Beth Langley, a PhD student at the University of Glasgow, recently attended the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland (MASTS) Annual Science Meeting held at University of Strathclyde. Founded in 2009, MASTS brings together over 900 marine science researchers from 18 institutions in Scotland.
“The MASTS Annual Science Meeting, held from 18-20 November at Technology & Innovation Centre (TIC), University of Strathclyde, brought together three packed days of conference presentations, ePosters, panel discussions, and workshops. It was a fantastic chance to (re)connect with marine researchers from across Scotland and further afield.
Across the two main conference days, we heard a wide range of talks showcasing the depth and diversity of marine science happening across Scotland. The programme also took us to higher latitudes with a keynote from Professor Maeve Lohan of the University of Southampton, who shared fascinating insights on iron and manganese cycling in the Barents Sea and their implications for primary productivity in a rapidly warming Arctic.
The General Science sessions covered topics spanning Hydrothermal Contributions to Dissolved Organic Carbon Cycling Along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, to the Biogeochemical Impacts of Floating Offshore Wind. Special sessions explored themes such as multiple stressors, coastal science, and marine mammals. A particular highlight for me was session titled ‘Bottom Trawling: Beyond the Headlines – Science, Sustainability, and Solutions’, a thought-provoking series of presentations followed by a panel discussion, giving the audience the chance to question (and challenge) the speakers.
I had the opportunity to present part of my PhD research through an ePoster, the high-tech evolution of the traditional printed poster – animations included! My poster, “Who done it? Exploring organic carbon remineralisation in sub-Arctic fjord sediments under future warming,” sparked some great conversations with researchers working across similar themes. I was thrilled to receive the award for Best Student ePoster, sponsored by IMarEST.
Attending as an Arctic-focused researcher, I found the conference a powerful reminder that Scotland and the Arctic are components of a single connected ocean system. Session after session highlighted how processes and challenges occurring in one region ripple across the broader ocean system (pun intended) – whether through shared water masses, migratory species, or the interconnected pressures of sustainable resource use. Strengthening research connections between Scotland and the Arctic is essential for understanding our broader ocean system.
The MASTS ASM meeting was energising, collaborative, and a fantastic showcase of the critical marine science underway right now.”
