Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS)

Fantastic insights from Janice. It was a pleasure to have her on the podcast. Thanks for sharing! 🎧♥️

🎧 What’s next for ocean science amid funding cuts and growing demand for research?

Hear Janice Lachance, CEO of AGU, discuss the state of ocean science in a special episode of the @samsocean.bsky.social podcast, recorded at #OSM26.

Listen to the full episode : buff.ly/6Wsn6bl

Two common dolphins leaping at sea

An offshore wind turbine at dusk

Interested in marine mammals, or renewable energy. Might you even have an interest in both..?! 🧐

The Environmental Interactions of Marine Renewables conference #EIMR2026 in Oban next month combines marine renewable energy and environmental science.

➡️https://eimr2026.com

🎧NEW PODCAST EPISODE!
Ocean carbon storage: how much is too much?
www.buzzsprout.com/1080152/epis...

Download from the link above, or search 'SAMS Ocean Explorer' on your preferred streaming platform.

Countryfile - Hamza's Highlands - Flapper Skate Hamza Yassin is on the west coast of Scotland, where hidden beneath the waves lives one of our rarest marine giants - the flapper skate.

A beautifully shot episode of BBC Countryfile aired yesterday featuring our flapper skate research and the glorious surroundings of Oban and Lorn.🌊

📺https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002rx34/countryfile-hamzas-highlands-flapper-skate

Research breakthrough in survival rate of valuable red seaweed Palmaria palmata can be grown for food, feed, dyes, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.

The red seaweed Palmaria palmata - aka dulse - is highly valued.

There's just one thing...it's tricky to grow.

SAMS researchers believe they have developed a successful tank-based method for growing the seaweed, observing a weekly doubling in biomass.🧪

www.sams.ac.uk/news/sams-ne...

A glass sphere rests on a reflective wet beach at sunset

@epocproject.bsky.social are bringing ocean science to the science centre on Sat 21 Feb ahead of #OSM2026
 
🌊 Ocean visualisation @noc.ac.uk

🤖 Robot gliders @samsocean.bsky.social

🔬 Sediment cores @ucl.ac.uk

💦 How The Ocean Shapes Our World in IMAX @helenczerski.bsky.social

Thinking about attending this year's Environmental Interactions of Marine Renewables (EIMR) Conference in Oban? 🐳🌊🧪

Well, the draft conference programme is now available to view at eimr2026.com. Please don't forget to register if you plan on coming!

We look forward to seeing you all at #EIMR2026!

We're bringing ocean science to @glasgowscience.bsky.social on Sat 21 Feb ahead of #OSM2026

🌊 Ocean visualisation @noc.ac.uk
🤖 Robot gliders @samsocean.bsky.social
🔬 Sediment cores @ucl.ac.uk
@helenczerski.bsky.social ocean tech debate

glasgowsciencecentre.org/whats-on/eyes-on-the-ocean

Postgraduate student projects that will investigate coastal creatures through to the deep Pacific Ocean are underway this week as a new cohort arrived at SAMS, a partner of @thinkuhi.bsky.social

The students are pictured with Prof. Bhavani Narayanaswamy, Head of SAMS Graduate School.

Ocean innovators unite to support marine science research AquaTitans joins growing list of Ocean Changemakers

Today, we welcome aboard subsea engineers Aquatitans, the latest company to join our Ocean Changemakers initiative.

Ocean Changemakers supports SAMS to maintain long-term research programmes and respond quickly to emerging environmental challenges.

Read more: www.sams.ac.uk/news/sams-ne...

World-first landers delve into Dark Oxygen mystery The Nippon Foundation backs SAMS-led discovery science

Two world-first seabed landers that can withstand extreme pressure will help answer one of the ocean’s deepest mysteries – where does Dark Oxygen come from?

The SAMS-led research, funded by The Nippon Foundation, includes Northwestern University & Boston University.

www.sams.ac.uk/news/sams-ne...

📣KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Dr Simon Waldman is Assistant Professor at the School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society at @heriotwattuni.bsky.social, Scotland.

📣KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Dr Joop Coolen is Researcher in Benthic Ecology at @w-u-r.bsky.social, Netherlands.

📣KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Dr Anna Redden is Professor in Marine Biology and Ecology at Acadia University, Canada.

