MASTS 2023 ANNUAL SCIENCE MEETING OPEN FOR REGISTRATION

Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland

Team and Governance

The MASTS Directorate

The MASTS Directorate is responsible for the day to day operation of MASTS and is led by a small team based at the University of St Andrews consisting of an Executive Director (Prof David Paterson), Operations Director (Dr Mark James) & Programme Co-ordinator & Deputy Dean of Grad School (Dr Emma Defew). We are assisted by a Finance Co-ordinator (Tanya Harkins), and where appropriate, cross-cutting administrative capacity from MASTS member institutions is brought together. The Dean of Graduate School is Dr Lois Calder.

In 2020, Hannah Ladd-Jones joined the MASTS Directorate to run its communications, outreach and internal and external engagement. She has organised and hosted the annual MASTS online webinar series, and throughout 2020 she produced weekly MASTS CASTs. She has organised multiple high-level events online, including the launch of the Scottish Marine Assessement 2020, Structures in the Marine Environment 2021 and 2022 and the MASTS 10th, 11th and 12th Annual Science Meeting. She also runs the MASTS social media: Twitter and LinkedIn. 

In 2021, Elizabeth Mills became the newest team member. She leads to engagement of the MASTS Forums to guide their future development as well as working alongside individual Forums to help them develop Forum-specific initiatives and outputs. A keen science-communicator, Elizabeth loves finding new ways to help people connect and learn about our ocean.

Both of Elizabeth and Hannah are developing the People Ocean Planet (POP) initiative, which received kick-starter funding from Vodafone UK, MASTS and the University of St Andrews in 2019. POP works to explore novel and thought-provoking methods for science communication to empower individuals with information regarding marine climate change and the actions they can undertake to protect our seas. 

David Paterson, Mark James and Emma Defew

Hannah Ladd-Jones (left) and Elizabeth Mills (right)

The MASTS Committee Structure

Governing Council

MASTS is overseen by the Governing Council (GC). The GC meets 2-3 times per year and is chaired by Prof Neil Simco of the University of the Highlands & Islands, and has the following representatives:

  • Dr David Ferrier (University of St Andrews)
  • Diarmuid O’Neill (Marine Scotland)
  • Prof Paul McKenna (University of Strathclyde)
  • Prof Simon Mackenzie (University of Stirling)
  • Prof Gary Hutchison (Edinburgh Napier University)
  • Prof Roman Biek (University of Glasgow)
  • Prof Nick Forsyth (University of Aberdeen)
  • Prof Steve Mclaughlin (Heriot Watt University)
  • Prof Iain Gordon (Edinburgh University)
  • Prof Sue Dawson (Dundee University)
  • Prof Milan Radosavljevic (University West of Scotland)
  • Prof Nick Fyfe (Robert Gordon University)
  • Prof Terence McGenity (University of Essex) 
Executive Committee

The MASTS Executive Committee (EC) meets 3 or 4 times per year and is populated by a representative of each of the institutional partners plus the Dean of the Graduate School (Dr Lois Calder), the Theme Leaders (in an ex-officio capacity), and is chaired by the Executive Director (Prof David Paterson).

The EC has the following representatives:

  • Prof Trevor Telfer (University of Stirling)
  • Dr Dafne Eerkes-Medrano (Marine Scotland Science)
  • Dr David Bailey (University of Glasgow)
  • Dr William Sanderson (Heriot Watt University)
  • Dr David Ferrier (University of St Andrews)
  • Prof Nick Owens (SAMS)
  • Prof Karen Diele (Edinburgh Napier University)
  • Prof Mike Heath (University of Strathclyde)
  • Prof Beth Scott (University of Aberdeen)
  • Dr Philip Cowie (University West of Scotland)
  • Dr Meriwether Wilson/Prof Raja Ganeshram (Edinburgh University)
  • Prof Andy Chan (Robert Gordon University)
  • Dr Natalie Hicks (University of Essex)
  • Dr Alejandro Gallego (DPMS Theme Leader)
  • Dr Andrew Johnson (Productive Seas Theme Leader)
  • Prof Teresa Fernandes (MBFS Theme Leader)
Neil Simco, Chair of the MASTS Governing Council
Advisory Committee

The MASTS Advisory Committee (AC) takes an active role in guiding the development of MASTS and meets twice a year.

The AC is chaired by Prof Peter Liss and has the following representatives:

  • Mr Peter Singleton (SEPA)
  • Prof Ed Hill (NOC)
  • Dr Jacqui McElhinney (Food Standards Scotland)
  • Prof John Baxter (Independent, and Honorary Prof. at St Andrews University )
  • Dr Ben James (NatureScot)
  • Marappan Saravanan (DECC)
  • Annabel Turpie (Director Marine Scotland)
  • Moya Crawford (Industry advisor)
  • Dr Richard Wakefield (IMarEST)
  • Cheryl Burgess (SUT)
  • Prof Mark Inall (SAGES Director)
  • Dr Hermione Cockburn (Our Dynamic Earth)
  • Dr Tracey Shimmield (BGS)
  • Dr Christine Maggs (JNCC)
MASTS Resources

We’re working behind the scenes to bring you a suite of useful, and updateable, resources including: 

  • Find an expert
  • Find facilities & equipment
  • MASTS Publications

 

If you would like to be updated when the resources section is live please let us know.