21st MBA Postgraduate Conference

The MBA Postgraduate Conference is an initiative started in 2002 which aims to engage with, and make a contribution to, the marine biological post-graduate and early career researcher community.  It is run for and by postgraduate students and early career researchers, providing not only a supportive environment to share their work but the event also acts as a catalyst for networking and building collaborations that often last a lifetime!

Each year a group of postgraduate students and early career researchers from an institute come together to form an organising committee and go on to create a unique event with support from the MBA.  This opportunity to gain experience of running a conference is a valuable opportunity for the selected committee and allows them to develop the skills, experience and confidence they wouldn’t otherwise get.

 

Hull Trains is an award winning, open-access train operator running up to 94 direct services a week between Hull and London King’s Cross with almost 40,000 seats available every week. Book direct for great value fares and no booking fees at www.hulltrains.co.uk

This year we're pleased to announce Hull Trains as a sponsor of the MBA Postgraduate Conference, who are offering FREE train travel to delegates and speakers.

• FREE tickets from London King's Cross (on the 11:48 22nd April and the 07:27 23rd April) to Hull, and returning from Hull to London King's Cross (17:08 and 19:08 on 25th April)
• FREE day return train tickets from London to Hull

If you would like to book a free ticket, please email MBA-2025conference@hull.ac.uk with your details and train preference and a member of the Organising Committee will be pleased to help.

 

We are the academic and Bibles publisher of Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Our internationally renowned books and journals, products and services support learning, teaching and research across higher education.   

Together with the academic community, we’re discovering possibilities and helping people across the world to unlock their potential.

The Early Career Ocean Professional (ECOP) Network Programme is established to empower ECOPs, who self-identify as being early in their career in any field related to the ocean. The Programme is at the heart of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, and it was endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade as a network program in 2021.

The Challenger Society for Marine Science is a learned society for marine scientists in the UK. It is named after the ship H.M.S. Challenger, which was used in one of the most important marine studies ever conducted.

Voices for Nature

WWF’s ocean conservation team is working to secure productive and resilient ocean ecosystems, sustaining people and nature across the world. We work with communities, partners and policymakers in 60 countries around the world to conserve and restore ocean habitats, recover marine species, promote sustainable fisheries and tackle marine pollution.

The ocean has experienced dramatic change over the past century, with fishing fleets driving declines in wild fish populations in every region of the world. The impacts of

increased fishing pressure on the ocean are compounded by habitat loss, pollution and climate change. By working together, we can turn the tide toward healthier and more productive oceans, using proven tools that allow marine species and ecosystems to recover over time, enhancing their resilience to climate change and sustaining community livelihoods. Rod will give a brief overview of our work around the world, but mostly this will be a call to action for future ocean advocates and leaders.

Rod Downie - Chief Advisor, Polar & Oceans, WWF-UK, confirmed guest speaker at this year's conference

Rod is WWF’s Chief Advisor, Polar & Oceans.  He has worked in the polar regions for about 25 years, initially at the British Antarctic Survey and for the last 13 years with WWF.

Rod has undertaken 15 field seasons in Antarctica, where he spent a total of 2½ years living and working on the ice. He has also worked in the Canadian, Russian and Norwegian Arctic. He leads a wide portfolio of science and conservation projects ranging from krill and humpback whales to polar bears and ‘Walrus from Space’.

Rod serves as an advisor to the UK Government at the Antarctic Treaty, as well as sitting on numerous scientific and technical advisory bodies. He facilitated Arctic Voices, a series of dialogues between the UK Governments and indigenous Arctic leaders. He also represents the Antarctic & Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC)  at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP meetings.

Committed to ocean sustainability, MarFishEco offers innovative, tailored and data-driven guidance to promote ecological, economic and social resilience, to enhance wild fish stock status, promoting efficiency and secuity and advancing sustainable and equitable practices around the world. 

Fisheries Research Prize - this incredible prize provides early career researchers with personalised expert guidance to help you define your research, strengthen your methodologies and navigate the complexities of marine sustainability.

The Wilder Humber project is a pioneering marine habitat restoration initiative focused on enhancing biodiversity within the Humber Estuary. Through targeted interventions, the project aims to restore critical coastal ecosystems, including seagrass meadows and native oyster reefs, while improving biodiversity monitoring and fostering stakeholder engagement.

Seagrass restoration trials have demonstrated promising results, with a 92% survival rate for transplanted seagrass after 13 weeks, supporting the viability of both transplantation and seed-based restoration approaches. Additionally, the first UK trial of remote setting for native oyster restoration at Spurn Point achieved an 18% settlement rate, positioning the project to carry out scalable oyster reef recovery efforts. A revitalised monitoring programme, developed in collaboration with research institutions, ensures efficient data collection during peak biological activity periods. Public engagement has been central to the project’s success, gaining national and international recognition through ministerial visits, media coverage, and social media outreach.

As the project evolves, strategic realignments have refined restoration methodologies and redistributed focus areas. Looking ahead, Wilder Humber aims to expand restoration efforts, enhance monitoring techniques, and strengthen partnerships to drive long-term biodiversity recovery and ecosystem resilience in the Humber Estuary.

Andy van der Schatte Olivier - confirmed guest speaker at this year's conference

Andy is the Marine Programme Manager at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, specialising in coastal management, restorative aquaculture, and ecosystem service valuation. With a background in fisheries and aquaculture, and a PhD from Bangor University, their research focuses on mitigating nutrient pollution through nature-based solutions, particularly using bivalves and kelp. Previously a Research Fellow at the University of Portsmouth, they have led multi-partner projects on nutrient remediation and stakeholder engagement. Andy has contributed to numerous high-profile projects and published on ecosystem services, and frequently presents at international conferences.