MSCC groups
The MSCC’s activities are progressed through a series of groups. These groups are set out in the Governance Structure. Membership of these groups includes representatives from Government bodies, Non-Government Organisations, industry, research bodies and others. This combined knowledge and expertise will help ensure we have the right marine science at the right time.
UK Marine Monitoring & Assessment Strategy (UKMMAS)
Copyright credit – Tim Dunn
The largest of these groups is the UK Marine Monitoring & Assessment Strategy (UKMMAS), which became part of the MSCC structure in March 2010 on the merger of the Marine Assessment Policy Committee and the MSCC. UKMMAS work is delivered through a number of different working and evidence groups.
MSCC Working Groups
A series of Working Groups and networks has been established to find solutions to marine science challenges.
The aim of this group is to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of the marine environment to our lives and the role that marine science can play in helping us to understand it.
Science Alignment Working Group
The objective of this group is to align the science effort across MSCC members in areas of high impact and to assess the related capacity and capability to deliver the science.
Offshore Renewables Research Steering Group
The group’s focus on the renewable sector includes offshore wind, tidal stream, tidal range and wave devices, but does not include biomass from marine sources.
This group has two main goals which are to develop an:
- Initial view of research priorities to inform research funding bids for 2012
- Established view of research priorities to form a basis for further review and prioritisation from 2012 onwards.
Marine Industries Liaison Group
This group provides advice and guidance to the MSCC on matters relating to the marine and marine science industries, in order to help shape and increase the effectiveness of UK marine science.
The purpose of this group is to develop and assess a range of practical and innovative proposals for managing and operating over 50 metre research vessels across the UK more effectively and efficiently.
UK Integrated Marine Observing Network Group
A new UK single marine observing network is being developed by 16 government agencies and organisations. The initiative will ensure that a national marine observing network is in place to improve the evidence base for future assessments of environmental status, using the most cost-effective technologies available to the UK marine science community.
Sharing Equipment, Facilities and Staff Group
The purpose of this group is to identify resources that can be shared with a view to setting up enabling mechanisms.
Long Term Monitoring Working Group
The purpose of this group was to:
- help develop a transparent prioritisation tool for the selection of long-term observation systems for funding
- develop proposals for providing secure, longer-term and cross-cutting funding for priority datasets.
Sub-groups
In addition, a number of sub-groups report to the MSCC. These are focussed on specialist topics such as the management of marine data and on how underwater sound from ships, drilling and other sea-based operations can affect marine creatures.
Other links
The MSCC also links with a range of other activities including:
- Living With Environmental Change
- Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership
- Research and academic sector link – Latest newsletter
- NGO sector link – Latest e-bulletin
Our members
