Advisory Bodies

Marine Facilities Advisory Board

The Marine Facilities Advisory Board (MFAB) has the task to develop a medium to long-term holistic strategy for future equipment requirements in Marine Science. This will respond to and reflect our community’s needs and to assess current and future funding.

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New members appointed to the Marine Facilities Advisory Board

In February 2023, MFAB appointed five new members. [Read more]

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Until 2011, the Natural Environmental Research Council’s (NERC) marine facilities were overseen by the Marine Facilities Review Group (MFRG), with advice on the National Marine Equipment Pool (NMEP) being provided by science requirements identified on small and medium sized enterprises forms and discipline-based User Groups. MFRG reviewed the delivery of cruises over the previous year, and took a forward view of equipment requirements for the delivery of future cruises and additions to the NMEP. While this provided a good mechanism for enhancing the NMEP, the remit of the Group was such that developing a strategic view of future equipment requirements was somewhat piecemeal and of short-term nature.

A medium to longer-term holistic approach to future equipment requirements is vital in an environment of burgeoning demands and erratic Government funding opportunity, especially where funding constraints are likely to become even more challenging in the future. Consequently, the processes of cruise review and strategy development has been separated, the latter activity being developed by the Marine Facilities Advisory Board (MFAB; membership listed below).

The role of MFAB includes:

• Undertaking an audit of marine equipment to establish what is available, what state it is in and how much it has been used in the past 5-10 years. This will not only provide essential information for the current NERC cruise programme, but also help to anticipate the likely requirements for NERC sea-going science delivery in the near to medium future.
• Identifying new and/or emerging capabilities.
• Developing a strategy that prioritises the equipment portfolio with regard to emerging and declining requirements.
• Reporting changes in requirements (actual or predicted) to the NERC Cruise Programme Executive Board to help inform funding decisions.

Current membership of Marine Facilities Advisory Board

Name	Organisation	Expertise
Baker, Dr Adrian	Defence Science and Technology Laboratory	Science strategy, planning and management, review of scientific programmes and deliverables.
Bayrakci, Dr Gaye	National Oceanography Centre	Development, use and analysis of data gathered using active source and passive seismo-acoustic instruments.
Bialas, Dr Joerg	GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel	Dr Bialas is the international barter partner on the MFAB and has expertise in marine geophysics, instrumentation and geo-acoustical mapping methods.
Creach, Dr Veronique	CEFAS	Tracing sources of carbon in the food web with stable isotopes and determining microphytobenthos biodiversity in estuaries with molecular tools.
Hendry, Dr Kate	British Antarctic Survey	Biogeochemical cycling and past ocean processes, environmental geosciences, climate modelling, vice-chair of the Advances in Marine Biogeochemistry (AMBIO) group.
Hopkins, Dr Joanne	National Oceanography Centre	Physical oceanography, ship-based observations, moored and autonomous platforms.
Jones, Dr Stephen	University of Birmingham	Using seismic streamer acquisition equipment, international marine facilities, including using OBS, airgun and seismic streamer equipment.
McGonigle, Dr Chris	Ulster University	Marine geophysical data, sampling, underwater imagery, acoustic techniques to understand biotic, abiotic resources.
Robinson, Professor Carol, (Chair)	University of East Anglia	Marine bacteria, phytoplankton and zooplankton, analytical chemistry, remote sensing, gliders, time series datasets.
Sliester, Randolph	British Antarctic Survey	Ship operations manager.
Smyth, Dr Tim	Plymouth Marine Laboratory	Marine biogeochemistry and observations, atmospheric measurements, moorings.
Stowasser, Dr Gabriele	British Antarctic Survey	Marine ecologist, working on trophic relationships in polar marine deep sea and shelf ecosystems.
Taylor, Dr Michelle	University of Essex	Deep-sea benthic ecologist and geneticist.
Webb, Dr Mike	Natural Environment Research Council	Head of Science, Natural Environment Research Council.

National Oceanography Centre personnel with an advisory role

Name	Job Title and staff profile
Day, Colin	Head of Strategic Projects
Darlington, Dr Eleanor	Head of Programme Management
Furlong, Dr Maaten	Associate Director, National Marine Facilities
Hatton, Professor Angela	Director of Data, Science and Technology and Chief Scientist
Oldridge, Helen	Head of Scientific Engineering
Pearson, Jackie, (Secretary)	Engagement and Partnerships Officer
Pringle Stewart, Julie	Chief Operating Officer

The CLASS Programme Advisory Group (PAG)

The CLASS 'Climate Linked Atlantic Sector Science' programme will deliver the knowledge and understanding of the Atlantic Ocean system that society needs to make evidence-based decisions regarding ocean management. The programme aims to address key knowledge gaps in our understanding of ocean variability, climate regulation and ocean services, and to assess how the ocean will evolve as a result of climate change and intensified human exploitation.

CLASS will be delivered through an Atlantic focussed science programme, building on sustained ocean observation, world class model development and state of the art technology, delivered through Marine National Capability underpinning activities.

The CLASS Programme Advisory Group (PAG) provides independent advice to support the CLASS Principal Investigator and work package leads in their responsibilities for delivery of the proposed objectives and deliverables as outlined in the CLASS proposal and agreed by NERC.

Members

Name	Organisation
Cockburn, Hermione	Dynamic Earth
Dye, Stephen	CEFAS
Hewitt, Helene	Met Office
Liss, Peter	University of East Anglia
Marshall, David	University of Oxford
Mills, Rachel, (Chair)	University of Southampton
Roberts, Murray	University of Edinburgh
Sutton, Rowan	University of Reading

Marine Facilities Advisory Board Downloads

Suggesting new items of equipment for the National Marine Equipment Pool

In the autumn, MFAB announces a call for suggestions for new items for the National Marine Equipment Pool (NMEP) and the results are announced in the spring. Before submitting suggestions, please check through the sequence below:

1. Check the NMEP web page to see whether the item is already held in the Pool.
2. If the item isn’t in the NMEP, check the latest version of the National Marine Facilities Technology Roadmap as it may already be listed as a future purchase.
3. If the item isn’t listed, please complete a Capital Expenditure Proposal Form, the latest version of which are circulated by email to the community in the autumn. The form and instructions are also posted on these pages, together with the submission date.
4. Items suggested must be available for use by the community so proposals for equipment that is needed for long term existing projects cannot be considered.

If you would like to discuss any aspect of the equipment held in the NMEP, please contact National Marine Facilities via this page Details of the outcomes of previous rounds are in the MFAB minutes, listed below.

Policies and Guidance