The city of Plymouth has seen its position as an international centre of excellence for marine research further enhanced after its three leading science organisations joined forces to launch Marine Research Plymouth.
The University of Plymouth, the Marine Biological Association and Plymouth Marine Laboratory already have world-leading reputations individually across a range of marine disciplines and have strong track records in delivering projects for governments, industry and research bodies.
Collectively, however, they host the largest number of marine scientists in any UK city and the greatest number of undergraduate and postgraduate marine students anywhere in the country.
Between them, they alerted the world to marine plastics, have conducted the longest running assessment of plankton health, and are consistently pioneering new technology and innovations that highlight the impact of climate change on our oceans and coastlines.
The three organisations will retain their individual identities and roles while promoting even greater collaboration on major projects and ventures. Marine Research Plymouth will encourage joint investment in research appointments and support the sharing of capabilities, equipment and facilities.
It will ensure Plymouth is even better-placed to attract further funding for initiatives that can advance knowledge and understanding of the oceans.
The signing of the partnership agreement comes at a critical time for marine and climate science, both in the UK and globally.
The G7 summit starts in Cornwall this week and the United Nations climate change conference (COP26) is scheduled to take place in Glasgow later this year, while 2021 also marks the start of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
Professor Willie Wilson, Professor Judith Petts and Professor Icarus Allen sign an agreement to form Marine Research Plymouth
World leaders
We are ranked the number one university globally for the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal number 14: life below water.
The award recognises the quality of our marine research and teaching as well as our efforts to reduce the impact of campus activities on the marine environment. The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings are the only global performance tables that assess universities against the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2021: life below water
Marine Institute
Representing 3000 staff, researchers and students, the University of Plymouth's Marine Institute is the first and largest such institute in the UK.
We provide the external portal to our extensive pool of world-leading experts and state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to understand the relationship between the way we live, the seas that surround us and the development of sustainable policy solutions.
