Photo by Theirry Meier

A new umbrella body, Marine Science UK (MSUK), has been launched to bring UK universities and research organisations together under a single voice, with the aim of feeding more coherent scientific evidence into government and industry decision-making on the ocean.

A single voice for a fragmented sector

According to its own description, MSUK exists to champion the seas and ocean on behalf of the UK’s marine science community, bringing scientists together to act collectively rather than as individual institutions competing for influence on policy. The organisation states that its priorities include shaping national and international marine policy and providing insight into the value of the ocean for the future, while also working to complement rather than duplicate the efforts of existing bodies.

Membership is open to UK universities and research-orientated organisations, with each member appointing a single representative, typically at director or chief executive level, to sit on MSUK’s leadership and decision-making body, the organisation explains. Organisations unable to commit to full membership can instead become partners, contributing to working groups and discussions without voting rights.

Leadership and founding members

MSUK has been formed under the leadership of Professor John Siddorn, chief executive of the National Oceanography Centre (NOC), who led the organisation’s formation and now chairs it, according to NOC’s own staff pages. NOC describes MSUK on its public affairs pages as a recently established umbrella organisation intended to communicate robust, coherent marine science evidence to government, industry and the wider community.

Founding members include NOC itself, the Marine Biological Association and Plymouth Marine Laboratory, with the University of Portsmouth among the universities that have since joined as a founding member.

Government and industry partners

Beyond its academic and research membership, MSUK has also signed up a roster of government and industry partners, who contribute to discussions and working groups without voting rights. These currently include Defra, the Department for Business and Trade, the Marine Management Organisation, MEDIN, the Ministry of Defence, the Scottish Government Marine Directorate, the Crown Estate, UKHO and UKRI, among others.