Research

Our research is a unique combination of observation, experimentation and modelling activities, working together to provide a greater understanding of the dynamic and complex marine environment to inform knowledge-based solutions to the challenges our ocean and seas face.

The ocean and seas are essential to every one of us. They regulate weather and climate, produce oxygen for us to breathe, provide food, chemicals, and energy and support our economies by providing employment in many sectors including transport, tourism, fishing, energy and biotechnology.

An increasing global population is placing ever increasing demands upon the resources provided by the ocean, but in order to be sustainable, cohesive, thoughtful and innovative management practices need to be applied which reach far beyond political boundaries. This requires an in depth knowledge of how the oceans and seas function so that we can predict how they may respond to future change.

Our unique combination of observation networks, experimental facilities and modelling capabilities enables us understand and forecast the changes in marine ecosystems and provide evidence-based solutions to the challenges posed. We work to anticipate emerging societal needs and promote stewardship of the marine environment, unlocking the ocean's value by developing tools to assess the benefits and risks in developing the blue economy.

Our research priorities

Living with global change

Underwater shot looking up through shoal of fish showing the bottom of a boat

Unlocking the blue economy

Strengthening marine observations

Close up of plastic bottles on the beach

Facing the challenge of new pollutants

Man fishing in water with passenger ferry and kite surfers in the background

Promoting environmental and human health

Official Development Assistance (ODA)

Research topics

Air-sea gas exchange Aquaculture Biodiversity Capacity development Carbon and nutrient cycles Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Earth Observation Food security Invasive species Marine plastics Marine spatial planning Modelling the Marine Environment New technologies Ocean acidification Renewable energy Valuing the marine environment

Recent publications

Fennel, K; Gehlen, M; Brasseur, P; Brown, CW; Ciavatta, S; Cossarini, G; Crise, A; Edwards, CA; Ford, D; Friedrichs, MAM; Gregoire, M; Jones, E; Kim, H-C; Lamouroux, J; Murtugudde, R; Perruche, C. 2019 Advancing Marine Biogeochemical and Ecosystem Reanalyses and Forecasts as Tools for Monitoring and Managing Ecosystem Health. Frontiers in Marine Science, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00089
View publication
White, DA; Rooks, PA; Kimmance, SA; Tait, K; Jones, M; Tarran, GA; Cook, C; Llewellyn, CA. 2019 Modulation of Polar Lipid Profiles in Chlorella sp. in Response to Nutrient Limitation. Metabolites, 9 (3). https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo9030039
View publication
Abeln, F; Fan, J; Budarin, VL; Briers, H; Parsons, S; Allen, MJ; Henk, DA; Clark, J; Chuck, CJ. 2019 Lipid production through the single-step microwave hydrolysis of macroalgae using the oleaginous yeast Metschnikowia pulcherrima. Algal Research, 38. 101411. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2019.101411
View publication
Pittman, SJ; Rodwell, LD; Shellock, R; Williams, M; Attrill, MJ; Bedford, J; Curry, K; Fletcher, S; Gall, SC; Lowther, J; McQuatters-Gollop, A; Moseley, KL; Rees, SE. 2019 Marine parks for coastal cities: A concept for enhanced community well-being, prosperity and sustainable city living. Marine Policy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2019.02.012
View publication
Moore, AM; Martin, MJ; Akella, S; Arango, HG; Balmaseda, M; Bertino, L; Ciavatta, S; Cornuelle, B; Cummings, J; Frolov, S; Lermusiaux, P; Oddo, P; Oke, PR; Storto, A; Teruzzi, A; Vidard, A; Weaver, AT. 2019 Synthesis of Ocean Observations Using Data Assimilation for Operational, Real-Time and Reanalysis Systems: A More Complete Picture of the State of the Ocean. Frontiers in Marine Science, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00090
View publication

View more publications

Opportunities at PML

Making an impact