Abigail McQuatters-Gollop

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Dr Abigail McQuatters-Gollop

 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6043-9563

    Overview

    Profile summary

    I am an interdisciplinary marine conservation ecologist and associate professor in marine conservation whose teaching and research focus on the generation of national and international impact through the integration of scientific results into the policy process. I use natural and social science skills and expertise to enable the sustainable use of our marine and coastal environments through science. My key areas of scientific interest are the separation of climate responses in biodiversity from those due to anthropogenic disturbances, ecosystem responses to the combined effects of direct pressures and climate change, and linking ecological changes to manageable human pressures. I actively create impact through science-policy knowledge exchange, working closely with policy makers at the UK, European and international levels, to deliver policy informed by the best available evidence. I lead the UK’s and OSPAR’s implementations of the UK Marine Strategy/Marine Strategy Framework Directive for pelagic habitats, which includes the coordination, development and implementation of pelagic indicators and environmental targets. I’ve also held two NERC Knowledge Exchange Fellowships and a Defra Chief Scientific Advisor’s Systems Research Fellowship. I encourage my students to understand the practical policy process and how and why scientific research should be applied and used in a policy and conservation context.     
    I love teaching and I try to encourage my students to see why plankton are key ecosystem indicators, to develop an understanding of the practical policy process, and to understand how and why scientific research should be applied and used in a policy and conservation context.
    https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/plankton-policy

    Professional memberships

    Honorary Fellow – Plymouth Marine Laboratory (2023- present)  Defra Senior Policy Fellow – Marine (2019) To develop and apply a systems approach framework across Defra Marine.Plankton and Policy Research Group PI (2015 – present)
    British Ecological Society Brexit Policy Working Group(2017 – present)
    Defra Network of Evidence Experts(2017 – present)
    Fellow of the Higher Education Academy(2016 – present)
    Defra/HBDSEG Marine Strategy Framework Directive Implementation Group Chair. Leading the UK’s implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive for pelagic habitats (2011 – present)
    OSPAR’s Intersessional Correspondence Group on Coordinated Biodiversity Assessment and MonitoringImplementation Group Chair. Leading Europe’s implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive for pelagic habitats (2012 – present)
    HBDSEGHealthy and Biologically Diverse Seas Evidence Group. Pelagic lead. (2009 – present)
    Defra Marine Ecosystem Health Working Group (2010 – present)
    Challenger Society Marine Science and Policy Special Interest GroupCo-founder and co-chair. (2015 –2018)
    British Ecological SocietyMember (2016 – present)
    Marine Biological AssociationMember (2015 – present)
    ICES Working Group on Biodiversity Science Member (2014 – present)
    Celtic Seas Partnership Food Web Task GroupMember (2014 – 2016)
    Challenger Society for Marine ScienceElected Council member- communications portfolio (2012 – 2016)
    SCOR 137Working Group on Global Coastal Phytoplankton Time-series (2010 – 2015)
    Project Advisor - INTERREG ISECA(Information System on the Eutrophication of our Coastal Areas) (2012 – 2014)
    University of Miami Marine Mammal Stranding Rescue Team(1996 – 2000)

    Teaching interests

    I am the programme lead for MSc Marine Conservation t at the University of Plymouth. I love teaching and I try to encourage my students to see why plankton are key ecosystem indicators, to develop an understanding of the practical policy process, and to understand how and why scientific research should be applied and used in a policy and conservation context.
    Degree programs:  Undergraduate modules: 
    • OS205 Human impacts on marine ecosystems
    • OS307 Conservation, Policy, and Planning
    • OS313 Marine Conservation Residential Field Trip - Scientific diving, Bali
     Masters modules: 
    • MAR532 Marine Conservation Practice
    • MAR533 Marine Conservation Project
    • MBIO505: Marine Conservation Theory

