description Natural Capital Committee Annual Report Launch (2019) Panel Discussion 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Natural Capital Committee Annual Report Launch (2019) at the Royal Society, London 5 Feb. (Defra Sec of State and Shadow Sec of State both present) with panel discussion
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Natural Capital Committee meeting: Research priorities for natural capital 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Natural Capital Committee meeting: Research priorities for natural capital - discussion of implications for research funders and policy departments
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Natural Capital Committee metrics workshops 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Natural Capital Committee workshop to scope a potential set of metrics to assess and account for natural capital in an England / UK context
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Natural Capital Initiative Dialogue - integrating the management of catchments, coast and the sea 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Natural Capital Initiative Dialogue - Natural Capital without boundaries: integrating the management of catchments, coast and the sea through partnership at the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology - invited workshop participant. Report produced
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description News article on PML website 'Filling the gaps in marine ecosystem research' 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Online news article in line with a press release to publicise the start of the Marine Ecosystem Research Programme (MERP), jointly funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The news article was intended to promote the new programme's innovative research with funders, partners, media, collaborators and beyond.

The news article extended the potential reach of the press release, raising the profile of the Marine Ecosystem Research Programme (MERP) with stakeholders, directing traffic to the new MERP website and generating interest in its strategic aims and outcomes.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
URL http://www.pml.ac.uk/News/Filling_the_gaps_in_marine_ecosystem_research
 
Description Ocean Prediction Workshop 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I presented our advances in spatially explicit models of fish around the UK. Specifically, the focus was on our new ability to account for two-way feedbacks: fish grow by feeding on plankton, plankton decreases through fish predation. This presentation reached the core of the ocean modelling community in the UK (e..g, UK MetOffice, National Oceanography Centre). It has contributed to us being invited to participate in new proposals (e.g., a NERC large grant) involving hydrodynamic modelling, plankton and fish.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://oceanprediction.org/workshops/
 
Description Outcomes from the GCRF Blue Communities Partner Hub Session within the Blue Economy track of the PEMSEA East Asian Seas Congress was included in the Daily Bulletin and the recommended actions for PEMSEA 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact The GCRF Blue Communities' Blue Economy Hub Session was included in the PEMSEA EAS Congress Daily bulletin (which was distributed to delegates). Additionally the outcomes and discussions from the Blue Economy hub session were included in the recommended action for PEMSEA, which was to "promote integrated planning for improving ocean health and socio-economic benefits in their regional action plans. Including the development, implementation and financing of national ocean policies".
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://eascongress2018.pemsea.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Summary-of-the-EAS-Congress-Internation...
 
Description Pariticipated on United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14 preparatory meeting, United Nations Headquarters, February 2017 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Attended the United Nations in New York, attending the preparatory meeting for Sustainable Development Goal 14.
This is the part of the UN sustainability agenda that focuses on protecting life under water through ocean sustainability.
During the meeting, discussions are underway about what themes the world should work within to improve the sustainability of ocean life into the future, and that of living marine resources, under so many threats such as pollution, ocean acidification and illegal, unregulated and unreported fisheries.
Raised awareness of how such aims cannot be delivered without actions that consider the profound effect of a multi-stressor ocean under climate change. That is, SDG14 is tightly linked to SDG13 which focuses on climate change.
More importantly, at a time when solutions for a fast changing ocean are badly needed, Ana hopes to raise awareness about tools that the scientific community, a major group of stakeholders of the ocean, has already developed. These tools can enable action to meet this challenge and specifically through climate ready marine spatial plans.
Gave a short talk today on the topic at a side event organized by the Ocean & Climate Platform, a think thank promoting ocean sustainability under climate change, and will raised the topic throughout the meeting, including direct engagement with co-facilitators of this UN goal.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://twitter.com/DrAnaQueiros/status/831996056955211776
 
