Workshops | Socio-Oceanography

Socio-Oceanography Workshops are an annual international workshop series that facilitates collaboration between marine social and natural scientists and co-organised by the NOC and the Marine Social Science Network.

The workshops aim to generate interdisciplinary outputs such as opinion papers, funding proposals, and innovative multidisciplinary forms of communication. By bringing together experts from different disciplines, Socio-Oceanography Workshops promote interdisciplinary research and the integration of social and natural science perspectives in the study of the marine environment.

The workshops provide a platform for scientists to exchange ideas, share knowledge, and develop collaborative projects that address the complex challenges facing our oceans

Socio-Oceanography 2026

Dates: 6,7 May 2026

Venue: Royal College of Art (Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2EU)

Workshop Flyer Coming soon!

Sessions:

The 2026 Workshop will be co-organised by NOC and the Royal College of Art. It will focus on three highlight topics, aiming to bring together a diverse group of natural, social and interdisciplinary scientists and designers. Each group will work towards producing outputs such as opinion papers, funding proposals, and innovative multidisciplinary forms of communication.

Communicating ocean Tipping Points through collaborative Science–Arts practice (Co-led by Prof.A.Hall, RCA, and Dr.K.Popova, NOC)
Using the Subpolar Gyre collapse as a scientific case study, this topic would explore how artistic interpretation, design methods, and interdisciplinary collaboration can help make abrupt ocean changes more understandable and meaningful to wider audiences.
Arctic in the age of marine robotics (Co-led by TBC)
Marine robotics is rapidly expanding into the Arctic Ocean, where it will intersect with Indigenous knowledge systems, traditional livelihoods, and established governance arrangements. How should researchers and technology developers engage respectfully with Arctic communities?
Vast, Vital, Invisible: Designing emotional connections to the Global Ocean Commons (co-led by Dr. A.Loveridge, NOC and TBC )
The High Seas are recognised as the Common Heritage of Humankind. They cover most of the ocean and nearly half the planet, yet remain emotionally and politically distant. How can creative practice translate planetary processes into forms that resonate with lived experience and help reduce psychological distance?

Attending the Event:

The workshop is limited to 40 participants. The application deadline is 31 March, and successful applicants will be notified by 3 April. Attendance is free and includes refreshments and lunch. Please note that no funding is available to support travel expenses.

Format:

The workshop will be held in person only. Due to its interactive nature, online participation will not be possible. Each highlight topic is led by two facilitators from different disciplinary perspectives (social or natural sciences, technology, and design), working with a group of 10–15 UK-wide participants from similarly mixed backgrounds. All participants are expected to attend for the full duration of the workshop.

Registration:

Expression of interest for the Workshop (Deadline: 31st March 2026)

Socio-Oceanography 2025

Dates: 26–28 February 2025

Venue: National Oceanography Centre, Southampton

Workshop Flyer

Sessions:

The 2025 Workshop will focus on four highlight topics bringing together a mix of natural and social scientists, each working towards producing an output such as opinion papers, funding proposals and innovative multidisciplinary forms of communication:

Ethical research and the roles of the mCDR researcher: Interdisciplinary approaches towards deconstructing and addressing biases (Dr Sandy Avrutin, Geomar Helmholz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung; Dr Javier Marmol, University of Southampton) Session Abstract
Does AI Dream of Electric People: Embedding Digital Humans into Environmental Digital Twins (Prof. A. Arribas Herranz, NOC; Dr. Katya Popova, NOC; Social Sci lead: TBC) Session Abstract - Postponed until 2026
Integrating human and ecological dimensions into participatory monitoring at the local level (Dr. Mary Allen, NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program, USA; Dr. Rodrigo Pereira Medeiros Strategic Group for Monitoring and Evaluation of Protected Areas, Brazil) Session Abstract
Marine species on the move: how climate change driven redistribution of marine species is going to change how we perceive, value, manage and research the UK marine environment (Dr. A.Loveridge, NOC; Prof. V.Nelson, Uni of Greenwich) Session Abstract

Attending the Event:

Attendance for this workshop is by invitation only, with a call for applications opening in early November 2024. A registration fee of £120 will cover all catering during the workshop, including an evening reception. Please note that no funding is available to support travel expenses.

Format:

The workshop will be held as an in-person only meeting. Due to the interactive nature of this event, it will not be possible to engage online. Each highlight topic is being led by one social and one natural scientist, with a group of 10 similarly mixed UK-wide participants.

