Page 14: of Marine Technology Magazine (January 2024)

INSIGHTS SCIENCE RESEARCH MANAGEMENT © Who is Danny/AdobeStock

PAVING THE WAY IN INTERNATIONAL

SCIENCE RESEARCH MANAGEMENT

Dr. Eleanor Darlington, Head of Marine Facilities Programs at the National

Oceanography Centre (NOC), discusses how NOC is paving the way in international science research management through its team of industry leading experts. he National Oceanography Centre (NOC) is at the Effective Communication heart of cutting-edge marine research, from coasts to Effective communication to all stakeholders is essential for suc- deep ocean, and extending from tropical seas to the cessful delivery. This covers everything from calibration expira-

Tpolar ice edges. As operators of two global class re- tion of instruments, personnel capabilities, and budget manage- search vessels (RRS Discovery and RRS James Cook) along- ment. NOC developed the Marine Facilities Planning (MFP) tool side the National Marine Equipment Pool (NMEP), NOC is a in collaboration with colleagues at Royal Netherlands Institute leading provider of world class facilities to enable a diverse for Sea Research (NIOZ) and MAAS software engineering. This range of scienti? c research. National Marine Facilities (NMF) central web-based portal captures each request for ship time, is the largest department in NOC, with 190 employees; the equipment and handles all the contributing planning for each ex- workforce is diverse and employment opportunities span from pedition. It is the one-stop-shop to understand deliverables. It is chefs to robotics engineers. Everyone is tasked with the same also a collaboration enabler for global research expeditions. mission: to deliver world class facilities to enable world class The MFP has been adopted globally by other ocean research science. With decades of experience, NOC works with inter- institutions. This has created a shared language between op- national partners to share experience and expertise, leading the erators, and common project management practise for marine way on new developments and technological advancements. research expeditions. As a result, the user experience from the

Each research expedition and autonomous mission is unique. perspective of the scientist, is more uniform across the world.

Every year, NOC delivers a diverse, multidisciplinary pro- With academics moving institutions internationally, this can gramme of work, facilitating marine researchers from across ease transition into requesting facilities from their new coun- the UK and internationally, to undertake their novel work, all try. But most importantly, it is prompting greater international over the world. To achieve this level of operational complex- collaboration between research ship operators. The structured ity with such high success, NMF focuses on two key areas; management provided by the MFP software enables a stream- highly skilled personnel who are industry leading experts, and lined approach to the daily management, enabling our people a comprehensive project management process. to think about the longer-term strategic goals of reducing car- 14 January/February 2024

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