Knowledge Exchange is a key part of the MBA’s mission “to promote scientific research into all aspects of life in the sea and to disseminate to the public the knowledge gained“. The MBA has well over a century of experience in this area and is therefore well-placed to address the opportunities and challenges for our seas and oceans in the 21st century. We also continue to be passionate in our quest to better understand the marine environment for the benefit of all society as well as the marine biological community.

Specifically, ‘disseminating knowledge to the public’ entails communicating information on the marine environment as well as promoting marine biology as a discipline. It also includes ensuring that the public benefit from marine biological research. This can be achieved in a number of ways such as ensuring the best use of data, making sure evidence is provided to support policy and providing marine biological training and education. As a members-based organisation, information can also be readily communicated and shared via membership activities and publications.

In order to better coordinate the wide range of knowledge exchange activities the MBA undertakes, the MBA restructured its knowledge exchange work in 2010, establishing a number of clearly defined work areas (figure 1). Links to each of these areas are provided below along with the key contacts.

CONTACTS:

Deputy Director for Policy and Knowledge Exchange: Dr Matt Frost (matfr@mba.ac.uk)

MBA Education Team Leader: Jon Parr (jpar@mba.ac.uk)

Data Archiving and Management Team Leader: Dan Lear (dle@mba.ac.uk)

Marine Evidence for Conservation, management and Policy Team Leader: Dr Harvey Tyler-Walters (htw@mba.ac.uk)

Learned Society Support Team Leader: Dr Matt Frost (matfr@mba.ac.uk)

Communications Officer: Guy Baker (guba@mba.ac.uk)