SAMS 2011-finalish_. 28/09/2011 14:08 Page 1 ANNUAL REPORT 2010-11 SAMS 2011-finalish_. 28/09/2011 14:08 Page 2 Front cover Sea ice research using dog sleds: an Inuit hunter returns home carrying on his sled both his catch and a bespoke EM-31 device that collects sea ice thickness data. Photo: Rory MacKinnon, SAMS ABOUT US The Scottish Association for Marine Science is a Learned Society with ca 450 members who share an interest in marine science. The Association is governed by a non- executive Council elected by SAMS members at the Annual General Meeting in early November. SAMS is both a charity (009206) and a Company Limited by Guarantee (SC009292) registered in Scotland. SAMS’ mission is to work towards improving the knowledge about and the sustainable stewardship of the marine environment through research, education, knowledge exchange and services to business. The organisation maintains two strategic partnerships: it is a partner of the new University of the Highlands and Islands and of the UK’s Natural Environment Research Council. It is also part of two Scottish pooling initiatives, in marine science and geoscience. SAMS operates the Scottish Marine Institute where 150 employees conduct research and provide education and services in marine science. Six departments deliver the mission: There are four science departments (Biogeochemistry and Earth Sciences; Ecology; Microbial and Molecular Biology; Physics, Sea Ice and Technology), an education and an infrastructure department. Much of SAMS’ research is conducted within four research themes: Dynamic Oceans; Marine Renewable Energy; Arctic Seas; and People and the Sea. Education delivers a BSc (Hons) Marine Science, BSc (Hons) Marine Science with Arctic Studies, trains ca 30 postgraduate research students and provides a range of short courses for professionals. Masters programmes are under development. The new Sheina Marshall building, dedicated to education, also acts as a field station for visiting university or special interest groups. To deliver services to business SAMS operates a wholly owned commercial subsidiary called SAMS Research Services Limited (SC224404). SAMS also operates a business incubator known as the European Centre for Marine Biotechnology (SC205318) that currently hosts two tenant companies. Editors: Drs Robert Turnewitsch & Anuschka Miller President Professor Andrew Hamnett SAMS, Scottish Marine Institute, Oban, Argyll PA37 1QA, UK Chairman of Board Michael Gibson T: 01631 559000 F: 01631 559001 E: [email protected] Council (Board of Directors) Views expressed in this report are the views Professor Mary Bownes of the individual contributors and do not Professor Peter Burkill necessarily reflect the views of SAMS. Stuart Cannon Dr Keith Duff Design: Dr Robert Ferrier Company Secretary Rory MacKinnon, SAMS Professor Gideon Henderson Gordon McAllister Elaine Walton Funders Professor David Paterson Dr Carol Phillips Dr John Rogers Vice Presidents Ken Rundle Professor Sir John Arbuthnott Walter Speirs Professor Sir Frederick Holliday Our main partners Commodore Charles Stevenson Sir David Smith Michael Wilkins Dr John H Steele Professor Sir William Stewart Director Professor Laurence Mee Professor Stephen A Thorpe The Scottish Association for Marine Science 2 SAMS 2011-finalish_. 28/09/2011 14:08 Page 3 CONTENTS page Introduction 04 Science Highlights 06 Biogeochemistry and Earth Sciences 07 Ecology 10 Microbial and Molecular Biology 14 Physics, Sea Ice and Technology 17 Report from Honorary Fellows 19 National Facilities 26 Higher Education 29 SAMS Research Services Ltd 31 SAMS Learned Society 34 Public Engagement Activities 36 SAMS Infrastructure 38 Staff at 31 March 2010 40 Publications 42 Research Grants and Contract Income Received 53 SAMS Accounts 61 Company Information 63 Council Report 64 Auditors’ Report 69 Group Income and Expenditure account 71 Group and Company Balance Sheet 74 Group Cash Flow Statement 75 Notes to the Group Financial Statements 76 The Scottish Association for Marine Science 3 SAMS 2011-finalish_. 28/09/2011 14:08 Page 4 Director’s Introduction On 29 November 2010 HRH The Duke of Gloucester opened our new Sheina Marshall Building on a day that saw Oban soaked in sun but most of the UK under a thick blanket of snow. Though I do not keep accurate records, it The Sheina Marshall building will be the opportunity but also that, without careful always seems to me that the sun shines centrepiece in a series of new developments management, it can lose its resilience and more in Dunstaffnage Bay when we have that have led us to rename the Dunstaffnage rapidly decline. This is why we are offering a key visitors, allowing me to nonchalantly say Marine Laboratory as the Scottish Marine broad range of training: Continuous “oh, it’s always like this” when they wax Institute. The building itself is a £6.1M Professional Development, field courses, lyrical about the stunning landscape that development funded by the Scottish undergraduate degrees, masters’ degrees surrounds us. Of course, the myth is Funding Council and Highlands and Islands and