Hannah Ladd-Jones

When I started working at the University of St Andrews as a Project Manager for an EU funded fisheries research project, I realised how fulfilling it was to talk about marine science to different audiences, making the topic of discussion more accessible and highlighting to audiences what happens in the ocean is important. My previous role and experience with Cell Block Science (I took marine science activities and prepared specimens into a prison!) really captured my imagination about how one can communicate about marine science to the public, including those in policy and industry. Drawing upon interdisciplinary science to encourage evidence-based action for ocean sustainability by co-ordinating events and communicating about marine topics has been a lot of fun!I am currently the Engagement Officer for the Scottish research pool Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland (MASTS) and Project Assistant to the People Ocean Planet (POP) project. MASTS is an umbrella and membership organisation for the vast majority of Scotland’s marine science capacity, meaning my work engages diverse and numerous marine researchers, practitioners and policy professionals in developing exciting outreach about marine science. This has a synergy with POP, creating initiatives to drive behavioural change across society, tackling major threats to the ocean, bringing about positive and lasting behavioural changes that will reduce and reverse the decline of marine ecosystems and wildlife. Topics close to my heart are fisheries, climate change and marine education/communication.