- In our latest Annual Report and Financial Statements we share the great success stories as the UK’s leading marine research charity, building a world where everyone feels empowered and inspired to help the Ocean thrive.
Prof Ed Hill Chief Executive said, “Our latest report clearly demonstrates the passion of our people and the truly exceptional work they are undertaking to pursue and promote ground-breaking research and innovation. We believe that if we all have a deeper understanding of the ocean, we can unlock its potential and provide solutions to problems facing the world today. Because by helping our ocean, all life on Earth will benefit.”
Stand out stories in the report include our work towards disaster vulnerability reduction, 10 years of Lab-on-chip innovation and 25 years of Autosub development.
Protecting people
Through the Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project we worked with the Government of Saint Lucia to instal three new tide gauges to help reduce the island’s vulnerability to natural hazards and climate change. The network of tide gauges will continuously measure and report sea level and tidal variability, providing valuable information to local seafarers and port authorities, as well as being an important addition to the Caribbean Early Warning System for tsunamis and other coastal hazards. This example clearly illustrates how observing the ocean remains fundamental to understanding its effect on human lives.
Lab-on-chip innovation
Our ocean technology and engineering experts are at the forefront designing, creating and using novel sensors and instruments to collect these vital data, and continue to push research boundaries. Lab-on-Chip (LOC) sensors are at the cutting-edge of today’s ocean sensing technology. With reduced power consumption, cost and size compared to more traditional systems, longer deployments on a vast range of oceanographic platforms are now possible, enabling the advancement of scientific research undertaken in the most extreme marine environments. This year we celebrated 10 years since our first paper proving the LOC sensor worked, inside the Annual Report are the top ten milestones from the decade that followed.
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle development
Autonomous vehicles are the future of marine science. The ability to explore the oceans and collect data via uncrewed, untethered robotic vehicles going where people cannot go, has greatly increased our global oceanographic capability. This year we marked 25 years since the very first Autosub 1 mission, inside the Annual Report we look back through the major innovations that are paving the way for our modern fleet. These new and innovative autonomous vehicles being developed at the NOC today are pushing the limits on how we can explore our oceans, with capabilities allowing us to reach new depths, travel under ice, take readings in remote areas and collect data during high sea states. With so many questions about the physical, chemical and biological processes in our oceans, these future autonomous vehicles could provide the answers we are looking for.
Strength to strength
Julie Pringle-Stewart, NOC Chief Finance and Operating Officer, commented, “I am proud to be able to present our Annual Financial Report that show the strength and growth of our business endeavours during our October 2021 to September 2022 financial year. We have continued to diversify our revenue streams and win vital research funding, both commercial and charitable, that will enabled us to sustain our ongoing undertaking of world-leading capabilities to build knowledge of our ocean and how it impacts society and is involved in climate change.”