Description Participation at United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Climate Conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact COP22 was the twenty-second session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22), held alongside the twelfth session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 12), at Bab Ighli, Marrakech, Morocco. Both were held as part of the The United Nations Climate Change Conference, in the context of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
This event is a world stage where global leaders come together under the umbrella of the UNFCCC to align their national efforts to combat climate change, and the wider event is attended by science, industry, NGO's and civil society. Because of this, COP is a global stage within which research aligned with ocean research and climate change can be widely disseminated, and knowledge-exchange (KE) promoted. This was seen as a potentially great dissemination platform for NERC research undertaken within the Marine Ecosystems Research Programme (MERP), and a great way to raise the profile of Dr Ana Queiros, who is a mid-career senior scientist and a Co-I within the programme. Ana therefore attended COP22 as a representative of the MERP programme, and as part of the PML delegation to the event, which also included Dr Carol Turley, OBE (PML fellow) and Thecla Keizer (PML head of Marketing), joining colleages Dr Phil Williamson (UEA, NERC) and the team form the German Ocean Acidification Porgramme BioAcid.
PML has attended COP since 2009. At that time few delegates even considered the link between climate and the ocean, its ecosystems, its role in the climate systems and the services it provides human society. This has changed considerable, ocean acidification is now recognised as a slow onset event (Cancun agreement at COP16, Mexico, 2010), the ocean and its ecosystems are now mentioned in the Paris Agreement (COP21, 2015) and it is very evident that more and more delegates are considering ocean impacts as they move forward with its implementation. This is at least in part due to the science outreach provided by PML. These efforts have been previously funded in full by the UK Ocean Acidification research programme in addition smaller funding/in-kind contributions from a consortium of other programmes and research institutes (EU-EPOCA, EU-MedSeA, German-BIOACID, US-Scripps, IAEA's OA-ICC) led by PML. PML is now recognised as a significant science-evidence contributor at these conferences. Recognition of the role of the ocean within the COP process, and the IPCC, has been actively sought through PML's involvement in past years.
This year, a whole day was dedicated to the ocean at COP, though the Oceans Action day, organised by the Global Ocean Forum and within which MERP results were also presented. In this day, 400 high-level participants from around the world were brought in to advance oceans and climate change issues and to pledge concrete actions in support of the objectives of Sustainable Development Goal number 14, which is to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources (http://newafricanmagazine.com/ocean-climate-action-making-waves/#sthash.BybFvWx2.dpuf). SDG14 meeting was also attended by Dr Ana Queiros, please see separate entry.
COP22 involved high level participants such as the Food and Agriculture Organization, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission - UNESCO, the UN Environmental Programme, the World Bank, advisors to the UN General Assembly's Secretary-General, the IPCC, several high level envoys from governments around the world, the royal families of Monaco and Morrocco, and donors of marine research funding.
Through Ana's presence at COP22, results and activities from the NECR-DEFRA MERP were disseminated at this level, as well as to research, industry, policy and civil society.
Ana advertised MERP research in three ways at COP22: a) via media and social media; b) via talks at scheduled side-events; and c) via direct engagement at the PML stand.
Media & Social Media: Ana engaged though Twitter about her and PML's activities at COP via her personal account @DrAnaQueiros. Our top media tweet was our advertising of the side event hosted in the UK pavilion (Green is Great), where she presented MERP results, which received a reach of 2,242 impressions. NERC retweeted one of Ana's tweets promoting the presence of the NERC-DEFRA MERP at COP22. Further to this, Ana was interviewed by Laurie Goering, Head of Climate Programme at Thomson Reuters, as part of the group of marine researchers present at the event, resulting in the following article published by Reuters on 25 November 2016: http://news.trust.org/item/20161125090402-u92xa Reuters is frequently used by other media for their stories, and the story was re-published by the Daily Mail, All Africa, Business Times, Inter Press Service News Agency, Jakarta Globe, Humanosphere, Press Reader, Oman Daily Observer, The Guam Daily Post, and potentially others we have not been able to track. The interview was further disseminated by PML on social media. Ana was also interviewed for Moroccan TV Channel 1 in an interview focused on youth at COP22.
Presentations: Ana presented MERP research results pertaining to task 2.2 on blue carbon/macrophyte links to ocean carbon sequestration at a side event "Climate readiness -Ocean based adaptation and mitigation" in the GB pavilion (November 10th) with the presentation entitled "Blue Carbon + Climate Ready Conservation = Climate Action", which was followed by a Q&A session which was very well attended. The panellist list at this event included also Dr Carol Turley, Dr Phil Williamson, and Dr Tim Dixon from the International Energy Agency. Some of the blue carbon research advances in MERP was then again presented at the COP22 Ocean Action day side-event for Small Island Developing States, as Ana provided content for Dr Turley's presentation.
Ana engaged directly with COP22 delegates about MERP research at other side events which she co-organised with PML colleagues, which included other world class researchers as pannelists, including members of IOC-UNESCO, IUCN, NOAA, and the IPCC. Further to this, Ana engaged directly with delegates at the PML stand, which was placed with the Blue Zone, and with participants in all of the side events co-organised. The stand was an excellent way of engaging delegates from policy, industry, private sector, NGO's and civil society. At the stand, Ana was able to promote research undertaken within MERP, through dissemination of contact card with QR code hyperlink to the programme's webpage and dissemination of USB sticks with the programme summary documents custom written in layman language for this event by Kelvin Boot and K-M Davidson (PML) with the contribution of MERP wide researchers. Direct engagement focused primarily on Blue Carbon work undertaken as part of MERP task 2.2., but also modelling and ecosystems services research undertaken within the wider programme.
Following the event, Dr Queiros has made numerous international contacts and continues to promote and communicate the work she is doing through MERP.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.marine-ecosystems.org.uk/News/MERP_at_COP22
 
