Working With Experts to Enhance Research
NOC works alongside experts from a diverse range of sectors and industry to further enhance the science and research we carry out in order to make it applicable for use in a number of different contexts.
The advisory bodies NOC are a part of are detailed below, including the individuals taking part in them.
Marine Facilities Advisory Board
The purpose of the Marine Facilities Advisory Board (MFAB) is to acquire views from the UK’s marine science community, in order to advise the National Oceanography Centre and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) on the current capability and future needs of the National Capability Large-scale Research Infrastructure (NCLRI) Marine Facilities award with a particular focus on the National Marine Equipment Pool (NMEP). As the commissioned marine facilities form part of the broader ocean observing infrastructure, MFAB will also help advise the development of the British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC) and the physical samples repositories (e.g. British Ocean Sediment Core Research Facility (BOSCORF).
MFAB reviews the status of equipment in the NMEP (e.g. condition, level of use, expected future demand). Reviews are conducted in consultation with the UK scientific user community, noting advances in technology, and the linkages with the British Oceanographic Data Centre and physical sample repositories. MFAB undertakes these activities within the constraints of the annual National Capability Large-scale Research Infrastructure (NCLRI) funding award to provide advice to NOC on the development of the NCLRI capabilities. The MFAB Chair reports on annual activities to the Cruise Programme Executive Board.
The role of MFAB includes:
- Undertaking an audit of marine equipment to establish what is available, what state it is in and how much it has been used in the past 5–10 years. This will not only provide essential information for the current NERC cruise programme but also help to anticipate the likely requirements for NERC sea-going science delivery in the near to medium future.
- Identifying new and/or emerging capabilities.
- Developing a strategy that prioritises the equipment portfolio with regard to emerging and declining requirements.
- Reporting changes in requirements (actual or predicted) to the NERC Cruise Programme Executive Board to help inform funding decisions.
- Review/input into the annual National Marine Facilities (NMF) Technology Roadmap.
Membership
| Name | Organisation | Expertise |
| Baker, Dr Adrian | Defence Science Technology Laboratory | Science strategy, planning and management, review of scientific programmes and deliverables |
| Bayrakci, Dr Gaye | NOC | Development, use and analysis of data gathered using active source and passive seismo-acoustic instruments |
| Creach, Dr Veronique | Cefas | Tracing sources of carbon in the food web with stable isotopes and determining microphytobenthos biodiversity in estuaries with molecular tools |
| Jones, Dr Stephen | University of Birmingham | Using seismic streamer acquisition equipment, international marine facilities, including using OBS, airgun and seismic streamer equipment |
| Alves, Professor Tiago | University of Cardiff | Sustainable geoscience, marine geology and geophysics, CCS, GeoEnergy and petroleum geology, environmental studies of continental shelves and slopes, sequence stratigraphy & structural evolution of sedimentary basins, basin analysis and palaeoceanography |
| Hall, Dr Rob | Scottish Association for Marine Science | Physical oceanography, ship and mooring observations, autonomous underwater vehicles, including gliders |
| Smyth, Professor Tim | Plymouth Marine Laboratory | Marine biogeochemistry and observations, atmospheric measurements, moorings |
| Stowasser, Dr Gabriele | British Antarctic Survey | Marine ecologist, working on trophic relationships in polar marine deep sea and shelf ecosystems |
| Taylor, Dr Michelle | University of Essex | Deep-sea benthic ecologist and geneticist |
| Powney, Dr Natalie | Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) | Head of Marine Planning |
NOC Personnel with an Advisory Role
| Name | Role |
| Carvalho, Dr Filipa | National Marine Facilities MARS Chief Scientist |
| Darlington, Dr Eleanor | Deputy Director, Research Infrastructure |
| Furlong, Dr Maaten | Director, Engineering Science |
| Holiday, Professor Penny | NOC Executive Chief Scientific Officer |
| Huvenne, Dr Veerle | National Marine Facilities MARS Chief Scientist |
| MacLachlan, Dr Suzanne | British Ocean Sediment Core Research Facility (BOSCORF) |
| Siddorn, Professor John | Chief Executive |
| Snaith, Dr Helen | British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC) |
| Oldridge, Helen | Head of Scientific Engineering |
| Phillips, Dr Alex | Head of MARS |
| Pearson, Jackie (Secretary) | Engagement and Partnerships Officer |
| Pringle-Stewart, Julie | Chief Operating Officer |
Status of Capital Expenditure Proposals (August 2024)
During the period 2018–2024, the Marine Facilities Advisory Board reviewed 28 proposals, from the community, for new items of equipment for the National Marine Equipment Pool. The table linked in the useful links section shows the status of current proposals. Resubmitted proposals will be considered at the next call. Where funding becomes available, NMF reviews the list of requests and funds those items with the highest scores. Questions about MFAB are welcome to secretary, Jackie Pearson: jfpea@noc.ac.uk. Details about the next capital expenditure proposal round will be announced in due course.