Expression of interest for the Workshop

Socio-Oceanography 2024

Dates: 12–14 March 2024

Venue: National Oceanography Centre, Southampton

Sessions:

The 2024 Workshop will focus on four highlight topics bringing together a mix of natural and social scientists, each working towards producing an output such as opinion papers, funding proposals and innovative multidisciplinary forms of communication.

Risks and opportunities of Marine heatwaves for the UK
(Env lead: Dr Zoe Jacobs, NOC; Social Science lead: Dr Katie Smith, MBA)
Session 1 description

Session output: Peer-reviewed paper Jacobs et al., 40 priority questions to advance understanding of the risks and opportunities of marine heatwaves around the UK. Final draft.

Navigating the Waters of Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal: From Promise to Practice
(Env Lead: Dr. Chelsey Baker, NOC; Social Science lead: Dr. Leslie Mabon – The Open University)
Session 2 description

Session output: Peer-reviewed paper Baker et al., Exploring narratives of marine carbon dioxide removal: ocean alkalinity enhancement from promise to practice. Advanced draft

Can community engagement solve the ocean plastics problem?
(Env lead: Dr. Alice Horton, NOC; Social Science lead: Prof. Lesley Henderson, University of Strathclyde)
Session 3 description

Session output: Peer reviewed paper Horton et al., Can community engagement solve the ocean plastics problem? Towards a socio-oceanography perspective. Submitted to Science of the total environment.

Navigating coastal change: Inclusive decision-making through technology enabled Open Science
(Leads: Dr Christine Sams, NOC; and Prof. Ashley Hall, Royal College of Arts)
Session 4 description

Attending the Event:

Attendance of this workshop is by invitation only (call for applications will be open in early January 2024; you are welcome to send early expressions of interest to e.popova@noc.ac.uk or get in touch directly with the session leads). The event is free for all participants including all the catering during the workshop. Please note that we do not have funding to support travel expenses.

Format:

Important Dates:

Registration website live: early January
Application deadline: 31 January
Notification of successful participants: 5 February
Workshop: 12–14 March

Socio-Oceanography 2023

Dates: 7–9 March 2023

Venue: Chesil House, Winchester

The workshop was organised and hosted by the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) in collaboration with Marine Social Sciences Network. Co-convenors: Dr Katya Popova (NOC) and Dr Emma Mc.Kinley (Cardiff University and Marine Social Sciences Network).

The workshop focused on four highlight topics bringing together a mix of natural and social scientists, each working towards producing an output such as opinion papers, funding proposals and innovative multidisciplinary forms of communication.

Topics:

Public Perception of the Marine Plastic Problem: Does our Current Understanding of its Potential Consequences for the Environment and Human Health Justify Another Burden of Anxiety we put on the Young Generation? (Professor Richard Lampitt National Oceanography Centre and Professor Steve Fletcher University of Portsmouth)
Investing in Marine Natural Capital: Building A Case for Resilient Ocean Nature-Based Markets (C. Evans and S. Taylor, NOC)
Societal Importance of the Subpolar Gyre and Potential UK Economic Impacts of Reaching an Ocean Tipping Point (C. Sams, K. Popova, NOC)
Developing Ocean-Based Carbon Dioxide Removal in a Globally Fair and Equitable Manner: The Need for Collaboration with Small Island Developing States, Large Ocean States and Other Developing Nations (Dr C. Pearce NOC, Dr Z. Clulow University of Cambridge)

Socio-Oceanography 2022

Dates: 19–20 July 2022

Venue: Balmer Lawn Hotel, Lyndhurst Rd, Brockenhurst

Workshop description: A group of twenty NOC scientists with an expertise of engaging with social sciences gathered together in July 2022 for a two-day workshop to set out a vision for interdisciplinary research at NOC addressing societal challenges through more effective integration and collaboration with social sciences. The group has developed a concept of “Socio-Oceanography” presenting its vision as a manuscript “Socio-Oceanography: an opportunity to integrate marine social and natural sciences” (Popova et al., Frontiers, under review).

Outputs:

Socio-oceanography: an opportunity to integrate marine social and natural sciences (Popova et al., 2022) [this will be a link]

Socio-Oceanography infographics (file)

Socio-Oceanography Visual Storyline (file)