PhDs. Student numbers are growing in dispelled for the sodden tourists that Enterprise with support from the European all of these areas, helped by UHI’s university choose a camping holiday in mid-August (I Regional Development Fund channelled title and SAMS hosting of the Graduate was subjected to this as a child but still love through the University of the Highlands and School for MASTS (Marine Alliance for the place). Islands Strategic Delivery Body. Its two Science and Technology for Scotland). storeys include superb teaching facilities: lecture and seminar rooms, teaching One of our key visitors was Prince Richard, laboratories, computer suites, meeting and How will these skills benefit Scotland’s the Duke of Gloucester, who flew into eating spaces and staff offices. We have also economy? SAMS is the largest employer in SAMS on a sun-soaked winter’s day when created the space that will become the northern Argyll outside the public sector. We the snow covered islands and highland Scottish Ocean Explorer Centre; more about take our regional development role very peaks and deep blue waters that almost that next year. seriously and are working with the private surround us were the backdrop to the sector to create a marine knowledge-based inauguration of our new teaching building, economy for the West Coast of Scotland. the Sheina Marshall Building. Most of the The new building is not just intended as a The space in our European Centre for UK was under a thick blanket of snow and means to improve how we deliver our Marine Biotechnology is fully occupied with many of our guests were trapped at home unique UHI marine science degree; it a number of successful innovative but, like many others, Prince Richard was provides a base for developing essential businesses and we are working on some compelled to admire the landscape that all skills needed to generate a sustainable good ideas for additional ones. Between us, students will enjoy as they take their lunch marine economy at home and abroad. we have the seeds for a major development. in the student canteen. What a fantastic Highlands and Islands Enterprise have combination of assets: a superb state of the seized this opportunity to plan and, very art facility in a stunning sea of The past five years have witnessed a huge shortly, begin building the European Marine opportunities! wake up call that the sea is a place of The Scottish Association for Marine Science 4 SAMS 2011-finalish_. 28/09/2011 14:08 Page 5 Science Park as an extension to the Scottish be highly visible and I was delighted to Marine Institute (see the fantastic ‘fly present my annual review to Council almost through’ of the complex on YouTube). We entirely based on news releases from the are jointly planning the biggest investment BBC on-line news service! to date in the new sustainable marine economy on Scotland’s West Coast. We are proud of our achievements but I do not want to understate the challenges that All of these developments rely upon the are ahead. These are extraordinarily quality of our science. During 2010 we turbulent times due to the entire world worked hard to maintain our struggling to find a new economic order. competitiveness on a national and Marine science is largely a long-term international scale, enjoying the many investment in a world that is increasingly successes that are described in this Annual focussed on the ‘immediate’. We have to Report. We maintained a high level of grant demonstrate our worth within this reality capture from research councils - particularly without compromising our values. This is NERC and the European Union – and a not for the feint hearted and I am fortunate number of commercial successes that take to head a fantastic team of enthusiastic and SAMS staff around the entire planet. SAMS skilled specialists who believe in what they staff worked with Marine Scotland on are doing and enjoy doing it. Our human development of social and economic landscape neatly matches the rugged, ever objectives for the Scottish Marine Plan and changing and inspiring natural landscape coordinated a key European project to help that surrounds us. implementation of the European Marine Strategy Directive. Our work continued to Laurence Mee The Scottish Association for Marine Science 5 SAMS 2011-finalish_. 28/09/2011 14:09 Page 6 Science Highlights The Scottish Association for Marine Science 6 SAMS 2011-finalish_. 28/09/2011 14:09 Page 7 Biogeochemistry & EarthSciences The Biogeochemistry and Earth Sciences draws together analytical, microbial, deep sea. These research areas are Department (BGES) unites the disciplines of molecular and novel benthic-technology developed by Robert Turnewitsch and John marine biogeochemistry, geochemistry, techniques and includes fundamental studies Howe. geology and radiochemistry. The department of biogas production, sediment and water Last year was a successful year for the BGES comprises 14.7 staff (4.7 principle column biogeochemistry, carbon cycling and Department in attracting funding, both for investigators, 2 post-doctoral research ocean acidification.