Our research
The Coastal and Ocean Futures research group brings together researchers working on oceanography, biogeochemistry, ecology, engineering and coastal geomorphology to understand and shape the role of the ocean in a rapidly changing world. Our work includes:
- Field observations and assessments of vulnerable marine and coastal habitats, spanning polar to tropical systems
- The use of a wide range of ocean measurements—such as temperature, salinity, oxygen, carbon, nutrients, and human-made compounds like CFCs and SF₆—collected from ships and autonomous platforms, together with numerical models, to monitor, understand, and predict changes in oceanic and coastal ecosystems.
- Ecosystem restoration
- Machine learning methods applied to ocean physics and biogeochemistry, including for understanding the ocean carbon budget
- Development of marine carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and novel sensors
Beyond advancing scientific understanding, we aim to contribute to the development of practical strategies and policy interventions that support equitable and effective coastal and ocean futures. Through this, we seek to inform global conversations on climate mitigation, adaptation, and the role of ocean systems in shaping planetary trajectories.
Research Projects
Emerging controls on coral reef growth potential under low coral cover statesPrincipal Investigator: Chris Perry UoE Co-workers: Didier Nakker, Alice Webb |
Green and Blue Carbon projectsProject website: Green and Blue Carbon |
Next Generation Multiplatform Ocean Observing Technologies for Research InfrastructuresPrincipal Investigator: Ute Schuster UoE Co-workers: Witek Tatkiewicz, Luke Home Project website: https://george-project.eu/ |
Three Research Infrastructures Together: Carbon Uptake Southern OceanPrincipal Investigator: Ute Schuster UoE Co-workers: Witek Tatkiewicz, Luke Home, Tan Project website: https://tricuso.eu/ |
BioGeochemical essential Ocean variables for global assessmentsPrincipal Investigator: Ute Schuster |
Exploring AMOC controls on the North Atlantic carbon sink using novel inverse and data-constrained modelsPrincipal Investigator: Neill Mackay UoE Co-workers: Ute Schuster |
Integrated Carbon Observation System – Ocean Thematic CentrePrincipal Investigator: Andy Watson UoE Co-workers: Ute Schuster, Nicole Dalton Project website: https://www.icos-otc.org/ |
Understanding Ocean CarbonPrincipal Investigator: Andy Watson UoE Co-workers: Mayor, Shutler Project website: https://ocean-icu.eu/ |
SeachangePrincipal Investigator: Scource UoE Co-workers: Paul Halloran, Ismet Saygu, Butler, Reynolds, Trofimova Project website: https://seachange-erc.eu |
Marine Cloud BrighteningPrincipal Investigator: Haywood UoE Co-workers: Paul Halloran |
MISSION: Iconic ReefsPrincipal Investigator: Chris Perry UoE Co-workers: Alice Webb |
Understanding physical limits and governance constraints on reef IslaNd HABITabilityPrincipal Investigator: Chris Perry |
Quantifying loss of reef coastal protection benefits under ecological changePrincipal Investigator: Chris Perry UoE Co-workers: Didier De Bakker, Francesca Hale |
Implications of nutrient flow and feedbacks across the seabird-island-reef systemPrincipal Investigator: Chris Perry UoE Co-workers: Ines Lange, Julia Rodriguez Fillol |
Funded PhD studentshipPrincipal Supervisor: Chris Perry Supervisor: Jake Lloyd Newman |
Mangrove ecosystem services under pressure: the history and future of carbon sequestration hotspotsPrincipal Investigator: Barend van Maanen UoE Co-workers: Urrgeo, Nicholas, Aalto Project website: https://gotw.nerc.ac.uk/list_full.asp?pcode=NE%2FV012800%2F1 |
Marine habitat mapping through machine learningPrincipal Investigator: Barend van Maanen UoE Co-workers: Arthur, Palmer |
Mangrove ecosystem services under pressure: the history and future of carbon sequestration hotspotsPrincipal Investigator: Barend van Maanen UoE Co-workers: Urrgeo, Aalto Project website: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2918436#/tabOverview |
Convex SeascapePrincipal Investigator: Callum Roberts UoE Co-workers: Paul Halloran |
SeaCUREPrincipal Investigator: Paul Halloran UoE Co-workers: Andy Watson, Witek Tatkiewicz, Fran Taylor, Guy Hooper |
Social Licence for Marine CDRPrincipal Investigator: Paul Halloran UoE Co-workers: Guy Hooper |