Description Participation in the ICES WGBIODIV workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Discussion of how MERP work can contribute to the ongoing activities and recommendations of the ICES WGBIODIV workshop
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description PlymSEF Annual Spring Lecture, National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth 12 June - invited speaker 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact "It's not all about the fish!" Presentation and discussion to demonstrate that the marine environment is important to people, how and why we measure its value (importance) and
reflect on what that means for marine policy and management. Lively discussion of the importance of valuation and the role of marine policy followed
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Plymouth and Brexit: Perspective of Marine Research Organization 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Presentation on marine science undertaken by Plymouth marine research organisations and concerns and benefits of BREXIT as a piece that stimulated further audience discussion and debate within plenary and subsequent small breakout group sessions
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/business/summit-hears-how-plymouth-could-383512
 
Description Plymouth and Brexit: Perspective of Marine Research Organization 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Appearances on local/national television (ITV, BBC) associated with presentation given at Plymouth and Brexit conference
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Presentation about the Marine Ecosystems Research Programme at Coastal Futures 2019 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Short presentation advertising the programme outcomes and website for policy makers.
Somerfield PJ, The Marine Ecosystems Research Programme - an update. Coastal Futures 2019, London, January 2019.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Presentation at EU Ocean Day at the EU pavilion, during the United Nations Climate Change Conference, of the 25th Conference of Parties (COP25): Climate ready marine spatial plans: end-use demonstrator usingmodelling data 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I gave this presentation at the EU Ocean's day during COP25, in the opening session entitled: Oceans and Climate: from science to policy, which was an event hosted EU Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Commission department, organised and chaired by Plymouth Marine Laboratory and the Association of the Overseas Countries and Territories of the European Union. The event was opened by Veronika Veits, the Director of International Ocean Governance and Sustainable Fisheries, of the Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Commission; and by Prof. Biliana Cicin-Sain, President of the Global Ocean Forum. The other speakers included Porf Hans-Otto Pörtner, Co Chair IPCC WGII & the Alfred Wagner Institute, GER; Prof Manuel Barange, Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy and Resources Division of the UNited Nation's Food and Agricultural Organisation; Faisal Dilrosun, Expert on Oceans, for the Curaçao government; Pablo Lopez-Herrerias, Coordinator of the OCTA secretariat); Sebastien Soleille , Head of Energy Transition at BNP Paribas; Jean-Pierre Gattuso, Research Director of the Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche, CNRS, Sorbonne Université and Iddri, France; and Dr Loreley Picourt, of the NGO Ocean and Climate Platform. The event was attended by circa 70 people, with an audience varying between research, policy makers, NGOs, business, and civil society. The talk given was intended to highlight UK based development of decision support tools for the assessment of the emergence of the climate signal, whcih I have led, to facilitate the development of climate ready marine spatial planning strategies around the globe.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://ec.europa.eu/clima/sites/calendar/0138/calendar_en.htm#schedule
 
