In early 2011, the BIOT Science Advisory Group (BIOT SAG) was formed. However it ceased to have meetings after June 2013 and has now been effectively disbanded for reasons unknown. The FCO have not formally announced this disbandment but it no longer meets and is not consulted.
Members of the SAG
The Science Advisory Group consisted of 14 members but only a few of these attended meetings:
Chair Person - Dr David Billett - National Oceanography Centre, Southampton - Deep-sea benthos, Seamounts, Canyons
Members (in alphabetical order)
Prof Barbara Brown - Newcastle University - Emeritus Professor of Tropical Marine Biology
Prof Graeme Hays - Swansea University - Marine turtle ecology and conservation
Dr Heather Koldewey - Zoological Society of London
Prof Ken Norris - University of Reading
Prof Callum Roberts - University of York - Human impacts on marine ecosystems - marine reserves, coral reefs
Dr Carol Robinson - University of East Anglia - Reader in Ocean/Atmospheric Biogeochemistry
Prof Alex Rogers - Oxford University - Professor in Conservation Biology
Prof Charles Sheppard - BIOT Scientific and Conservation Advisor - Warwick University - coral reef ecologist
Prof Sandy Tudhope Head of School of GeoSciences; Professor of Climate Studies - Edinburgh University
Dr Phil Williamson - University of East Anglia - Science co-ordinator (NERC directed programme) marine environmental sciences
Prof Ian Wright - National Oceanography Centre, Southampton - Marine geology and submarine volcanism
Prof Philip Woodworth - National Oceanography Centre, Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory - Leader Programme 1 (Sea Levels, bottom pressures, Space Geodesy) - resigned May 2012
Dr Russell Wynn - National Oceanography Centre, Southampton
Also attending meetings was the FCO Chief Scientific Adviser
Prof Robin Grimes - Imperial College, London - Professor of Materials Physics
Purpose and objectives
To advise the Overseas Territories Directorate (OTD) of the FCO on the development and implementation of an appropriate scientific programme for BIOT, including through:
development of a scientific strategy for BIOT,
potentially facilitating the submission of grant proposals for funding scientific projects in BIOT.
Meetings
The SAG used to meet every 6 months. The first meeting was on 26 May 2011 followed by 28 Nov 2011, 26 June 2012, 3 December 2012, 24 June 2013.
Minutes of Meetings
SAG Minutes 28 Nov 2011 morning
Page last updated: 10 December 2020