We live on a changing earth. The nature and rate of change pose immense challenges to human society over the 21 st Century. The oceans are integral to understanding and predicting these changes and their localised impacts. These pose both threats and opportunities for society. Increasingly, the marine sciences will need to be conducted within a wider earth-system context.
In order to contribute to this global endeavour, the UK marine science community is developing Oceans 2025, an ambitious programme of strategic research. Professor Ed Hill, Director of the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton will, give an overview of that programme – the first single, coordinated marine science programme ever presented to NERC – in his lecture ‘Key perspectives in marine science for 2025’ in the Stanley Gray Lectures series at the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) on Wednesday 30 November 2005.
“”It is time now for the marine sciences in the UK and Europe to get more joined up – fragmentation will no longer do – the environmental challenges are too large,” says Professor Hill.
- Total human demand for natural resources will increase by at least a third, due to population growth
- Sea level is likely to rise by 10-15cm (IPCC) whilst ocean pH may fall by ~0.2 units (Royal Society)
- A loss of ~30% in coverage of Arctic sea-ice is predicted, radically changing ecosystems whilst accelerating high latitude climate change – with global consequences
- Cod might either be extinct in UK waters (if present trends continue) or else abundant (if recovery plans succeed)
- The UK expects to generate more than 20% of electricity from renewable sources, mostly marine-based
“These are all ‘wake up’ calls,” says IMarEST’s Chief Executive Keith Read CBE. “We are delighted that Ed Hill will be giving us a preview of the programme that the marine science community has put together. We must remember that in 2002 the UK Government made clear its own hopes, saying ‘Our vision for the marine environment is clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas. Within one generation we want to have made a real difference’. I am confident that all who join us on 30 November will gain a clear understanding from Ed Hill of how this vision can be realised.”
Admission to the lecture at the City Conference Centre – within the headquarters of IMarEST at 80 Coleman Street, London EC2R 5BJ - is free of charge. Tea will be served from 17.00hrs, the lecture begins at 17.30hrs and a reception will be held from 18.45hrs. Places can be reserved online at www.imarest.org or from the Events Department on +44 (0)20 7382 2615; email: Jacqueline.smith@imarest.org