Description Presentation at South West Marine Ecosystems Conference April 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact A talk entitled "From climate to oceanography to plankton" was presented at the SWME annual Conference reaching a wide variety of West Country stakeholders with intersts in the marine environment
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Presentation at South-West Marine Ecosystems conference 2014 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation paper presentation
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Programme Coordinator gave a presentation on the Marine Ecosystems Research Programme: New NERC/Defra Marine Ecosystems research in the south-west

Sharing of knowledge and open discussions with colleagues and regional stakeholders about this recently begun UK wide research programme
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Presentation at the European Union pavilion at the Eu Ocean Day at the 23rd United Nations Conference of Parties: Oceans and Climate and Science III: From challenges to solutions (10 Nov 2017, 16:00-17:00) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Presentation given on past EU funded PML led research (Queiros et al.) and its new application in several official development assistance projects I am involved in focusing on adaptation and mitigation measures to support coastal communities via climate-ready marine spatial planning, including the RCUK GCRF project Blue Communities (lead: Mel Austen, PML).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://ec.europa.eu/clima/events/0118/calendar_en.htm#schedule
 
Description Presentation at the Oceans and Human Health conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact A presentation to the attendees of the Oceans and Human Health conference in Monaco in December 2020. this conference was carried out in hybrid form, online and on site and so more than 500 participants attended the conference.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL http://www.oceanhealthmonaco.org/
 
Description Presentation at the UK pavilion at the United Nations Conference of Parties in event organised by the UK Department for International Development and Plymouth Marine Laboratory: Ocean Options: Climate challenges and science responses for seas and society 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Presentation on innovative Blue Carbon data emerging from the programme, as a result of benthic research programme led by PML (Queiros) in WP2 of the programme. Followed up by request for interview with the official UN Sustainable Development Goals social media TV channel.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/659501/UK_Pavilion_Program...
 
Description Presentation on Ecosystem Service research in policy and management to UK government Productive Seas Evidence Group meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Presentation of project aims and results to UK government working group
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Presentation on Blue Communities and participation in GCRF panel discussion at National Oceanography Centere Association, London 1 May 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presented Blue Communities project to audience. Discussed GCRF projects during subsequent panel discussion. Raised awareness among marine scientists and practitioners of opportunities and challenges in engaging in marine research and GCRF challenge work.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Presentation on Marine Ecosystems Research Programme at 4th World Conference on Marine Biodiversity (WCMB), Montréal, May 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Dr Somerfield gave a presentation at a major international conference describing MERP.
Somerfield PJ, Data, models and ecosystem services: the Marine Ecosystems Research Programme. 4th World Conference on Marine Biodiversity (WCMB), Montréal, May 2018.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Presentation on large-scale infrastructure for biodiversity studies at 4th World Conference on Marine Biodiversity (WCMB), Montréal, May 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Building on previous large-scale networking (e.g. MarBEF) to expand science previously done by Somerfield to a larger scale:
Arvanitidis C, Warwick RM, Somerfield PJ, Pavloud C, Pafilis E, Oulas A, Chatzigeorgiou V, Patkos T, Faulwetter S, Bailly N, et 200+ al., Research Infrastructures offer capacity to address scientific questions never attempted before: Are all taxa equal? 4th World Conference on Marine Biodiversity (WCMB), Montréal, May 2018.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Presentation on large-scale infrastructure for large-scale biodiversity science 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Arvanitidis C, Warwick RM, Somerfield PJ, Pavloudi C, Pafilis E, Oulas A, Chatzigeorgiou G, Gerovasileiou V, Patkos T, Bailly N, Hernandez F, Vanhoorne B, Vandepitte L, Appeltans W, Keklikoglou K, Chatzinikolaou E, Michalakis N, Filiopoulou I, Panteri E, Gougousis A, Bravakos P, Christakis C, Kassapidis P, Kotoulas G, Magoulas A, Research Infrastructures and their collaborative potential in addressing challenging scientific questions at global scale. Hellenic Bioinformatics 11, Thessalonica, November 2018.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Presentation on long-term change at 4th World Conference on Marine Biodiversity (WCMB), Montréal, May 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Dr Somerfield has been collaborating with scientists in France for many years, working on long-term change in the benthos. Here we reported progress at a major international conference: Thiébaut E, Dauvin J, Gentil F, Houbin C, Broudin C, Somerfield PJ, Changes in a benthic system exposed to multiple stressors: a 40-year time-series in the English Channel.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Presentation on marine spatial planning and climate change at 4th World Conference on Marine Biodiversity (WCMB), Montréal, May 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Dr Somerfield gave a talk at a major international conference describing collaborative work on linking models and data to look at marine spatial planning in a changing climate.
Somerfield PJ, Queirós AM, Huebert KB, Keyl F, Fernandes JA, Stolte W, Maar M, Kay S, Jones MC, Hamon KG, Hendriksen G, Vermard Y, Marchal P, Teal LR, Austen MC, Barange M, Sell AF, Allen JI, Peck MA, Solutions for ecosystem-level protection of ocean systems under climate change. 4th World Conference on Marine Biodiversity (WCMB), Montréal, May 2018.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Presentation to Defra 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Marine Ecosystem Research Programme was discussed with the Marine Biodiversity Evidence Co-ordination Board (MBECB)

