I'm a marine biologist whose research explores the patterns of life in deep-ocean environments, which cover most of our world and face increasing impacts from climate change, pollution, and extraction of resources.
I'm based at the University of Southampton in the UK, and I have been a Scientific Associate of the Natural History Museum in London and a National Geographic Explorer. My work includes advising policymakers on the protection of deep-sea habitats, and I'm currently an Advisory Board member for the international Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative (DOSI).
My experience in ocean exploration includes planning and leading expeditions aboard research ships, using Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and Human-Occupied Vehicles (HOVs), and discovering new species of deep-sea animals. I took part in the first dive of a human-occupied vehicle to the world's deepest known hydrothermal vents, 5 km (3.1 miles) down on the ocean floor, and the first human-occupied vehicle dives to reach 1 km (0.62 miles) deep in the Antarctic.
In the science communication part of my role, I work with media producers to share the exploration of the deep ocean with people worldwide, for example as a contributor to programmes including BBC Blue Planet II, The Infinite Monkey Cage (BBC R4), The Science Hour (World Service), and as an advisor to eco-thriller and sci-fi series.
I'm the author of Ask An Ocean Explorer (Hodder & Stoughton, 2019) and The Deep Sea: Ten Things You Should Know (Orion Books, 2023). I've also published more than 100 bylined "popular science" articles in outlets such The Guardian, Nature, and New Scientist, where I worked previously as a Reporter and Assistant News Editor.
Outside my academic role, in 2006 I co-founded SciConnect Ltd with colleagues in science journalism, creating a capacity-building company that has trained more than 15,000 scientists in how to communicate their work with wider audiences. I have worked as a Director of the company as it has developed training programmes for clients including research institutions, funding bodies, government agencies, NGOs and companies across the UK and in Europe.
For more info, please see www.joncopley.com