The Global Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Angela's work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

About Angela

My team explores the diversity of life on the seafloor, from subtidal and twilight depths (mesophotic zone) to the deep sea. While we work on a range of biodiversity (glass sponges, sea urchins, etc), crinoids (feather stars and sea lilies) are our main focus. They serve as important models for understanding the fundamental biology of how systems work. By unravelling every aspect of their biology and ecology, we gain insights into the biodiversity crisis and human health. Our work bridges ecology, paleobiology, and molecular biology through wide-ranging collaborations. 

My team use a mix of lab and field techniques, from surveys to mesocosm experiments, to explore species interactions, adaptations, and ecological function. As a deep-water field ecologist, I study life accross depth gradients using both SCUBA diving, ROVs, and submersibles, to access these hard-to-reach habitats.

Through my involvement in the IUCN SSC (Species Survival Commission) Marine Star Specialist Group, Mesophotic.org, and DOSI's (Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative) Challenger 150 and Biodiversity Task Force, I aim to contribute to biodiversity conservation and protection. Driven by a passion for connecting people with the natural world, I co-founded and co-lead the Wild Postcard Project, a community-driven initiative that uses art and creativity to inspire care, curiosity, and action for nature.

Contact Angela

angela.stevenson@plymouth.ac.uk