Annual Report 2015-2016
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OUR SCIENCE AROUND THE WORLD SAMS (THE SCOTTISH ASSOCAITION FOR MARINE SCIENCE) SCOTTISH MARINE INSTITUTE OBAN • ARGYLL • PA37 1QA • SCOTLAND • UK T: (+44) (0)1631 559000 F: (+44) (0)1631 559001 E: [email protected] W: WWW.SAMS.AC.UK OUR PARTNERS ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016 SAMS IS A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE, REGISTERED IN SCOTLAND (NO. SC009292), AND A REGISTERED SCOTTISH CHARITY (NO 009206) 4 page cover.indd 1 12/10/2016 09:51 OFFICE BEARERS AS Audit committee SAMS Honorary Fellows and CONFIRMED AT 101ST AGM external members Research Associates SAMS STAFF OF THE ASSOCIATION Paul Brennan Dr Bob Batty 1 April 2015 – 31 March 2016 Dr Carol Phillips Dr Ruth Brennan SAMS President Dr Clive Craik Prof Geoffrey Boulton Council observers Dr John Gordon DIRECTORATE Microbial & Molecular EDUCATION Facilities Biology Department Sophie Laurie (NERC) Prof Richard Gowen Owens, Prof Nicholas Head: Calder, Dr Lois Head: Mathias, David Chairman of SAMS Board Douglas Cowan (HIE) Dr Fiona Hannah Miller, Prof Axel E J Head: Pond, Prof David Bury, Dr Helen Burnip, Melvin Day, Stafford Achilles-Day, Undine Crooks, Polly James, Alistair Commodore Angus Ross Prof Clive Mulholland (UHI) Robin Harvey Hatton, Prof Angela Anderson, Sarah Humphreys, Morgan MacCorquodale, Iain Dr Ken Jones MacKinnon, Lorna Badis, Dr Yacine Magill, Shona MacDougall, Fraser Council members Dr Ray Leakey Walton, Elaine Brennan, Debra O’Higgins, Dr Timothy MacLean, Kenneth Mark Batho Prof Jack Matthews Calmes, Dr Benoit Morrison, Leah McLaren, Paul RESEARCH Campbell, Christine Wallace, Fiona Stuart Cannon Prof David Meldrum Childs, Katharine Financial Support Dr Melissa Chierici Prof Geoff Moore Biogeochemistry & Earth Clarke, Alison National Facility for Services Sciences Department Cole, Eilidh Scientific Diving Prof Robert Ferrier Dr Jake Rice Davidson, Prof Keith Head: Lister, Paula Prof Jane Francis Prof Murray Roberts Head: Howe, Dr John Day, Prof John Head: Sayer, Dr Martin Anderson, Angela Marilyn Jeffcoat Prof Toby Sherwin Abell, Dr Richard De Boever, Frederik Azzopardi, Elaine Black, Derek Abernethy, Colin Ditchfield, Dr Arlene Brown, Hugh Campbell, Elizabeth Prof Monty Priede Dr Henrik Stahl Arosio, Riccardo Duncan, Dr Katherine Mogg, Dr Andrew Hart, Fiona Ken Rundle Austin, Prof William Field, Joanne Thurston, Dr Simon Darling, Fiona Prof Sandy Tudhope Brand, Timothy Gachon, Dr Claire Lamb, Linda Crocket, Dr Kirsty Green, Dr David SRSL MacEachen, Janice Glud, Prof Ronnie N Garvetto, Andrea McLuckie, Gillian Hicks, Dr Natalie Hart, Dr Mark Head: Shimmield, Dr Tracy Robertson, Sharyn Rovelli, Dr Lorenzo Leakey, Dr Ray Allday, Joanne Smalley, Claire Stahl, Dr Henrik McNeill, Sharon Allen, Dr Chris Smith, Christine Turnewitsch, Dr Robert Mitchell, Elaine Hart, Dr Mark Tening, Eugene Rad Menendez, Cecilia Hausrath, John Watt, Lorna Ecology Department Saxon, Rachel Livingstone, Craig Slocombe, Dr Stephen MacDonald, John Health and Safety Head: Heymans, Dr Sheila Stanley, Dr Michele MacLeod, Dr Adrian Adams, Dr Tom Strittmatter, Dr Martina McInnes, Jacqueline Clay, Christopher Alexander, Dr Karen Swan, Sarah Murray, Sine Benjamins, Dr Steven Tett, Prof Paul Stewart, Alan Human Resources and Beveridge, Christine Thomas, Naomi Taylor, Dr Peter Reception Billing, Dr Suzi Ubbara, Swati Thompson, Phillip Black, Prof Kenneth Whyte, Dr Callum Vare, Dr Lindsay Head: Hausrath, Michelle Brennan, Dr Ruth Scherer, Cordula Veszelovszki, Dr Andrea Campbell, Karen Brunner, Lars Shellcock, Carole Wallace, Dr Keri Lee Cullen, Jacqueline CONTENTS Burrows, Prof Michael Culver, Rachel Campbell, Dr Iona Physics & Technology Greenwood, Susan Carpenter, Dr Trevor Department PROFESSIONAL Kersley, Shirley Cottier, Dr Elizabeth SERVICES Elliott, Jim Head: Cottier, Dr Finlo ICT and Information Fox, Dr Clive Aleynik, Dr Dmitry Boats Service Garcia Molinos, Dr Jorge Anderson, Dr Philip Graziano, Dr Marcello Beaton, John Keeney, John Head: Gontarek, Steven Greenhill, Lucy Cunningham, Prof Stuart Smith, Norman Cook, Nicola Research: Grist, Dr Hannah Dale, Dr Andrew Dale, Richard 1 Welcome 12 Ecology 32 Education Hughes, Dr Adam Dumont, Estelle Communications & OEC Kimmins, Olga Hughes, Dr David Gary, Dr Stefan Klein, Dr Thomas Kelly, Dr Maeve Griffiths, Colin Head: Miller, Dr Anuschka MacLucas, Nigel Kenter, Dr Jasper Hagan, Bernard Ault, Lauren Madej, Daniel Research: Kerrison, Dr Philip Houpert, Dr Loic Crabb, Andrew Norris, Elspeth William Speirs Bruce - growing Microbial and Molecular Lamont, Peter Hwang, Dr Phil Donovan, Terry recognition Biology Communications 2 18 36 Last, Dr Kim Inall, Prof Mark Kersel, William Michalek, Kati Johnson, Dr Clare McNeill, Helen Miller, Dr Raeanne Jones, Sam Paterson, Euan