We research, teach and carry out impact activities to improve understanding and stewardship of our changing planetary life-support system. Our community of staff and students are tackling key societal challenges from forecasting impacts of future climate variability to the sustainable exploitation of Earth's resources.
Global top 50
for Earth and marine sciences, geology and geophysics
Unique location with outstanding facilities including world-leading analytical geochemical laboratories and our own research vessel
98%
of our research rated world-leading or internationally excellent
Source: Research Excellence Framework 2021, Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences
About us
The School of Ocean and Earth Science is based at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton. This is where we conduct our research-informed teaching. It's also the location of our 6 research groups:
Geochemistry
Geology and Geophysics
Marine Biogeochemistry
Marine Biology and Ecology
Palaeoceanography and Palaeoclimate
Physical Oceanography
Our scholars and educators join us from all over the world. They carry out fundamental research to explore the Earth’s natural support systems.
The impact of our work includes identifying and implementing nature-based solutions to mitigate climate change impacts. Other examples include sequestering atmospheric CO₂ in marine and terrestrial rock formations and through enhanced rock weathering.
We're educating the next generation of Earth and ocean scientists who’ll be taking on key global challenges. Our suite of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees includes supervision of around 150 PhD students. The School’s educational activities are underpinned with a UK top 10 position in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2023.
Our Waterfront Campus is supported by a wide range of scientific facilities and equipment including a research catamaran equipped for coastal and shelf research.
Students visualising data in real time on board our research vessel RV Callista.
Deploying autonomous surface vehicles to map seabed habitats.
Research culture
Our research aims to develop a deep understanding of the whole Earth system. We then apply new findings to secure our planet's future sustainability.
Our top research priorities are:
reducing uncertainty in knowledge of the climate system and climate variability
developing and testing solutions for greenhouse gas emission reduction and atmospheric removal
evaluating the sustainability of natural resources on land and in the oceans
investigating the impacts of natural change and anthropogenic stressors on marine ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles
investigating connections between plate tectonics, mantle dynamics and natural hazards
translating environmental data to knowledge
We transfer our knowledge to industry, public bodies and the third sector through the work of our Stakeholder Advisory Board which includes representatives from:
the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
EDF UK
the Marine Management Organisation
the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
Fugro GB Marine
the British Geological Survey
At the heart of our research activities is interdisciplinarity. It is woven into our 6 research groups, partnerships with the National Oceanography Centre and multi-disciplinary PhD supervisory teams and training activities. This drives the postgraduate research programmes offered by the:
We also maintain our own research vessel to support the School's education and research activities.
Learn more about our extensive facilities and campus with our video tour.
Waterfront Campus tour
Explore facilities and equipment in our 8-minute YouTube video.
Fellowships
We welcome research fellows who want to play a key role in our research across ocean and Earth science. We tackle the most pressing scientific and societal challenges in the natural environment.
Eligible schemes
Our support package helps researchers develop competitive fellowship applications to a wide range of schemes, including the following. Contact us for advice about schemes not listed here:
The Royal Society University Research Fellowship
The Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship
Natural Environment Research Council Independent Research Fellowship
European Research Council Starting Grant
Support for applicants
We match applicants with a departmental host, who will provide:
help with applications, including support letters and costings
introductions to potential collaborators
introductions to existing fellows
a tour of our department and facilities
Support for research fellows
Successful applicants enter our formal fellowship scheme, which offers:
training
access to the latest equipment
protected time away from teaching and administrative duties
opportunities to enterPhD studentship and research grant competitions
opportunities to move into a permanent academic role
Moving into a permanent role when a fellowship ends (proleptic appointments)
Sometimes a research fellow will wish to move into a permanent academic role with us when their fellowship ends. This is called a proleptic appointment.
How research fellows move to a permanent role
During the fellowship, we'll set the objectives the research fellow must meet to move to a permanent role.
After 18 months, the school will review progress against objectives.
If the research fellow meets their objectives, they can apply for a permanent role.
As part of the application process, we'll ask them to give a research talk to colleagues, complete a teaching exercise, and undergo a panel interview.
Get in touch to discuss a fellowship application
Whatever stage you're at with your application, we'd love to hear from you.
Email our Deputy Head of School (Research), Professor Maeve Lohan: m.lohan@soton.ac.uk
Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI)
We're committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment where everyone is treated equally and fairly. Our Athena SWAN Bronze award recognised this commitment to gender equality in higher education.
We offer a broad and diverse teaching, research and support community with opportunities to tackle barriers to inclusion. Representatives from the School are actively involved in developing and implementing the Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences and University EDI policies. Our staff also chair the faculty’s EDI committee.
Our key priority is to consult with our School community to identify our equality and diversity priorities.
Learn about the research groups we host and the institutes we work closely with. You can explore publications, projects, staff profile information in detail.
The quality of staff and facilities at our unique waterfront campus, based at the National Oceanography Centre Southampton, enable us to make world-leading contributions in the fields of Earth and Marine Science.
Our skilled staff apply their research to a wide range of enterprise activities through effective collaborations with industry, government and charities. Many of these activities are focused on supporting the low carbon economy.
