FMRI Town Hall: Shaping the Future of UK Ocean Observing  

Join the conversation at the AGU Ocean Sciences Meeting, Glasgow  

How we observe the ocean could be at a turning point. The Future Marine Research Infrastructure (FMRI) programme has been taking a coordinated, future-ready approach to designing the next generation of ocean observing systems: systems that enable connection, flexibility and excellent science in a changing world.  

FMRI’s ambition is clear: to deliver a globally connected, world-leading ocean observing capability that equips researchers with the data and tools needed to address society’s most pressing environmental challenges, from climate change to ecosystem collapse.  

This Town Hall is an open invitation to the community to share their insights and potentially help shape the future of ocean observation.  

Designing the next generation of marine research infrastructure  

Professor Heather Bouman joins the panel to share how NERC’s BIO-Carbon programme combined research ships and autonomous platforms to transform ocean carbon observation, and what these lessons mean for designing the next generation of marine research infrastructure, including key priorities:

  • Designing infrastructure around the real needs of researchers  
  • Enabling real-time collaboration between ships, autonomous platforms and shore-based teams  
  • Giving scientists greater control over remote and autonomous systems, supporting rapid, data-driven decisions at sea  

“We’re entering a new era of ocean science, where new technologies let us explore the oceans in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago. When I began my research career, satellites could only scratch the surface of the ocean. Today, autonomous instruments and a wide range of advanced sensors are letting us explore deeper. These new tools don’t just show us how the ocean is changing, they are helping us understand why, by tracing how energy, nutrients, and carbon move through marine systems and, in doing so, shape our climate. It’s an incredibly exciting time to begin a career in oceanography.”

Professor Heather Bouman, Marine Biogeochemist, University of Oxford  

 

Why this matters  

A more networked and technologically advanced observing system could transform the UK’s ability to track ocean change, from long-term climate impacts to sudden events such as marine heatwaves. It opens new opportunities for international collaboration and for Early Career Researchers to engage with cutting-edge platforms and digital tools.  

At the same time, this transition raises important questions that demand community input:  

  • How should a distributed, autonomous fleet be operated?
  • How can we collaborate internationally while respecting national priorities  
  • How do we ensure systems are agile enough to respond to extreme or unexpected events?  
  • How do we train and support the next generation of ocean scientists to thrive in this digital landscape?  

Who should attend?  

Whether you develop autonomous platforms, depend on ocean data, or care about the future of marine science, your perspective matters.  

At a glance  

The FMRI Town Hall will:  

  • Share FMRI’s developing vision for future ocean observing  
  • Highlight practical insights from the BIO-Carbon programme  
  • Open the floor to discussion on how ocean observing should evolve globally over the next decade (?)  

This session will be chaired by Justin Buck (National Oceanography Centre), with an introduction from Leigh Storey, NERC Senior Responsible Owner for FMRI, and a perspective on technical design from Alvaro Lorenzo Lopez, FMRI Technical Lead.  

Join us  
Tuesday 24 February I 12:45–13:45  

Hall 3, Kelp Forest (SEC)