Marine Biological Association Senior Research Fellow Dr Clare Ostle has been awarded a prestigious UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Future Leaders Fellowship to lead an ambitious programme that will further develop how plankton are monitored to better understand changes in ocean biodiversity.
The Fellowship will support Dr Ostle’s project, Leading the Continuous Plankton Recorder Survey into the Future: Innovating Plankton Observations for Global Ocean Biodiversity Monitoring and Forecasting, helping to secure the future of one of the world’s longest-running and most important marine observation programmes.
UKRI’s Future Leaders Fellowships scheme is designed to support outstanding early-career researchers and innovators with the potential to become world-leading experts in their fields. As one of the UK’s flagship career development schemes, the highly competitive programme provides long-term funding and career development support, enabling Fellows to establish ambitious, independent research programmes that address major scientific and societal challenges.
Dr Ostle’s Fellowship will focus on advancing the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) Survey, a globally significant marine monitoring programme operated by the MBA. Since 1931, the Guinness World Record-holding CPR Survey has collected data on plankton communities across the world’s oceans, creating a unique record of marine ecosystem change.
Plankton form the foundation of marine food webs and play a critical role in regulating the Earth’s climate. As ocean conditions continue to change, improving the way that plankton are observed and monitored is essential for understanding impacts on marine biodiversity, fisheries and wider ecosystem health.
Through her Fellowship, Dr Ostle will develop innovative approaches to plankton observation, integrating new technologies and analytical methods to enhance the Survey’s ability to detect, monitor and forecast changes in ocean ecosystems at regional and global scales.
Dr Clare Ostle said: “I am truly honoured to receive a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship and excited by the opportunity it creates to help shape the future of plankton science. The Continuous Plankton Recorder Survey is one of the world’s most valuable long-term marine observing systems, providing an unparalleled biological record of our changing oceans.  This Fellowship will allow me to explore new technologies and approaches that can expand its impact for decades to come.
“By improving our ability to monitor and forecast changes in plankton communities, we can strengthen the evidence needed to better understand how marine ecosystems are responding to environmental change and help inform decisions that support a healthy and resilient ocean.”
Professor Willie Wilson, Chief Executive of the Marine Biological Association, said: “This is a tremendous achievement and richly deserved recognition of Clare’s scientific excellence, leadership potential and commitment to advancing marine science.
“The Future Leaders Fellowship is one of the UK’s most prestigious research awards. Clare’s vision for the future of plankton monitoring aligns perfectly with the MBA’s mission to promote, conduct and communicate world-class marine biological research. We are delighted to support her as she leads this exciting and impactful programme.”
The award further strengthens the MBA’s international reputation for scientific excellence and underscores the importance of long-term ocean observation programmes in addressing global environmental challenges.
Dr Ostle’s Fellowship will help to ensure that the Continuous Plankton Recorder Survey remains at the forefront of innovation in global marine biodiversity monitoring, delivering the knowledge needed to understand and respond to changes in the world’s oceans.