Narayanaswamy, Dr Bhavani MacDonald, Fraser MacKinnon, Rory Research: Nickell, Dr Thomas Meldrum, Prof David 3 Our people 24 Physics and Technology 38 Finances Payne, Dr Benjamin Meredith, Prof Michael Risch, Dr Denise Porter, Dr Marie Serpetti, Dr Natalia Rodwell, Shane Smalley, Claire Toberman, Matthew SAMS Research Steuben, Marieke Wilson, Karen 4 Learned society 28 Services Ltd 40 Publications Twigg, Dr Gail Wilding, Dr Tom Wilson, Prof Ben Research: Biogeochemistry and Earth National Facility for 8 Sciences 30 Scientific Diving 49 Staff list Editors: Dr Anuschka Miller and Euan Paterson Front cover photo: The sea squirt, Ascidiella aspersa, as seen at 21m Design: Rory MacKinnon in the Firth of Lorne (Photo: NFSD), is part of the healthy marine ecosystem SAMS works towards. 4 page cover.indd 2 12/10/2016 09:51 PROFESSOR NICHOLAS OWENS SAMS DIRECTOR WELCOME Welcome to SAMS’ 102nd Annual upon one’s mood. A finding that Report. I have been involved caught the imagination worldwide with SAMS, and its antecedents, was the work on the vertical since I was a PhD student in migration of zooplankton in the Dundee, back in the mists of time. polar-winter darkness of the Arctic and inquisitive students around I envied my contemporaries who Ocean. Dubbed the ‘werewolves brings vibrancy and academic had Dunstaffnage staff as joint of the sea’ by the world’s media, stimulation to SAMS. However, supervisors and who spent time this work attracted hundreds of the cohort of undergraduates that on the much more exciting west media reports from all parts of the graduated in September 2015 was coast of Scotland. I was therefore globe. Technology developments truly outstanding: 13 of the 18 truly excited and honoured to in SAMS continue apace and we students graduated with first class become Director on the 1st report here the first flight of a honours! This was an achievement September last year. hydrogen powered aerial drone, so unusual that Professor Boulton, and the milestone of our sea- SAMS President, was compelled It has been a challenging, gliders having spent over 5 years to present the ‘SAMS Best demanding but highly stimulating at sea: that is a huge efficiency Student Award’ to the entire class. beginning as Director. The most saving in ship-time. We also rewarding part of the job has report on the developing work I will end by noting that I became been the wonderful welcome and concerned with algal aquaculture. Director only partway through the support all the SAMS staff have SAMS is unique in having both year. During the first part of the given me since I started. Their a seaweed farm and Europe’s reporting period Professor Axel talents, initiatives and enterprise leading collection of micro-algae. Miller was the acting Director. I are well demonstrated in this Algal biotechnology is in its would like formally to thank Axel report, which is only a selection infancy and SAMS, through our for his outstanding leadership and of what has been achieved this research, is set to become a major dedication throughout his tenure year. Something exciting and contributor to Scotland’s aim to as acting Director; he had to deal new happens nearly every day at be a leader in this new industry. with the most difficult of times SAMS: it is a great place to work! and circumstances. Furthermore, An increasingly important part as a new Director I could not have Trying to identify the highlights of life at SAMS is our role as wished for a more supportive and of the year is like selecting one’s a partner of the University thoughtful Deputy. ‘Desert Island Discs’, the choice of the Highlands and Islands is likely to change depending (UHI). Having lots of bright SAMS RECOGNITION FOR SCOTTISH POLAR EXPLORER Canadian descendants of a polar during a meeting hosted by SAMS Gold Medal and a telegram of explorer, who led the first and in its William Speirs Bruce lecture congratulation from King Edward only Scottish National Antarctic room. VII. Expedition between 1902 and 1904, visited SAMS to learn of his Also present at the meeting in The achievements of the legacy. SAMS were the institute’s director expedition included the Prof Nicholas Owens and Henry establishment of a manned William Speirs Bruce is relatively Burgess, Head of the UK Arctic meteorological station, the first unknown when compared with his office. in Antarctic territory, and the contemporaries, such as Robert discovery of new land to the east Falcon Scott, but was recognised Michael Watson, from Ontario, of the Weddell Sea. It also led to in early 2016 by the naming of a said: “It is very heartening to the establishment of the Scottish laboratory at the British Antarctic see so many people interested Oceanographical Laboratory in Survey Research Station on Signy in the work of our great, great 1906. Island, in the South Orkney grandfather. For us, his