Increased awareness of the programme amongst decision makers and information shared about future potential outputs and benefits of the programme.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Presentations at the Marine Ecosystems Research Programme Stakeholder Symposium 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact The Marine Ecosytems Research Programme organised a major Stakeholder Symposium at the Royal Society, 25 April 2018. A series of talks by Dr Somerfield and project PIs led to structured panel discussion between scientists and stakeholders. Feedback on the event was very positive.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.marine-ecosystems.org.uk
 
Description Press release 'Filling the gaps in marine ecosystem research' 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Press release to publicise the start of the Marine Ecosystem Research Programme (MERP), jointly funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The press release was intended to promote the new programme's innovative research with funders, partners, media, collaborators and beyond.

The press release raised the profile of the Marine Ecosystem Research Programme (MERP) with stakeholders and beyond, directing traffic to the new MERP website and generating interest in its strategic aims and outcomes.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
URL http://www.pml.ac.uk/News/Filling_the_gaps_in_marine_ecosystem_research
 
Description Press release for Current Biology Paper on iron fertlkisation by zooplankton 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Press release issued by British Antarctic Survey and PML Communications Teams on the publication of a paper in Current Biology reporting a newly discovered mechanism by which zooplankton fertilise the ocean with iron. It generated interest and enquiries from other scientists, primarily
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL https://www.bas.ac.uk/media-post/natures-ocean-fertiliser/
 
Description Press releases and related media activity for four papers: Atkinson et al (2019) Nature Climate Change, Beaugrand et al (2019) Nature Climate Change, Belcher et al. (2019) Nature Communications and McQuatters-Gollop et al. (2019) Ecological Indicators 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact In early 2019 PML issued publicity/press releases/joint press releases in 4 papers involving Angus Atkinson (two in Nature Climate Change, one in Nature Communications and one in Ecological Indicators. Common themes behind these papers were time series data (krill data in thee of them and Western Channel Observatory data in the fourth). This triggered interest by journalists and various stakeholders and a series of media interviews based on the papers
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Programme Stakeholder Advisory Group workshops 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The Stakeholder Advisory Group was formed to advise on how to maximize the impact of the programme it includes members from industry, advisory bodies across the devolved administrations, ICES, Defra, NGO and others.
The group is helping to support the use of project outputs in policy and management.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description SPLiCE Workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Invited attendee to co-develop SPLiCE programme
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description SWEEP-Defra Environmental Analysis Unit-LEEP discussions 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Joined discussions at Defra Environmental Analysis Unit meeting at LEEP, U Exeter Business School where there were natural capital presentations and discussions (including NERC SWEEP and Marine Pioneer) on 8 Oct 2018
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Science presentation at Polar 2018 Open Science Conference, Davos June 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Presented a talk on climate-induced shifts in Antarctic krill distribution at the Polar 2018 Conference in Davos, Switzerland.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-018-0370-z
 
