Dr Matt Frost

Dr Matt Frost

Head of International Office

mafr9/28/2023 12:00:45 AM@pml.ac.uk    |    
"I have always been driven by the desire to see science being used to help change the world for the better. As PML has a strong track record in using science to address key national and global challenges, being able to contribute to this is both exciting and a real privilege."

Dr Matt Frost is a senior leader with over 20 years’ experience in the charity and research sector and heads up the International work at PML.

View International Office

Matt works extensively on international matters specialising in networking and science diplomacy and sits on a number of international and national committees. Examples include: the UK National Decade Committee and the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership (the UKs primary marine climate advice body), as well as the MCCIP Overseas Working Group. Matt led work with the UK Overseas Territory governments to produce the first-ever climate assessment across all the UK Overseas Territories.

Matt also chairs and also led on the establishment of the World Association of Marine Stations (WAMS), working with global partners to bring together marine station directors (with UN IOC-Unesco) in support of the Sustainable Development Goals. Matt has worked on many marine issues including climate change and biodiversity with a wide range of stakeholders across different countries and cultures including international bodies such as the United Nations, embassies, global secretariats (e.g. the Commonwealth), G7, investors and Global NGOs.

Matt has previously worked for the civil service, as a lecturer at the University of Plymouth and for 20 years was Deputy Director of the Marine Biological Association and Head of Policy and Engagement.

Matt originally graduated with a 1st class degree in marine biology before completing a PhD programme looking at large-scale patterns in sandy beach macrofauna.  Matt is also a trained as a commercial diver. He has published over 160 journal papers, book chapters, reports and articles, collaborated with hundreds of scientist as lead on state of seas assessments and given over 100 invited conference talks.

  • Marine Spatial Planning Addressing Climate Effects (MSPACE)

  • Influence of man-made structures in the ecosystem (INSITE)

  • Marine Ecosystems Research Programme (MERP)

  • Identifying potential official statistics to support future reporting requirements for the Defra Marine and Fisheries System

  • Jennifer Wright, Ann Avouris, Matthew Frost & Sally Hoffmann (2022) Supporting academic freedom as a human right: challenges and solutions in academic publishing, The International Journal of Human Rights. DOI: 10.1080/13642987.2022.2088520
  • Frost, M.T. et al, (2021). Marine journals, maritime territorial disputes and science-diplomacy. Journal of the Marine Biological Association. 101, 217–219. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025315421000461
  • Sims. D.W., Frost, M.T. (2019) Trade in mislabeled endangered sharks. Science. 364, 743-744.
  • Frost, M.T., Baxter, J., Buckley, P., Dye, S. & Stoker, B. (2017) Reporting marine climate change impacts: lessons from the science-policy interface. Environmental Science & Policy. 78: 114-120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2017.10.003
  • Broszeit,..., Frost, M., et al (2017). What can indicators of Good Environmental Status tell us about ecosystem services?: Reducing efforts and increasing cost-effectiveness by reapplying biodiversity indicator data. Ecological indicators. 81: 409–442
  • Frost, M.T, Bayliss-Brown, G., Buckley, P., Cox, M., Dye, S., Sanderson, W. G., Stoker, B., Withers Harvey, N. (2016). Climate change and the implementation of marine biodiversity legislation in the UK. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. 26: 576–595.
 

Consultations (selection since 2015 only)

A selection of consultations are provided where I have provided written submissions and / or given evidence to select committees / contributed to high-level panels:

  • G7 FOSI working Group (invited contributor)

  • House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology: The Relationship between EU Membership and the Effectiveness of Science, Research and Innovation in the UK (2015)

  • Consultation on Sites Proposed for Designation in the Second Tranche of Marine Conservation Zones (2015)

  • Consultation on Marine Strategy Framework Directive: Proposals for UK Programme of Measures (2015)

  • House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology: Leaving the EU: implications and opportunities for science and research inquiry (2016)

  • Environmental Audit Committee, Sustainable Seas inquiry (2018)

  • EOOS Strategy and Implementation Plan (2018)

  • Consultation on Third Tranche of Marine Conservation Zones (2018)

  • Consultation on Environmental principles and accountability for the environment (2018)

  • Consultation on Sustainable fisheries for future generations (2018)

  • Consultation on Guidance on the Implementation of Plan S (2019)

  • Marine strategy part one: UK updated assessment and Good Environmental Status (2019)

  • Highly Protected Marine Areas (2019)

  • IOC consultation on UN Decade of Ocean Science societal outcomes (2019)

  • GCSE in Natural History - advice to the Department of Education (2020)

  • Consultation on Marine Strategy Part Two: UK updated monitoring programmes (2020)

  • Policy briefing: The science behind MPAs (2021)

  • Defra Consultation on Highly Protected Marine Areas (2022)

  • Defra Consultation, Marine Net Gain (2022)

  • Advice for ‘climate change policy’ Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology briefing (2022)

  • Defra Consultation, Target proposals for biodiversity in the sea (2022)

  • Defra Consultation on Nature Recovery Green Paper (2022)

  • Defra consultation, Joint Fisheries Statement (2022)