Challenger Society's blog

Marine bivalves (shelled animals such as mussels or clams) provide a fascinating insight into the marine realm over the most recent centuries and millennia. Their annual growth bands, like tree rings, can be used to accurately work out the age of the shell and when it lived. Chemistry of the shells, through the oxygen and … More Using the longest lived animal known to science to learn about Atlantic climate and improve climate predictions

So you finished writing that long thesis, got it bound and submitted, congratulations! That’s it right? Well, not really. Definitely a reason to celebrate (believe me, I did), but you still have the oral exam, or viva to go. What is the viva? It is latin for viva voce (means ‘live voice’ – thanks google) … More Tips for viva

I’m at sea on the RRS James Cook for Christmas, New Year and January with a great team of scientists from Liverpool, Southampton and all over the world. Malcolm Woodward is on board and this is a great opportunity to capture his career story while we spend 42 days at sea and to find out … More Malcolm Woodward: Pushing the Boundaries of Measurements at Sea

As we approach the Azores it is time to update the Challenger Society on our progress on the FRidge cruise (@Fridge_GA13).  We have a whole host of old and new Challenger members on board the RRS James Cook including Honorary Life Member Malcolm Woodward who you will hear from later this month. We are sailing … More Challenger Society at sea: A message from the President

The Arctic Ocean is changing, rapidly. Sea ice concentrations and ice extent are decreasing, the ocean and atmosphere are warming, fresh water discharges are increasing and stratification, mixing and circulation regimes are altering. All these changes impact the Arctic Oceans ecosystem, from the sea surface to the sea floor. Longer and more expansive open water … More A summer spent in The Changing Arctic Ocean

On 8-10 October 2017 I attended the European Marine Science Educators Association (EMSEA) conference, hosted by the University of Malta, Valletta, Malta,  in collaboration with the Department of Geosciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malta. This year’s venue is the Valletta Campus, University of Malta.. EMSEA is “an international non-profit organisation committed to boost ocean … More European Marine Science Educators Association: Malta 2017

The Scottish Associate for Marine Science (SAMS) were pleased to host the Advances in Marine Biogeochemistry (AMBIO) VIII conference in Oban, Scotland, UK. The special interest group for Challenger Society took place 6-8th September 2017, and was the first time the meeting was held in Scotland. More than 45 delegates from over 20 institutes, from … More Challenger Society Marine Biogeochemistry Meeting 2017

Every time I go to sea, I think three things. First, I hope our experiments work. Second, I will endeavour to refrain from eating puddings. And third, I will go to the gym every day. While I had started out with the best intentions – I think I even wore my gym kit in the … More Time to zinc about ironing out alkaline phosphatase dynamics in the subtropical North Atlantic

Dr. Matt Cole – NERC Research Fellow at the University of Exeter Rachel Coppock – NERC GW4+ PhD student at Plymouth Marine Laboratory As the rain continues to drizzle outside, we’ve taken a moment to grab a cuppa and reflect on a research opportunity that has brought us to the coastal city of Trondheim. Nestled … More Exploring the effects of microplastics on coldwater copepods: A Norwegian research collaboration