The BBC’s much-anticipated television series Blue Planet II debuts this Sunday, 29 October, providing the perfect opportunity for the University to engage a wide-ranging audience in our marine and ocean science activities and expertise.
Dr Jon Copley, Associate Professor in Ocean Exploration & Public Engagement, and Dr Cathy Lucas, Associate Professor in Marine Biology – both Southampton graduates – are amongst the many experts from around the world to directly contribute to the series. Dr Copley will also share his expertise across a range of media in the coming weeks including a weekly podcast on the BBC Earth website and a new radio series on the world’s oceans due for broadcast on the BBC World Service from November.
Dr Copley believes this series will move people to care about the state of the oceans. “Blue Planet II immerses us in the wonder of the ocean more than ever before,” he said. “The previous Blue Planet inspired many students to study marine biology, so it’s been great to contribute to this series, and I hope that it will move us to think deep for our future.”
To mark the series, we’re opening a new blog to share the views and experiences of our students who were inspired by the original Blue Planet series, first broadcast in 2001, and are now ‘living the dream’ as students in Southampton. The blog will also feature the views of our academics who will review each episode during and after the weekly broadcasts and relate the contents of the programme to the University’s own activities in marine and ocean science.
During each episode, join in the conversation, please visit and follow the University (@unisouthampton) and Ocean and Earth Science (@OceanEarthUoS) Twitter accounts using the hashtag #BluePlanet2.
And if Blue Planet II inspires you, there’s an opportunity to join our highly successful free online four-week course and begin ‘Exploring the Oceans’ yourself from Monday, 30 October.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Christopher Snowden, said:
“It’s exciting to know that the University of Southampton has played a part in assisting the BBC in creating Blue Planet II which promises to be another pioneering series which comes at a crucial time for our world’s oceans. I would encourage you to engage in the wide range of activities the University has planned over the coming weeks to share our educational opportunities and research expertise as this fascinating series unfolds in the weeks to come.”
