Projects per year
Organisation profile
Organisation profile
The Scottish Association for Marine Science UHI (SAMS UHI) has been delivering independent marine science since 1884. Based in Oban, 150 staff are working for healthy and sustainably managed seas and oceans through world-class marine research, education and engagement with society.
We undertake research into all aspects of the marine system and exchange our new understanding with society, policy makers, business and the next generation, so that it can become useful and improve practices.
Science areas: SAMS science focuses on three major and urgent challenges which humankind and our natural world must face
- to discover the physical, chemical, geological and biological processes that drive the marine system so that we have the knowledge needed...
- to describe and quantify how our coastal environment, where more than half the human population resides, responds to ever-increasing man-made pressures such as climate change, habitat destruction, pollution and resource overexploitation and to work with society on developing and testing mitigation and adaptation measures and finally
- to develop a sustainable blue economy so that we can use the marine environment for the benefit of people without degrading its health and productivity.
To address these major challenges SAMS science is multi-disciplinary, drawing on the expertise from physicists, mathematicians, biologists, geologists, chemists, social scientists, computer scientists, technologists, engineers and communicators.
Ships and robotics: Coastal vessels RV Calanus and RV Seol Mara; Robotics: North Atlantic Glider Base; Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (2); Remotely Operated Vehicle; Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems; Coastal and Acoustic Drifters; UK Lander Centre; Moorings and Ocean Observatories; Polar Technology
National facilities: Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa; Scottish Marine Robotics Facility
Partners: University of the Highlands and Islands; United Nations University; Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland; Scottish Alliance for Geoscience, Environment and Society; Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
SAMS News on twitter; @SAMSoceannews
SAMS UHI current science projects
UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Our work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 1 No Poverty -
SDG 2 Zero Hunger -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 5 Gender Equality -
SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation -
SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy -
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 14 Life Below Water -
SDG 15 Life on Land -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions -
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics where SAMS UHI is active. These topic labels come from the works of this organisation's members. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Collaborations from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
Profiles
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Dmitry Aleynik
- SAMS UHI - Marine Modeller
- Energy Innovation Team
Person: Academic - Research and Teaching or Research only
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COAST-SCAPES: Rethinking Coastal Landscapes with Climate-Resilient Interventions: Systemic Land-to-Sea Solutions
Billing, S.-L. (CoI), Aleynik, D. (PI), Szewczyk, T. (CoI), Last, K. (CoI) & Dale, A. (CoI)
1/09/25 → 31/08/29
Project: Research
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GIANT: Greenland Ice sheet to AtlaNtic Tipping points from ice loss
Castro de la Guardia, L. (Researcher)
1/04/25 → 30/03/30
Project: Research
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IBMC: Global Centers: International Bioeconomy Macroalgae Center
Stanley, M. (PI), Green, D. (PI), Kumari, P. (PI), Billing, S.-L. (PI), Michalek, K. (CoI) & Veenhof, R. (Researcher)
1/01/25 → 31/12/29
Project: Research
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Abundance-based distribution modelling reveals climate-driven loss of functionally important kelp forest habitat
Eskuche-Keith, P., Sugden, H. E., Burrows, M. T., Moore, P. J., Fitzsimmons, C., Smale, D. A., Hall, B. & Stephenson, F., 31 Jul 2026, In: Journal of Environmental Management. 413, 130184.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile8 Downloads (Pure) -
A decade of continuous Rockall Trough transport observations using moorings and gliders
Burmeister, K., Jones, S. C., Fraser, N. J., Fox, A. D., Cunningham, S. A., Drysdale, L. A., Inall, M. E., Dotto, T. S. & Holliday, N. P., 16 Jan 2026, In: Ocean Science. 22, 1, p. 167-185 19 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Downloads (Pure) -
Antarctic snow algal responses to temperature: potential implications of climate change
Gonzalez, C. R., Grigg, V., Thomas, N., Thomson, A. I., MacPherson, E., Dillon, L., Gober, E., Smith, A. G., Cockell, C., Convey, P. & Davey, M. P., 1 Jun 2026, In: Sustainable Microbiology. 3, 2, 15 p., qvag023.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile4 Downloads (Pure)
Datasets
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UK Invasive Species Database
Minchin, D. (Creator), Cottier-Cook, E. (Creator) & Bishop, J. D. (Creator), DAISIE - EU Programme, 2009
http://192.171.199.232/daisie/ and one more link, https://www.gbif.org/dataset/39f36f10-559b-427f-8c86-2d28afff68ca#geographicCoverages (show fewer)
Dataset
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Dissolved nutrient samples collected in the Barents Sea during CAO cruise JR16006.
Brand, T. (Creator), Norman, L. (Contributor), Henley, S. F. (Contributor), Tuerena, R. (Contributor), Mahaffey, C. (Contributor) & Crocket, K. (Contributor), UHI Research Repository, 23 Nov 2020
DOI: 10.5285/b4c1537e-c729-6463-e053-6c86abc0c7de
Dataset
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Nitrate isotope measurements from CTD niskin depth profiles from Changing Arctic Ocean cruise JR16006 in the Barents Sea during summer 2017
Tuerena, R. (Creator) & Ganeshram, R. S. (Contributor), UHI Research Repository, 6 Nov 2020
DOI: 10.5285/b2e5007e-f3a8-429c-e053-6c86abc0ba4f, https://www.bodc.ac.uk/data/published_data_library/catalogue/10.5285/b2e5007e-f3a8-429c-e053-6c86abc0ba4f/
Dataset
Activities
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Operational experience with a winch-deployed, multi-instrument payload, in a Shetland aquaculture environment
Arthur, G. (Speaker), Whyte, C. (Speaker) & Groves, G. (Speaker)
25 Sept 2025Activity: Talk / Presentation / Podcast / Webinar › Oral presentation
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Evaluating secondary entanglement risk of marine megafauna among offshore renewables: a framework approach
Benjamins, S. (Speaker)
15 Apr 2024 → 19 Apr 2024Activity: Talk / Presentation / Podcast / Webinar › Oral presentation
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Detection of derelict creel fishing gear in Scottish waters and characterisation of whale entanglement risk
Benjamins, S. (Speaker)
4 Sept 2024Activity: Talk / Presentation / Podcast / Webinar › Oral presentation
Impacts
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Bioenergy-Technology Innovation Needs Assessment
Stanley, M. (Participant)
Impact: Public policy Impacts
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FSA Phytoplantkon Monitoring
Davidson, K. (Participant), Swan, S. (Participant) & Whyte, C. (Participant)
Impact: Economic or commercial Impacts
Student theses
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Assessing variability in eDNA metabarcoding: implications for ecological interpretation in environmental monitoring
Ashley-Wheeler, V. (Author), Wilding, T. (Supervisor) & Morrissey, B. (Supervisor), 16 Mar 2026Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Philosophy (awarded by UHI)
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Spatio-temporal variability of microplastics in sea surface waters along the west coast of Scotland
Cruz, I. B. (Author), Narayanaswamy, B. (Supervisor), 6 May 2026Student thesis: Master's Thesis › Master of Research (awarded by UHI)
File -
Shocks, Shells & Stocks: Impacts of trial electrofishing for razor clams in Scottish shallow coastal habitats
Blackman, C. V. (Author), Fox, C. (Supervisor), 23 Jun 2026Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Philosophy (awarded by UHI)
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