I am a Professor of Marine Biology at Plymouth University in the UK. I conduct applied research to provide policy makers with the scientific information needed to best manage the marine environment, ranging from deep-sea benthos, fisheries, aquaculture, marine protected areas, biogenic reefs and seamounts. An eight year Royal Society University Research Fellowship helped me ensure this research had impact, including lasting protection for deep-sea coral reefs.
This year I have been working on satellite tracking fishing vessels to inform management and on underwater volcanoes in the Mediterranean Sea to help predict effects of ocean acidification due to rising carbon dioxide levels. I have a job that gets me out to sea, where I can find out first-hand what is happening to life, both on and in it. That’s the most enjoyable part, but it’s also rewarding to be able to communicate these findings to help improve the ways in which we look after our oceans.
My research has been supported mainly by EU FP7, The Royal Society, NERC and the Leverhulme Trust resulting in high-profile publications on the ecosystem effects of ocean acidification.
• Hall-Spencer JM, Rodolfo-Metalpa R, Martin S, Ransome E, Fine M, Turner SM, Rowley SJ,Tedesco D, Buia M-C (2008) Volcanic carbon dioxide vents reveal ecosystem effects of ocean acidification. Nature 454, 96-99.
• Hall-Spencer JM (2011) No reason for complacency. Nature Climate Change 1, 174.
