He is one of the world's most cited climate scientists and is part of the research collaboration that defined the term 'marine heatwave', but after 35 years at SAMS Prof. Mike Burrows is sailing into retirement.

In this special episode, host Euan Paterson sits down with Prof. Burrows to find out how his research has been guided by the theme of climate change and why ocean temperature is changing the distribution of marine species.

We also hear a confession of how he almost lost a new company vehicle while on fieldwork and the surprising influence that the movie Jaws had on his career choice...

The Ocean Explorer podcast is produced by the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), an ocean research charity and partner of UHI based in Oban.
In each episode, we take a deep dive into marine science topics with SAMS scientists and special guests.
Interested in working or studying with us, or helping with our work? Visit www.sams.ac.uk to find out more.

You might not have heard of The Ellett Line, but it's one of the most important and influential projects in ocean science today.

A series of data points in the Atlantic between Scotland and Iceland, The Ellett Line is visited by a research ship every two years to collect data from equipment at each of these points.

More than 50 years since it was established, The Ellett Line has given scientists a foundation of knowledge and a unique insight into how large scale ocean currents are affected by climate change and other factors. This in turn has improved climate and weather forecasting and helped oceanographers studying Atlantic and Arctic waters to answer some of the biggest questions in marine science today.

In this episode, recorded during the Ocean Sciences Meeting in Glasgow, guests Prof. Mark Inall of SAMS and Prof. Penny Holliday of the National Oceanography Centre discuss their own histories with The Ellett Line, what its future may hold - and what it's like being on a research ship in 30-metre waves!

The Ocean Explorer podcast is produced by the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), an ocean research charity and partner of UHI based in Oban.
In each episode, we take a deep dive into marine science topics with SAMS scientists and special guests.
Interested in working or studying with us, or helping with our work? Visit www.sams.ac.uk to find out more.

In a very special episode of the SAMS Ocean Explorer podcast, recorded at the Ocean Sciences Meeting 2026 in Glasgow, we discuss the current state of ocean research as it navigates reductions in funding while facing an urgent demand for new knowledge.

We explore the impact of U.S. federal government cuts to environmental science and ask: Can scientists be political? What actions are needed to address the challenges of climate change? What might the future hold for ocean science? And, is Scotland really the centre of the oceanographic universe..?!

Our guests are two leading figures in global marine science:

Janice Lachance is Chief Executive and Director of the American Geophysical Union, a U.S. based international community supporting more than half a million advocates and professionals in the Earth and space sciences. She has previously held senior roles in the U.S. Government.

Deborah Bronk is President and CEO of Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences and has served in a number of senior roles across marine science. In 2020, she was recognized as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, for her substantial research advances on the marine nitrogen cycle and for her leadership in the ocean science research community.

The Ocean Explorer podcast is produced by the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), an ocean research charity and partner of UHI based in Oban.
In each episode, we take a deep dive into marine science topics with SAMS scientists and special guests.
Interested in working or studying with us, or helping with our work? Visit www.sams.ac.uk to find out more.