Description Seeing the bigger picture: Models of systems or systems with models? 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Talk titles Seeing the bigger picture: Models of systems or systems with models? was given a the National Partnership for Ocean Prediction inaugural meeting in April 2016. The aims of this engagement were to discuss the MERP programme with a broad professional group outside of the programme's regular scientific audience.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Seminar at Sheffield University, Plant Sciences department 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I gave a seminar on current research carried out on ecosystem services in the IMMERSE (MERP) project to get feedback and discussions with terrestrial ecosystem service researchers.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Seminar for the Blue Communities Malaysia talk series entitled "Blue Communities: an interdisciplinary approach to building research capacity and developing marine management for the benefit of coastal communities" on 18th February 2019 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Study participants or study members
Results and Impact As part of a UK-funded Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) project titled 'Building capacity for sustainable interactions with marine ecosystems for the benefit of the health, well-being, food security and livelihoods of coastal communities in East and Southeast Asia' (http://www.blue-communities.org/), a talk organised by the Blue Communities Malaysian team and co-organised by the Department of Urban & Regional Planning, Faculty of Built Environment and Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, was presented by Prof Austen. This was an opportunity for academics from across other faculties and departments to ask questions and further understand the interdisciplinary approach of the research being conducted.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.facebook.com/events/2994049550612544/
 
Description Soapbox Science Event Exeter presenting IMMERSE to the general public 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact I presented work carried out in the Marine Ecosystems Research Project to the general public during a Soapbox Science event organised by the University of Exeter in Exeter in June 2017.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://soapboxscience.org/soapbox-science-2017-exeter/
 
Description Southwest Ecosystem Services 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact 12 ecosystem service researchers met to discuss and present current work and to look for communal funding opportunities and interests. I gave a presentation on the IMMERSE (MERP) project
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Southwest Ecosystem Services Workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Approximately 20 ecosystem service researchers from Plymouth and Exeter Universities (several campuses) attended. It was an exchange of ecosystem service work that is carried out across the different institutions and to see how we can collaborate.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Stakeholder engagement workshop in North Devon 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Structured activities and discussions on pressures, impacts and management measures/mitigation options for the marine environment took place with invited stakeholders.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Stakeholder engagement workshop in Wales 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Structured activities and discussions on pressures, impacts and management measures/mitigation options for the marine environment took place with invited stakeholders.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012,2017
 
Description Stakeholder webinar with Natural Resources Wales article 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact A webinar was held with a key MERP stakeholder, Natural Resources Wales (NRW), to discuss the further development and use of MERP products within their region. The contact at NRW was then kind enough to write a brief article on their experience of the webinar. The feedback has proved very useful in guiding future stakeholder engagement activities.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.marine-ecosystems.org.uk/News/National_Resources_Wales_webinar
 
Description Stakeholder workshop in Cornwall to develop scenarios of the future outlook for the marine environment 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Workshop attendees discussed broad narratives related to different worldviews and the implications these would have for specific marine activities. The purpose was to use the workshop outputs (tables showing the direction and magnitude of change) as inputs for ecological models.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Stakeholder workshop in North Devon to develop scenarios of the future outlook for the marine environment 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Workshop attendees discussed broad narratives related to different worldviews and the implications these would have for specific marine activities. The purpose was to use the workshop outputs (tables showing the direction and magnitude of change) as inputs for ecological models.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description The NERC/Defra Marine Ecosystems Research Programme. Coastal Futures 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact A talk at Coastal Futures 2018 explaining the Marine Ecosystems Research Programme and advertising an upcoming Stakeholder Symposium at the Royal Society.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description The NERC/Defra marine Ecosystems Research Programme 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact MERP Project Coordinator shared information about what MERP had achieved and promoted the Stakeholder Symposium which will be taking place in April 2018 amongst the wide range of stakeholders at the event. This drummed up good support and interest for the later symposium.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description The Natural Capital Approach and its use in coastal and marine management' 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Keynote presentation at South West Marine Natural Capital conference, Exeter, July to set the scene on marine natural capital. Much discussion afterwards. Follow up from conference to implement marine natural capital accounting in the region
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.northdevonbiosphere.org.uk/uploads/1/5/4/4/15448192/workshop_report_natural_capital.pdf
 
