Our mission

The shared vision of the Parties for the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton

The shared vision of the University and the Council is for the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton to be the national focus for oceanography in the United Kingdom. This implies

(a) The centre will be excellent in its own right and internationally visible and in particular

  • be among the five most highly regarded centres in the world for Ocean and Earth Sciences and Marine Technology, and to aim to lead the world in certain areas of distinctive activity.
  • have wide capability across most fields of ocean and earth sciences, but will have a major distinctive scientific focus within the UK emphasising large-scale, deep ocean and sea floor processes and development of major marine technology capability for ocean research;
  • lead the world's intellectual agenda in many of the areas in which it is active and to match it in all.

(b) The centre will have a diverse mission, spanning education, academic (curiosity-driven) and strategic (issue-led) research; ocean technology development, providing major national and international services; knowledge transfer, enterprise and engaging wider society with science. It will be

  • be a natural choice for undergraduate and postgraduate students, both nationally and internationally across the spectrum of disciplines represented at the centre;
  • be a key focus for authoritative information and expertise on the oceans for UK government, charitable foundations, intergovernmental organisations, industry and the media.

(c) The Centre will facilitate coordination and, where needed, provide leadership in an inclusive manner for the whole UK marine science community in order that the full potential of that community can be maximised and benefit from the infrastructure and other capability of the Centre. The Centre will

  • be explicitly recognised as the national focus for Oceanography in the UK with a clear remit to sustain national capability and, in an inclusive way, to fulfil leadership, facilitation and coordination roles on behalf of the wider Marine and Earth sciences and wider stakeholder communities.
  • provide impartial, world class services and facilities to underpin a global oceanographic research capability for the UK.