Professor Icarus Allen

Professor Icarus Allen

Chief Executive of the Plymouth Marine Laboratory and PML Applications Ltd

+44 (0)1752 633100 (switchboard)
"It is a privilege to lead our world-class research organisation, and our burgeoning commercial arm, in meeting the challenges presented by a changing marine environment. "

Professor Icarus Allen is Chief Executive of Plymouth Marine Laboratory. He is also an honorary visiting professor at the College of Life and Environmental Sciences of the University of Exeter.

Icarus has been working as a research scientist at PML for over 30 years, during which he has acquired a broad range of experience both as a marine ecosystem modelling scientist, senior manager, Director of Science and most recently as Chief Executive.

His scientific background is multidisciplinary, specialising in the numerical modelling of marine systems from individual cells to shelf wide ecosystems. In general terms the focus of this work has been the coupled physical biogeochemical modelling of shelf seas, with a focus on the NW European Shelf. More specifically this involves; operational ecosystem forecasting to develop operational plankton/ water quality forecasts, data assimilation and merging model/EO data products to predict HABs, model skill assessment, shelf seas ecosystem response to multiple drivers, both climate and anthropogenic, development of global shelf seas ecosystem models based on NEMO_ERSEM and the process modelling of climatically active marine biogases.

Icarus has led / been involved in over 30 national and international scientific programmes which have led to collaborative work with scientists in 30 countries. During this time, he has published over 110 peer reviewed papers and written over 40 non-peer reviewed papers and contract reports.

Selected Publications