Our Facilities | Marine Biological Association

Unlocking secrets of cephalopod behaviour with the Marine Biological Association and University of Cambridge

Nov 5, 2024Nov 4, 2024 by Neri Campbell

Cephalopods like cuttlefish have long fascinated scientists with their remarkable ability to rapidly change their outward appearance. Now researchers are on a mission to understand the inner workings of their minds. The Marine Biological Association (MBA) and the Comparative Cognition Lab at the University of Cambridge have joined forces in a groundbreaking collaboration aimed at … Read more

Advancing plankton research through new laboratory facilities

Oct 3, 2024 by Neri Campbell

The Marine Biological Association (MBA) is delighted to announce the opening of new laboratories which will further enhance vital planktonic research. The Plankton Taxonomy Laboratory is the new home of the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) Survey which is one of the world’s longest running and most geographically extensive marine ecological surveys. The Garfield Weston Foundation kindly agreed … Read more

Seawater Life Support Project Shortlisted for Two Prestigious IET Awards

Sep 23, 2024 by Neri Campbell

The collaborative Seawater Life Support Project has been shortlisted for two prestigious awards by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). These accolades are in recognition of contributions to engineering excellence and sustainability, as well as a commitment to collaborative innovation within the sector. The nominated project was undertaken for Marine Biological Association (MBA) and … Read more

Pioneering water intake line will enhance research and support flourishing marine life in Plymouth Sound

Nov 7, 2024Jun 12, 2024 by Neri Campbell

We are pleased to announce the successful deployment of the Seawater Life Support, an innovative system that connects the Marine Biological Association’s (MBA) Research Aquarium to the sea. The new 27- metre-long intake line which has a lifespan of up to 30 years, is a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution for supporting marine life in … Read more

Advancing marine biology research through collaboration

Apr 25, 2024 by Neri Campbell

The Marine Biological Association (MBA) recently hosted a collaborative meeting with researchers from the University of Exeter (UoE) to foster a deeper partnership between the two institutes. This gathering provided a great opportunity for scientists from both organisations to share their current research projects and explore potential areas for future collaboration in the field of … Read more

Marine Biological Association 140 Anniversary: A hub of marine knowledge

Apr 15, 2024 by Neri Campbell

As the Marine Biological Association (MBA) celebrates its 140th anniversary, we continue to be a leading voice in marine science and conservation, driving positive change for our ocean and the future of our planet. Our National Marine Biological Library (NMBL) is one of the largest marine reference libraries in the world. Its vast collection of … Read more

Seawater Life Support: Ambitious project to advance marine conservation and research with new water intake line

Nov 14, 2024Mar 14, 2024 by Neri Campbell

An innovative underwater intake line will not only support the flourishing marine life in Plymouth Sound, but also provide a vital channel for seawater to the Marine Biological Association (MBA). After two years of careful consideration and planning, a team of expert engineers and technicians have developed the Seawater Life Support, a new water intake … Read more

Five years of innovation supported by the Marine Business Technology Centre

Sep 11, 2023 by maya plass

Since 2018, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) provided £2.5M to the Marine Business Technology Centre (MBTC) in Devon. This has accelerated the development of marine innovation. It was originally introduced to provide support for businesses in Devon and Plymouth to develop and test new marine technology and thereby support long-term innovation and growth in … Read more

Sharing the history of the MBA – archive records now online

Aug 2, 2023 by Neri Campbell

Having been established nearly 140 years ago, the Marine Biological Association (MBA) has accumulated a considerable amount of archive material. Now for the first time, the MBA Archive is available to view online. If you’re looking for historic research papers on a particular topic, correspondence between former scientists or documents on a specific species that … Read more

Official opening of the Marine Microbiome Centre of Excellence

Oct 12, 2023Jun 27, 2023 by Neri Campbell

New, state of the art laboratory facilities were officially opened at the Marine Biological Association (MBA) which will focus on the vast and varied microscopic world in our ocean, and help us understand its health and the impacts of climate change using world-class technology. After six months in construction, the Marine Microbiome Centre of Excellence … Read more

View our webcam