Dr Frances E. Hopkins

Frances leads research into the production of climate-active marine trace gases in the surface ocean, primarily the climate-cooling gas dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and other volatile organic compounds. Understanding the processes that lead to the production of these gases is critical to accurately predicting their flux to the atmosphere, and ultimately modelling the impact they have on Earth’s climate. Her research has tackled diverse angles of this topic, and she has lead and managed projects focusing on the influence of ocean acidification on marine trace gas production, the production of DMS by corals during air exposure, the influence of DMS on the palatability of microplastics to copepods, as well as studies directly focusing on the marine biogeochemical production and cycling of DMS.

Frances is coordinator of impact activities for all marine pollution research at PML (Cleaner Seas Science to Impact Area), within which she facilitates internal activities and discussion to maximise PML’s impact on this key global challenge. As coordinator, she ensures that PML researchers engage strategically with stakeholders and clearly communicates PML’s activities within this key challenge area to external audiences.

Frances actively engages in a variety of outreach activities. She was selected to present at the Exeter Soapbox Science event in June 2022 on “The smell of the sea, plankton, clouds and climate”. She was recently featured in two BBC World Service radio programmes broadcast in May 2023 (Unexpected Elements (starts at 32:50) and CrowdScience) discussing various aspects of her research on climate-active gases and the composition of sea air.

Frances is an active member of PML’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity Committee and was previously co-chair of PML’s Athena SWAN working group (2017-2022), a committee which drove forward gender equality initiatives at PML. She led PML’s successful application for Bronze accreditation in 2017. She is committed to supporting all staff and students to reach their full potential, and particularly those that face additional challenges relating to gender or other protected characteristics.

Over the years, Frances has played a key role in the Environmental Management Team, contributing to the development of PML’s environmental strategy and PML’s strategy to achieve net zero carbon. She co-lead the adoption of the LEAF initiative at PML (Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework), working with lab managers across the organisation to improve the sustainability and efficiency of laboratories.

Outside of PML, Frances is passionate about nature and conservation, and uses her spare time to contribute to local community initiatives to improve biodiversity and access to nature. She is a committee member of the Brent Island Trust https://www.brentisland.org.uk/, a community-owned nature reserve on the edge of Dartmoor.

Key Projects

• Constraining the Role of Sulfur in the Earth System (CARES), NERC Large Grant

• Microbial degradation of DMSO in seawater, NERC Standard Grant

• A multidisciplinary study of DMSP production and lysis – from enzymes to organisms to process modelling, NERC Standard Grant

• Is bacterial DMS consumption dependent on methylamines in marine waters? NERC Standard Grant

• Earth’s coolest organsulfur molecule: understanding how agriculture can be more cooling to the climate, NERC/BBSRC Rapid Response Grant

• Terrestrial DMSP: the forgotten source, NERC Standard Grant

Selected Publications