Supporting future leaders in marine biology: Two major MBA funding opportunities now live

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We are pleased to announce the opening of two prestigious funding opportunities designed to support early career and established marine biologists: the Ray Lankester Investigatorship and the Peter Baker Investigatorship. Ray Lankester Investigatorship The Ray Lankester Investigatorship offers established researchers the chance to pursue independent marine biological research at the Marine Biological Association (MBA). The … Read more

MBA team launches whale shark tagging mission in Mexico

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The MBA’s Sims Group team of researchers have travelled to La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico for a whale shark tagging expedition. The aim of the ERC-funded research expedition to the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) in the Gulf of California (GoC) is to attach custom-made oxygen, temperature, deep-depth, and body movement-sensing tags to adult female … Read more

Marine Biological Association welcomes Professor Thomas Miller as a Fellow of the MBA

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We are proud to welcome Professor Thomas James Miller PhD as a Fellow of the Marine Biological Association (FMBA).

Ocean Wonders in Yarn: MBA staff and students turn Plymouth post box into call to engage with the ocean

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An ordinary post box on Plymouth Hoe has been transformed into an eye-catching celebration of marine life, thanks to a team of creative staff and students from the Marine Biological Association, who have handcrafted an intricately beautiful knitted and crocheted topper inspired by the sea.

Bloomin’ Octopus! New film explores the science behind the octopus surge in the southwest

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Filmmaker and diver David Palfrey expected a routine dive off the Cornish coast—but instead encountered something extraordinary: octopus after octopus, gathered in open water and observing him in return. These surprising encounters inspired Bloomin’ Octopus! A Tentacular Spectacular, a new short film exploring the remarkable ‘octopus bloom’ in southwest England in 2025.

Study provides detailed assessment of shifts in toxin producing phytoplankton abundance

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UK researchers, including from the Marine Biological Association and the University of Plymouth, have shown how the distributions of two phytoplankton groups known to produce natural toxins that can halt shellfish harvesting have changed in the North East Atlantic over the last six decades. 

UK invited to compete in nationwide rock pooling challenge with prizes up for grabs

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Communities across the UK are invited to join in with a nationwide rock pooling competition this spring, with the Big Rock Pool Challenge National BioBlitz 2026. Combining marine species discovery with competitive wildlife recording, the event brings people of all ages and backgrounds together with the common aim of exploring and recording the incredible biodiversity of our coastal shores.

Research in algae provides insight into the origins of the animal nervous system

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A new study indicates that major components of the animal nervous system are found in marine algae and play important roles in cellular communication. Multicellular organisms have developed many mechanisms to allow communication between individual cells. In animals, the amino acid glutamate acts as a neurotransmitter, allowing the transfer of information between neurons in the … Read more

Unlocking the value of biodiversity: report highlights economic impact of the Darwin Tree of Life project

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A new economic analysis has shown that sequencing the DNA of all complex life in the UK and Ireland could deliver up to almost £3 billion in benefits to the economy over the next 30 years, with wide‑ranging impacts across agriculture, conservation, and research and innovation.

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The Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom is a registered charity in England and Wales (1155893), and is a company limited by Royal Charter (RC000865). The Marine Biological Association conducts, promotes and supports scientific research into all aspects of life in the sea.

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