MASTS, through its Directorate, represents its members internationally whilst its Members as organisations and individuals are also actively engaged in a wide range of international projects and strategically important bodies.
In 2026, MASTS hosted an exhibition stand at the internationally attended Ocean Sciences Meeting in Glasgow. The booth promoted the diverse topics of of marine research undertaken by MASTS members as well as promoting MASTS to attendees, even HRH Princess Anne dropped by for a visit!
MASTS actively collaborates with partners at EU level through representation in a number of strategic groups and organisations. MASTS is recognised as a national and UK body that brings together the majority of Scotland’s and now Northern Ireland’s marine science capacity, offering a collective voice for a significant proportion of that community. MASTS was one of the three UK organisations represented on the European Marine Board (EMB). However, a strategic decision was made in 2023 to withdraw from the EMB to focus resources on the development of more direct engagement with EU partners and ultimately the Commission, through EU funded projects.
MASTS members have routinely been part of EMB Working Groups, some members and their involvement include:
Many MASTS members are active participants in International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) Working Groups and have actively contributed to their work. Many have also hosted other international bodies associated with strategic marine governance, regulation and monitoring. Some of the latest involvement from members includes:
The MASTS Directorate and MASTS Members have been participants in many UK Science and Innovation Network missions to promote UK marine research and to cultivate collaborations. Where appropriate, MASTS establishes Memoranda of Understandings with institutions and organisations keen to formalise links to the MASTS community.
The MASTS European Engagement Research (MEER) Fund is used to help support grass roots participation of MASTS researchers in EU projects and ICES Working Groups.
International exchanges may be supported on an ad hoc basis and subject to specific funding becoming available.
MASTS were awarded funding from the Royal Society of Edinburgh to seed interdisciplinary collaboration in marine renewable energy and aquaculture research.
Six researchers from the University of Nagasaki and 12 member institutions of MASTS engaged in online discussions with representatives of the University of Nagasaki with mutual interests in marine renewable energy and aquaculture. These meetings culminated in five University of Nagasaki representatives visiting the Universities of Strathclyde and Heriot-Watt (Orkney Campus) for renewables focused meetings and Universities of Highlands and Islands and Heriot-Watt University (Edinburgh Campus) for aquaculture focused meetings. These meetings took place in Scotland in August 2023.
Following these detailed discussions, MASTS representatives were funded to visit their counterparts in the University of Nagasaki in November and December 2023. The purpose of these meetings was to facilitate knowledge exchange, establish personal
connections and initiate collaborations. Visits included established and early career researchers. Areas of interest included: marine spatial planning, regulation, environmental impacts, technology and with respect to aquaculture; genetics, disease and husbandry. Read their reports here:
MASTS condemns in the strongest possible terms the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This unprovoked and brutal act of war challenges the fundamental freedoms that we all take for granted in liberal democracies. MASTS will demonstrate its support for the people of Ukraine by using whatever influence it can bring to bear to ensure that Russian and Belarusian institutions are excluded from and denied access to the domains in which MASTS operates. MASTS will help to support the actions of its member organisations in this regard. Specifically, MASTS will seek to have Russian and Belarusian institutions denied access to research funding, resources, infrastructure, collaboration and positions of influence. MASTS will actively lobby for Russian and Belarusian institutions to be stripped of roles within the international research community and excluded from the relevant organisations and initiatives.
MASTS, alongside the wider UK HE Sector represented by Universities UK, also recognise that many education and research partnerships are often based on academic peer-to-peer relationships, and note that many Russian students and academics, at great personal peril, have publicly criticised this invasion. MASTS do not support the application of blanket academic boycotts that prevent academics collaborating with other academics as a means of protest against the actions of their governments. Decisions on such continued collaborations will be made on a case-by-case basis, informed both by UK Government guidance and appropriate due diligence.
It is incumbent upon all of us as individuals and organisations to actively and visibly support the people of Ukraine and to stand united with the international community in isolating Russia and those that support its actions.
#ScienceForUkraine is a community group of volunteer students and research scientists from academic institutions in Europe and around the world. Their mission is to collect and disseminate information about support opportunities at the university, national, and international level for graduate students and researchers directly affiliated to an academic institution in Ukraine. Find out more here.
We’re working behind the scenes to bring you a suite of useful, and updateable, resources including:
If you would like to be updated when the resources section is live please let us know.