    Additional information

    Training: 2023        • First Aid at Work • PADI Oxygen Administration • PADI Rescue Diver • HSE Professional Scuba 2020        • Social Science for Conservation (Human Nature) 2018
    • Science media training (NERC-British Science Association)
    2017
    • Impact training (NERC)
    • Internal examiners training (Plymouth University)
    2016
    • Outdoor first aid
    2015
    • Challenge of Science Leadership (Barefoot Learning)
    • Innovation training (NERC)
    2013
    • Climate Change in the Media (Talk Action)
    • Effective Supervision (Plymouth University)
    2009
    • Line Management Training (Carol Carpenter Training)
    2008
    • FP6 Sesame Statistics Summer School (Highland Statistics)
    • CPR plankton taxonomic analysis (SAHFOS)
    Media engagements: 2023   2022        • TEDx talk: The Breath-Giving Beauty of Bioluminescence · “Jellyfish alert: increased sightings signal dramatic changes in ocean food web due to climate change”, The Conversation, August 2022  ·  Factcheck: Atlantic Ocean has not lost 90% of plankton o    https://today.rtl.lu/news/fact-check/a/1949415.html o    https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.32FN86H  ·  Marine Conservation Happy Hour 465: Quiz- Ocean science ·  Marine Conservation Happy Hour 466: Plankton wiped out in the North Atlantic? Is that right? 2021        Marine Conservation Happy Hour YouTube: Why you should fear the plankton Marine Conservation Happy Hour YouTube Short: Fear the plankton! • “Inside the world of tiny phytoplankton – microscopic algae that provide most of our oxygen”, The Conversation, April 2021  • “Drifting into trouble? The tiny ocean creatures with a global impact”, Oct 2021  • “Innovative plankton monitoring tool holds key to assessing health of ocean life”   2020
    “The Hunger Games for life in our warmer sea”, Western Morning News, 28 Jan 2020
    “Towards equality in ecology”, Ecology for the Masses, 10 Feb 2020
    “Study shows six decades of change in plankton communities”, Science Magazine (web), 1 April 2020
    “Study reveals climate impact on plankton”, The National (Scotland), 2 April 2020
    “Plankton changes have impacted ecosystem around UK coastline, study suggests”, Press Association, 2 April 2020
    “Plankton hit by ‘huge changes’”, The Herald, 2 April 2020
    “Shift in ocean life discovered”, The Herald (Plymouth), 4 April 2020
    “We’re plankrupt”, The Sun, 6 April 2020
    “Huge changes to UK plankton population”, Fishing News UK, 7 May 2020
    “Channeling a Bloom”, NASA Earth Observatory, 25 June 2020
    “Pictures from space bode well for life on Earth”, Western Morning News, 1 July 2020
    “NASA records large bloom of phytoplankton close to island”, Guernsey Press, 2 July 2020
    “Blooming good spring for algae”, The Times, 8 July 2020
    “Weather eye”, The Times, 8 July 2020
    2019
    ”Small boats may be left high and dry after Brexit” , Western Morning News, 22 Jan 2019
    “Science research programme launched to inform Defra policy making”, WiredGov, 6 May 2019
    “Defra takes ‘systems thinking approach’ to pressing environmental issues”, The Water Report, 6 May 2019
    “Defra launches science research programme to inform policy-making”, AgriLand, 7 May 2019
    Invited collaborator for Phillippe Cousteau’s Earth Echo expedition ‘What’s the Catch?’ as a plankton and policy expert, August 2019
    Earth Echo Establish Our Fisheries
    Earth Echo STEM Career Close up
    “Focus on Brexit: Resigned but resolute”, Ecology for the Masses, 11 Dec 2019
    “Abigail McQuatters-Gollop: How will Brexit effect Europe’s oceans?”, Ecology for the Masses, 9 Dec 2019
    2018
    “International collaboration is essential for good of our seas”, Western Morning News, 12 Sept 2018
    2014 – present
    Curator of blog and website Plankton and Policy
    2012
    Invited guest blogger (Plankton and Policy) for Research in Action. University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science.
    Research featured in New Scientist magazine
    Featured on ‘This is what a scientist looks like’ blog about breaking down science stereotypes
    2011
    Interview by Louie Psihoyos, director, for his documentary film Racing Extinction. Additional skills:  
    Science-policy communication: Active participant in science-policy knowledge exchange at the UK, European, and international scales. I excel at translating science into a format useful to policy-makers and at guiding scientists to apply their research to the policy process. I run the blog and website Plankton and Policy, which is followed by ICES, OSPAR, DG MARE and MBARI
    http://planktonpolicy.org/
    Spatial analysis: Exceptional cartographic, GIS and geostatistical analysis skills using ArcGIS, ArcView, ArcInfo, and Surfer.
    Taxonomy:Trained in phyto and zooplankton identification and analysis.
    Languages:I am an intermediate Spanish speaker and an advanced-beginner Japanese speaker.

    Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

    In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

    • SDG 2 - Zero Hunger
    • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    • SDG 4 - Quality Education
    • SDG 5 - Gender Equality
    • SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation
    • SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth
    • SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
    • SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
    • SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
    • SDG 13 - Climate Action
    • SDG 14 - Life Below Water
    • SDG 15 - Life on Land
    • SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals

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