Challenger 150

Kerry is PML's Professor of Deep-Sea Ecology and Co-lead of UN Ocean Decade (@unoceandecade.bsky.social) Challenger 150 Programme (@challenger150.bsky.social).

👆Joined by Astrid Schomaker – (@unbiodiversity.bsky.social), Dr Kilaparti Ramakrishna – (@whoi.edu), Ken Paul - Pokiok Associates, Charles Goddard – Economist Impact and Dr Hendra Yusran Siry – Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries - Republic of Indonesia.

"The science, much like policy, needs to be more strategic & coordinated in order to understand where ecosystems are & how they are responding to climate change." - PML's Prof Kerry Howell speaking at the Economist Impact's #OceanSummit on the panel "Effective & equitable implementation of #30x30"

If you’re at #OSM2026, join the Deep-Ocean Science Town Hall on 25 Feb.
Challenger 150 will be there to listen and discuss priorities for the next phase of the #OceanDecade.

agu.confex.com/agu/osm26/me...

Advancing Deep-Sea Knowledge in the South Atlantic - Challenger 150 Advancing Deep-Sea Knowledge in the South Atlantic Post-Cruise Impact – Life in Extremes: Cold Seeps of Argentina In February 2026, Chief Scientist María Emilia Bravo (CONICET-University of Buenos Air...

Students gained hands-on at-sea training during the Life in Extremes expedition - strengthening long-term expertise in deep-sea research across Argentina.

Discovery matters. But so does building the next generation of scientists.

#DeepSeaTraining #Challenger150

challenger150.world/advancing-de...

If you’re at #OSM2026, join the Deep-Ocean Science Town Hall on 25 Feb.
Challenger 150 will be there to listen and discuss priorities for the next phase of the #OceanDecade.

agu.confex.com/agu/osm26/me...

Challenger 150 will join the Deep-Ocean Science Town Hall at #OSM2026 (25 Feb). Our focus is on coordination, training, and priorities for deep-sea science at the halfway point of the #OceanDecade.

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Challenger 150 will join the Deep-Ocean Science Town Hall at #OSM2026 (25 Feb). Our focus is on coordination, training, and priorities for deep-sea science at the halfway point of the #OceanDecade.

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2026 Accessing the Deep | Ocean Discovery League Applications will open soon for this virtual training program, which will focus on fundamental technical and oceanographic knowledge and emphasize low-cost, accessible methods for exploring depths gre...

@oceandiscleague.bsky.social is now accepting applications for the 2026 Accessing the Deep deep ocean training & mentoring program for early-career professionals, focusing on Africa and the Western Indian Ocean! Apply by March 4, 2026: gqr.sh/HcTT

We are now accepting applications for the 2026 Accessing the Deep deep ocean training & mentoring program for early-career professionals, focusing on Africa and the Western Indian Ocean! Apply by March 4, 2026: gqr.sh/HcTT. #oceanexploration #AccessingTheDeep @challenger150.bsky.social

🌊 The 2025 NEPDEP – Seamounts & Mapping Expedition (Sept 4–18) has wrapped up! The Council of the Haida Nation, Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, DFO, ONC & partners explored seamounts, vents & cold seeps off Vancouver Island & Haida Gwaii.
🔗 nepdep.com/2025expeditionseamounts
#nepdep #Challenger150

ANDR - Highlights from the Start of 2025 - Challenger 150 ANDR – Highlights from the Start of 2025 The African Network of Deep-water Researchers (ANDR) is building momentum as we move through 2025. Here we bring you highlights from recent events and training...

🌊 Join us at the ANDR Mini-Symposium!
📅 29 Sept | 16:00–17:40 EAT
📍 Baracuda Room, #WIOMSA2025
Proudly hosted by the African Network of Deep-water Researchers.
@wiomsa.bsky.social #WIOMSA2025
🌍 More from ANDR: challenger150.world/andr-highlig...

🌊 Counting down to the ANDR Mini-Symposium!
📅 Mon, 29 Sept | 16:00–17:40 EAT
📍 Baracuda Room, #WIOMSA2025
✨ Dive Into the Depths: Advancements in Deep-Water Research in the WIO

@WIOMSA #WIOMSA2025

🐟 Read our recent publication: challenger150.world/wp-content/u...

ANDR - Highlights from the Start of 2025 - Challenger 150 ANDR – Highlights from the Start of 2025 The African Network of Deep-water Researchers (ANDR) is building momentum as we move through 2025. Here we bring you highlights from recent events and training...

