Select Committee inquiry launched with success in Plymouth

24th April 2007

 

On the 19th April 2007 Plymouth Marine Sciences Partnership (PMSP) hosted the launch of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Science and Technology’s inquiry into marine science, entitled "Investigating the Oceans".

 

To make the most of this opportunity, PMSP partners put on a fantastic show of marine science excellence highlighting not only the skills and expertise of Plymouth’s research community, but the education, training and public awareness capabilities as well as the region’s national and international reputation.

 

During the morning the Committee had a whirlwind tour of PML and the Marine Biological Association (MBA), including the National Marine Biological Library. Research staff from across the partnership set the scene with an impressive range of presentations, providing an overview of the excellent and wide variety of marine science carried out within Plymouth. This ranged from international collaboration programmes to long-term monitoring, pioneering new research and solution-based commercial developments.

 

The site visits were followed by a tour of the ExploreOceans display at the National Marine Aquarium, led by the next generation of marine scientists - a selection of PhD, post and undergraduate students.

The main event at the National Marine Aquarium was an inspiring delivery of key issues and challenges, which face the marine science community throughout the UK.

 

This was presented by four of PMSP’s senior Directors and focused on issues at the heart of Plymouth’s marine science expertise:

  • Marine Science & Technology – the "Big picture"
  • Monitoring the Oceans & Trends in Climate Change
  • Biodiversity and Bioresources from the Oceans
  • Sustainable Management of our Oceans

 

The discussion that followed, led by Committee chair Mr Phil Willis MP, covered enormous ground from issues of funding and the organisation of marine research in the UK, through the UK’s international standing, training and skills development for the next generation to climate change and the urgent challenges of the 21st Century.

 

Prof Nicholas Owens, Chair of PMSP and Chief Executive of PML, commented: “It’s the first time that a Parliamentary Select Committee has opened its evidence outside of London. It’s recognition of how far Plymouth has come. We’re leading the way in the marine science field. This is a significant and historic event.”

 

Local MP and the newest member of the Select Committee, Mrs Linda Gilroy MP, remarked: "It is fantastic that the event was staged in Plymouth. It is the first-ever session of what will be a long-running inquiry. It is a fantastic coup for Plymouth, which has much to be proud of in terms of its marine science work."