Dan has been recognised in the Cross-Field category, spanning two Essential Science Indicator (ESI) areas. He leads the MBA’s Benthic Ecosystems and Environmental Change group, which studies how coastal marine life responds to environmental change.

‘It’s an honour to know that my work is being acknowledged worldwide. I aim to continue these collaborative efforts through my UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship at the MBA, advancing microplastics research and ensuring the outputs are usable and accessible to scientists and stakeholders.’

Alice’s fellowship, MICROMIX, will transform marine microplastics and multistressor research. Reflecting on the recognition, she said:

Open to Student Members of the MB

This Studentship honours the legacy of Dr Mary Florence 'Molly' Spooner, a pioneering marine biologist whose research helped shape modern marine science.

Deadline: 12:00, 15th January 2026

mymba.mba.ac.uk/member-homep...

Work alongside leading researchers at the MBA in Plymouth, contribute to active research projects and gain experience using world-class facilities including our Research Aquarium and long-term biodiversity datasets.

Up to £520/week (6 weeks) or £390/week (8 weeks)

You’ll soon see Coral Wreath featured on our festive card! Thank you to all the artists who took part.

A recent Falmouth University graduate, Poppy’s work is inspired by fantasy and the natural world, particularly the ocean. Having lived by the sea in Cornwall, her passion for marine life and conservation shines through in her illustrations.

Poppy’s artwork captures the beauty and biodiversity of our seas with exquisite detail - reflecting the incredible marine life studied by scientists here at the Marine Biological Association.

👉 www.mba.ac.uk/our-membersh...

Video by CPL One

The Marine Biologist is the quarterly magazine of the Marine Biological Association, bringing together the latest science stories and voices from across the ocean community.

📖 Read the latest issue or become a Member to receive The Marine Biologist in print and online, four times a year.

This will set the foundation for her next questions, as she explores how neural asymmetry shapes perception, attention and behavioural flexibility in animals with nervous systems very different from our own.

We’ll have more updates from Willa’s research soon.

Willa Lane, PHD Researcher at @cambridgeuniversity is currently replicating this work in the Research Aquarium at the Marine Biological Association to establish a baseline for each individual cuttlefish she studies.

In cuttlefish, lateralisation can be observed in how they move and which eye they use in different situations. Previous research suggests they tend to use the left eye when watching for predators and the right eye when hunting. This split in function is seen widely across the animal kingdom.

Researchers are even exploring whether changing the colour of ropes could help whales see and avoid them more easily.

These small but crucial steps are giving this iconic species a fighting chance.

Efforts in Massachusetts and Atlantic Canada are helping: from fishing restrictions during whale presence, to innovative on-demand fishing gear that removes vertical ropes from the water column - reducing the risk of entanglement.

Dr. Heather Pettis of the New England Aquarium calls it “cautious optimism.” Despite the small rise, she stresses that with fewer than 400 whales remaining, every individual matters and continued conservation work is essential.