⌛🐥 Last chance for early bird tickets to our Environmental Interactions of Marine Renewables (EIMR) conference in Oban this April.🌊

A limited number of these are still available until tomorrow afternoon.

See eimr2026.com to buy tickets and for more info. 🐳

Keynote speakers you ask..? See the 🧵

SAMS #vacancies

Associate Director of Finance
www.sams.ac.uk/vacancies/as...

If you've got an eye for numbers and would like to play your part in ensuring a healthy ocean for thriving people, we want to hear from you.

"Twinkle, twinkle, wandering star"

As we approach the festive holiday break, we would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas.

Our Christmas card star is made up of different diatoms, small algal cells of exceptional beauty that drift, or wander, in the ocean as part of the plankton.

Marine robotics will aid restoration efforts on Scottish loch Restoration efforts on a Scottish loch have been boosted by experimental techniques using sea-going robotics that can identify the most suitable reintroduction sites.

Marine robotics will aid restoration efforts on Scottish loch - @SAMSocean.bsky.social
Restoration efforts on a Scottish loch have been boosted by experimental techniques using sea-going robotics that can identify the most suitable reintroduction sites.
c-js.co.uk/4iYMoCe

It that a coral, or an upside-down squid..?

New suspected species, coined the ‘muddy squid’, displays ‘unusual’ burrowing behaviour observed for the first time in the deep sea.

Read more: www.sams.ac.uk/news/sams-ne...
@thinkuhi.bsky.social @noc.ac.uk

SAMS' renewables research recognised at industry awards SAMS combines AI, robotics and biology expertise to improve marine growth assessments

We're prizewinners! 🏆

A fantastic result at last night's Scottish Renewables Scottish Green Energy Awards as we picked up the Judges Award for our work on marine growth assessments of offshore structures.

Thank you to #SGEA25 organisers and sponsors.

Read more: www.sams.ac.uk/news/sams-ne...

Transatlantic exchange will strengthen Celtic connections Scottish-Canadian connection opens up world class teaching to more students

A new transatlantic connection has been established between SAMS in Oban, a partner of @thinkuhi.bsky.social, and the Oceanography Department at @dalhousieu.bsky.social in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Find out more👇
www.sams.ac.uk/news/sams-ne...

Former SAMS Director Prof. Graham Shimmield was born on this day in 1958.

Graham was at the helm of SAMS from 1995 - 2008 and later led the Bigelow Laboratory in Maine until his death on Christmas Eve in 2016.

He is remembered as an accomplished marine scientist and a visionary leader.

@sophiefresson.bsky.social can we please join the UK Ocean News feed?

Congratulations, Dr Ashley-Wheeler! 🎉🍾🎊

SAMS and UHI PhD student Victoria Ashley-Wheeler has successfully defended her viva on eDNA metabarcoding.

Her NERC-funded SUPER DTP PhD was supported by the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC), MOWI and SEPA.

SAMS and @thinkuhi.bsky.social Prof. Michael Burrows is included on the global list of Highly Cited Researchers for the 6th consecutive year.🏆🌊🧪

The @clarivateag.bsky.social list considers papers ranking in the top 1% by citations for field & publication year over the past decade.

#HighlyCited2025

Crowdfunder success prepares ocean robotics game for launch Schools in Argyll and Bute to receive copies of the game

We did it! A successful Crowdfunder will see the development our table-top game Drones & Droids.🤖

As well as being available to anyone to buy after we've honoured our fundraiser commitments, copies of the game will be given to local schools.

www.sams.ac.uk/news/sams-ne...

Fully funded MRes opportunity!

"Determining the origins and ages of plastic arriving on Scotland's shoreline"
www.sams.ac.uk/study/postgr...

Application deadline: 12th November

This one year, fully funded MRes studentship begins on 2nd February 2026.🌊🧪

📣 #PhD opportunities

As part of the NERC E5 Doctoral Training Partnership through The University of Edinburgh, SAMS has submitted three options for PhD studentships. 🧪🌊

Is your dream PhD here?
e5-dtp.ed.ac.uk/project?item...
e5-dtp.ed.ac.uk/project?item...
e5-dtp.ed.ac.uk/project?item...

Great first visit at the European Elasmobranchs Association's Annual Science Conference in #Rotterdam #blijdorp talking about flapper skates #skatespotter #EEA2025