Our mission is to advance sustainable use of the marine environment through our systems-thinking approach to research, education and innovation.
Plymouth has been a focus for marine science for over 100 years. Our research and partnerships are fundamental in helping us understand the marine environment and how best to tackle the challenges it currently faces.
Richard Thompson OBE FRS
Director of the Marine Institute
Research priorities
- Towards net zero
- Sustainable blue economy
- Safe seas
- Healthy oceans
- Life on Earth is threatened by increasing temperature, rising sea levels and more extreme weather events, resulting in flooding and wildfires.
- Our oceans absorb a substantial proportion of CO2 from the atmosphere, mitigating the rise in greenhouse gases to some extent, but this leads to ocean acidification.
- Changes are occurring at a faster rate than nature can adapt to.
- 40% of the world’s population live in coastal areas, with many relying on the ocean for their livelihoods.
- The marine environment is a major contributor to food security and 80% of global trade uses the seas, yet human activity is the primary cause for environmental degradation, putting those same livelihoods at risk.
- Technological, societal and environmental threats can result directly from human reliance on the ocean, as well as from natural hazards such as earthquakes and tsunamis.
- Threats ranging from cyber attacks to coastal erosion or flooding all have the potential to cause major disruption.
- Accelerated industrial development, coupled with a progressively throw-away society, has played a significant role in the degradation of our oceans through pollution.
- These societal trends have serious negative effects for marine ecosystems, reducing our ability to rely on them as a source of food.
- We urgently need to optimise the sustainable use of our oceans for food and energy security, while protecting and improving planetary health
- To achieve our objectives, we need rapid acceleration in the development of digital technology.
Latest news in marine and maritime
University of Plymouth researchers have led work which they say highlights the importance of understanding alternative materials
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Study explores the potential for Cornwall to host pioneering centre for floating offshore wind research
The University is leading a feasibility study supported by funding from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Fund
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University helps to pilot pioneering clean maritime initiative
The Virtual Bunkering for Electric Vessels project will showcase how clean maritime technologies can provide energy flexibility to harbours and ports
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Microplastic revolutionary named in the inaugural TIME100 Health list
Professor Richard Thompson is named among the most influential people in global health today
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University leads largest ever research programme to take place on an atoll island
The work in the Maldives took place as part of the £2.8 million ARISE project
- More related news
Marine and maritime events
- Fish Ecology, Sampling and Identification: Practical Demo 14 June 2024 14:00 - 16:00
- Public talk: Getting to know our local fishes 14 June 2024 18:00 - 20:00
- Ocean Tech Expo 2024 26 June 2024 - 27 June 2024
- 11th PRIMaRE Conference 27 June 2024 - 28 June 2024
- AMEMR 2024 8 July 2024 - 11 July 2024
Education and innovation
Industry support
- long-term strategic partnerships to help with product and performance testing, workforce development, and ongoing research and development support
- support to access public funds
- and access to a large talent pool of students and PhDs.
University student and staff opportunities
Contact the Marine Institute
Marine Institute, Level 3, Marine Building, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA