Tune into a live chat with Irish marine scientists to celebrate World Oceans Day next Wednesday June 8th.

The conversation will be broadcast live on the Marine Institute’s social networks – Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube – at 10:30 a.m.

Join Marine Institute scientists David O’Sullivan, Claire Moore, David Stokes and Caroline Cusack to experience what it’s like to survey our seas on Ireland’s National Marine Research Vessels.

The RV Celtic Explorer and RV Celtic Voyager are among the most widely used research vessels in the world and have played vital roles in fisheries surveys, seabed mapping and oceanographic research.

Expeditions on the RV Celtic Explorer in Irish and international waters have resulted in many exciting discoveries – from deep-sea shark nurseries and cold-water coral reefs to hydrothermal vent fields in the mid-Atlantic.

The panel of scientists will share what they enjoy about their work at sea and some of their most memorable experiences on board. They will also talk about their career path and provide advice for those interested in pursuing a marine and maritime career.

This live broadcast is part of the Marine Institute’s Oceans of Learning series, which aims to remind everyone of the important role the ocean plays in our daily lives and to inspire a new generation of ocean champions.

Learn more about the scientists participating in the live chat:

David O’Sullivan, Advanced Mapping Services
David is part of the Marine Institute’s Advanced Mapping Services team and Ireland’s national seabed mapping programme, INFOMAR. David was Chief Offshore Scientist for the SeaRover Studies (2017-2019) which mapped sensitive marine habitats at depths of up to 3,000 meters in Irish offshore territory using the Holland 1 ROV. The SeaRover Team mapped cold-water coral reefs, documented new species in Irish waters and discovered a rare shark nursery 200 miles west of Ireland.

Claire Moore, Fisheries Scientist
Claire is a fisheries conservationist and says she feels more like a detective than a biologist. She works to solve biological puzzles around the health and productivity of our oceans, bringing together valuable information collected at sea, in ports and in laboratories, to produce statistical models that inform our decisions for a sustainable future.

David Stokes, Fisheries Scientist
David is an enthusiastic fisheries scientist with over 25 years of experience collecting and analyzing data, both marine and freshwater. David has worked with the Marine Institute for the past 22 years leading the Irish Groundfish Survey program on the RV Celtic Explorer, which originally started on the RV Celtic Voyager combined with commercial charter fishing vessels.

Caroline Cusack, biological oceanographer
Caroline leads the Marine Institute’s annual ocean climate survey on the RV Celtic Explorer. She is also involved in ocean observation projects that monitor the health of our ocean. Recently, she has conducted research related to the development of marine ecosystem climate services.