🌊 Join us at the ANDR Mini-Symposium!
📅 29 Sept | 16:00–17:40 EAT
📍 Baracuda Room, #WIOMSA2025
Proudly hosted by the African Network of Deep-water Researchers.
@wiomsa.bsky.social #WIOMSA2025
🌍 More from ANDR: challenger150.world/andr-highlig...

Visualizing the Deep off Uruguay - Challenger 150 Cruise title: Visualizing the Deep off Uruguay Partners: Universidad de la República of Uruguay. Schmidt Ocean Institute Lead PIs: Alvar Carranza Location: Uruguay Dates: 12th August 2025  About The R...

🧭 For the first time, Uruguayan scientists have access to an ROV diving 4,500 m. The #URUGUAYSUB200 expedition unites global researchers to study fragile ecosystems and expand deep-sea knowledge
🔗 challenger150.world/visualizing-the-deep-off-uruguay
Partner: @schmidtocean.bsky.social
#Challenger150

ANDR - Highlights from the Start of 2025 - Challenger 150 ANDR – Highlights from the Start of 2025 The African Network of Deep-water Researchers (ANDR) is building momentum as we move through 2025. Here we bring you highlights from recent events and training...

🌍 Curious what the C150 African Network of Deep-water Researchers (ANDR) has achieved in 2025 so far? From training to new collaborations, catch the highlights here:
🔗 challenger150.world/andr-highlig...

#Challenger150 #DeepSeaScience #CapacityBuilding #Africa

Visualizing the Deep off Uruguay - Schmidt Ocean Institute The Rio de la Plata drains into the Atlantic Ocean, delivering sediment-rich contents from the Paraná and Uruguay Rivers, each fed by myriad streams and tributaries. The mixing of fresh water with the...

🌊 #URUGUAYSUB200 aboard R/V Falkor (too) is the first full study of Uruguay’s deep ocean. Using ROV SuBastian, scientists will explore reefs, sponges & cold seeps never documented here.

🔗 schmidtocean.org/cruise/visualizing-the-deep-off-uruguay
Partner: @schmidtocean.bsky.social

#Challenger150

Mapping the Gaps: New Global Assessment Reveals Stark Biases in Ocean Biodiversity Data - Challenger 150 New global study reveals stark biases in ocean biodiversity data, highlighting urgent gaps in deep-sea, southern hemisphere, and invertebrate records. Discover the key priorities for building a more s...

🌍🚨 New global study finds huge blind spots in ocean biodiversity data.
Why it matters: without better data, whole ecosystems risk being left out of conservation plans.

🗺️ Read: “Mapping the Gaps: A Global Assessment of Ocean Biodiversity Data”

#DeepSea #OceanScience #DataEquity #Challenger150

Mapping the Gaps: New Global Assessment Reveals Stark Biases in Ocean Biodiversity Data - Challenger 150 New global study reveals stark biases in ocean biodiversity data, highlighting urgent gaps in deep-sea, southern hemisphere, and invertebrate records. Discover the key priorities for building a more s...

🌍🚨 New global study finds huge blind spots in ocean biodiversity data.
Why it matters: without better data, whole ecosystems risk being left out of conservation plans.

🗺️ Read: “Mapping the Gaps: A Global Assessment of Ocean Biodiversity Data”

#DeepSea #OceanScience #DataEquity #Challenger150

If you want to read more, check out the full #openaccess manuscript, available here shorturl.at/dypTc, or our press release available here shorturl.at/1BPPe.

@challenger150.bsky.social @plymuni.bsky.social @plymouthmarine.bsky.social @oneoceanhub.bsky.social @unoceandecade.bsky.social

This analysis was made possible through the development of a statistically-based, custom pipeline, enabling authors to classify ~19 million OBIS records as either benthic or pelagic datasets. We’re thrilled to say that both the final datasets, and the code to recreate them are #OpenAccess too!

So, if we are to prioritise ocean biodiversity data collection to deliver a sustainable ocean, where should we focus?

These gaps matter 🌍 – biodiversity data fuels conservation 🐢, climate models 🌡️, and ocean planning 🌊. But if your model is trained on fish 🐟 in shallow waters, it probably won’t help protect deep-sea invertebrates 🪸 3,000 meters below. We’re building global policy on patchy foundations 🧱❓.

And the pelagic data distribution is no better…

Key findings from the benthic dataset show just how little of the seafloor below 30 m we’ve sampled:

Despite decades of exploration, we still can't fully answer “Where is marine life found, and why?”. A new study in @commsearth.nature.com shows just how skewed our ocean data really is…