The Southampton Oceanography Centre and the Legacy of the Challenger Expedition

摘要

The Southampton Oceanography Centre (SOC) is now open for business. Its mission is to understand the functioning of the Earth and its oceans as a physical, biological, geological and chemical system on a global scale. The SOC is a joint venture between the University of Southampton and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). In bringing together the Departments of Geology and Oceanography of Southampton University with the NERC's Institute of Oceanographic Sciences Deacon Laboratory from Wormley, and the NERC's Research Vessel Services from Barry, it offers the UK a new focus for all aspects of research, training, undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, technology and support services in marine and earth sciences, and creates a new leading centre for the marine sciences in Europe. The new centre is home to the RVS fleet of major research vessels, the RRS Discovery, Charles Darwin and Challenger. The SOC will be undertaking academic, sponsored and commissioned research, consultancy, and collaborative projects with industry, government departments and agencies worldwide. Working with the marine industry is essential to the success of the SOC, and is being encouraged through the foundation of a new company, Marinetech South Ltd, to develop existing links and encourage new joint ventures. The Marine Technology and Underwater Acoustics Group from Southampton University's Faculty of Engineering also forms a component group within the SOC.