Show Notes
It's all contained within a yellow case, the size of a small suitcase, but the SIMBA instrument is revolutionising the way scientists measure ice melt rate and thickness and, more recently, how they assess avalanche and flood risk. SIMBA, or Snow Ice Mass Balance Apparatus, is developed and built by SAMS Enterprise and now has a number of applications. The research and development into this technology, spearheaded by senior engineer Phill Thompson, has seen it been deployed by avalanche fore...
More from SAMS Ocean Explorer
Seaweeds have been on our planet for 1.6 billion years and are a nursery ground and haven for so many marines creatures. The crop also supports the livelihoods of more than six million seaweed farmers throughout parts of Asia and Africa. However, threats brought on by the effects of climate change mean many seaweed species are feeling the heat - quite literally - and even face the risk of extinction. In this episode of the SAMS Ocean Explorer podcast, Profs. Elizabeth Cottier-Cook of SAMS and...
We're sadly all too familiar with the terms 'pollution' and 'climate crisis' when it comes to talking about the natural world. But what about the 'biodiversity crisis'? All around the world, we humans are making our mark in an often harmful way, placing a strain on other species. From deforestation to extinctions and the introduction of non-native invasive species, there's a lot to consider. So, why has the current situation been labelled a 'crisis' and what can be done about it? In thi...
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...
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 affec...
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 Scotl...