Description The Natural Capital Initiative (NCI) 10th anniversary summit: Valuing Our Life Support, London, May 2019 Invited Plenary Session opening speaker, 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presentation on marine natural capital, its uses and limitations
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Transdisciplinary research to underpin policy and regulation in the marine environment, International Congress on Industrial Port Research, Sept Iles, Canada, May 2019, Invited speaker, 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Discussion on the use of interdisciplinary research in marine policy and management
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description UNFCCC COP 25 meeting, 2-7 December 2019, Madrid invited speaker and panel member at 4 side events: 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Presentations and panel discussions at 4 side events:
o The ocean, climate and biodiversity: the evidence is clear for raising ambition (WWF Pavilion)
o The ocean, CO2 and society: challenges, opportunities and science responses for seas and society (UK Pavilion)
o IPCC Special Report on Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (SROCC): a Pacific perspective (Moana Pacific Pavilion)
o Blue Carbon - can it tackle climate change and boost resilience? (UK Pavilion)
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description United Nations Ocean Conference - Partnership Dialogue 3 - Minimizing and addressing ocean acidification 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact PML Scientist participated sat on a panel discussion and presented/discussion work arising from the MERP programme. This allowed MERP to be highlight and discussed at a high-level meeting amongst a diverse community who may not otherwise have heard about the programme.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description VECTORs seminar to Marine Scotland 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Invited presentation on VECTORs at Marine Scotland seminar in Aberdeen 'VECTORS of Change in European Marine Ecosystems and their Socio-Economic Impacts'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Valuing Nature Programme meeting 'Health & Wellbeing' 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Supporters
Results and Impact Valuing Nature Programme meeting to help shape the 'Health & Wellbeing' funding call, London, invited as Programme Advisory Group Member
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Visit by Marine Management Organisation Board and Executive Team to Plymouth Marine Laboratory 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact The Marine Management Organisation's (MMO) Board and Executive Team visited Plymouth Marine Laboratory for the morning of 26 September 2018. They were shown examples of UKRI funded work including GCRF Blue Communities, Marine Ecosystems Research Programme (MERP), NERC SWEEP, NERC National Capability. Discussions enabled MMO to realise they could make greater use of outputs from these projects, and influence the direction of work in them, via greater collaboration, with potential for improved outcomes in their role as regulators of the marine environment.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Visit by Therese Coffey Minister Defra Marine Environment 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Presented aspects of Blue Communities and underpinning ecosystem services research to Therese Coffey MP and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with responsibility for marine environment during her visit to Plymouth Marine Laboratory (1st March 2018). She was interested in what we were doing and asked questions about the partners and the issues faced by them and by our programme and its approaches.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Visit to EUMETSAT 22nd October, 2019 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I gave a presentation on the work we carry out to collect information on marine ecosystem services. It involved several examples from GCRF Blue Communities and IMMERSE
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Women in STEM - presentation at National Marine Aquarium 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Talk about my research career at local meeting of 'Women in STEM' - at National Marine Aquarium
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description • UKRI GCRF/Salzburg Global Seminar co-sponsored session 605 - Climate Change, Conflict, Health, and Education: Targeting Interdisciplinary Research to Meet the SDGs; Salzburg 17-21 Mar. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact The Salzburg Seminar Session 605 was a global gathering of GCRF and other researchers, policymakers, humanitarian and development agencies, and philanthropic foundations. The program promoted dialogue that spans research, policy and practice, incorporated representative voices in the research agenda-setting process, and examined how research
for development is actually conducted, communicated, and translated into impact. Discussions ranged freely. My interventions prompted greater consideration of the needs of Coastal Communities in the global south by the participants, and consideration of the needs of, and challenges for early career researchers working within GCRF programmes. Networking activities led to collaboration on a joint proposal for funding.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018