What is marine science?

Marine Science is the scientific discipline that studies the world's seas and oceans. It investigates the physics, chemistry, geology and biology of the marine environment and takes a multidisciplinary approach to understanding marine systems.

Marine science is not just marine biology, although it includes marine biology as a core discipline. Many new marine science students arrive with a particular interest in marine biology, perhaps because of spectacular television documentaries on coral reefs, marine mammals or life in the deep ocean. They may already know quite a bit about marine biology, while few new students have a concept about marine geology, chemistry or physics. Studying these disciplines often comes as an eye opener to students who learn to see the past in the rocks around them, and gain an understanding of how the planet works on a larger scale. Many students develop a career-defining fascination with these non-biological disciplines during the course. So, what are these disciplines that - together with marine biology - make up marine science?

Physical oceanographers investigate how light and sound pass through water, and how energy is stored, distributed and lost in the oceans. They study tides, waves and currents, and how these affect climate. Physical oceanography is important to investigate in its own right, and also because it affects the distribution and activity of marine organisms, and of chemical and geological processes.

Chemical oceanographers study the chemical properties and processes of sea water and the sediments that cover the seabed. They also study how different elements - such as carbon or oxygen - cycle through the oceans over time and space, and across the sea surface into the atmosphere or into the seabed. Marine chemists also investigate marine pollution. Chemical composition and dynamics have a controlling effect on marine life as well as global climate but are also strongly influenced by both organisms and climate.

Marine geologists study how ocean basins may have been formed and the processes that have been shaping the seafloor over different timescales. They produce increasingly  accurate maps of the seafloor and investigate the seabed for clues left by settling particles from past climates and events. Besides studying the distant and recent past of our seas and oceans, marine geologists also help the oil and gas industry detect and exploit new oil deposits.

Besides good communication skills, marine scientists also need to be competent in mathematics and statistics. Additionally many of them benefit from a sound understanding of marine technology to service and adapt sampling and analytical equipment needed to answer their research questions. The speed of progress in marine research is greatly dependent on technologies that help overcome the difficulties of accessing the environment we study. The BSc (Hons) Marine Science therefore offers optional modules in marine technology, which is a unique feature of the course.