NIOZ 150 Colloquium Series: Exploring the Future of Ocean Science

Michelle L. Taylor, Ocean Census and University of Essex

Dr. Michelle Taylor is a marine geneticist, Head of Science at Ocean Census and Senior Lecturer at the University of Essex. Her research focuses on the ecology, connectivity, phylogenetics, and conservation of vulnerable marine habitats, with experience in shallow-water and deep cold-water corals, mangroves, and seagrass ecosystems. Using field expeditions, molecular tools, and ecological analyses, her work explores how species adapt to (extreme) environments, what drives biodiversity, and how human activities and climate change affect these ecosystems. The mission of Ocean Census is to accelerate the discovery of marine species and improve our understanding of ocean biodiversity. It is the largest global initiative to discover and document ocean life, using advanced technology, international collaboration, and open-access data sharing.

About the talk

Accelerating Ocean Biodiversity Discovery: From Exploration to Conservation

Much of the ocean’s biodiversity remains unknown to science, limiting our ability to understand and manage ecosystems facing rapid environmental change and growing human pressures. Species discovery remains constrained by challenges ranging from accessing poorly sampled environments to limited taxonomic capacity and the time required to identify and describe new species. Ocean Census is a global programme working to overcome these barriers and accelerate the discovery of ocean life. This talk will introduce its approach, from expeditions and specimen collection to collaborative taxonomy workshops that bring together expertise to identify and describe species. It will explore how international collaboration and capacity building, alongside molecular techniques, advanced imaging and digital tools, can increase the pace and scale of species discovery. Drawing on results from Ocean Census expeditions and collaborations, the talk will highlight new species discoveries and unexpected observations of ocean life. Finally, it will consider what comes after discovery, and how better knowledge of marine biodiversity and its distribution can strengthen the evidence base for ocean conservation and management. 

Practical information

• Date and time: 17 September 2026, 1 p.m.
• Programme

13:00 - 14:00 | Colloquium 

14:15 - 15:30 | Informal chat with Michelle after the colloquium

15:30 - 17:00 | Reception NIOZ hall

• Location: NIOZ, Texel.
• Open to people from outside NIOZ: yes, online and in-person, registration only.
• Registration: sign up here
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Bess B. Ward (Princeton University)

Bess B. Ward is the William J. Sinclair Professor of Geosciences at Princeton University and a leading researcher in marine microbial biogeochemistry. Her work focuses on the microbial processes that drive the marine nitrogen cycle, including nitrification, denitrification, and anaerobic ammonium oxidation. By combining field observations with molecular and biogeochemical approaches, her research has helped reveal how microbial communities regulate nitrogen availability and influence marine ecosystems and global biogeochemical cycles.

Practical information

• Date and time: 8 October 2026, more information will follow.
• Location: NIOZ, Texel
• Open to people from outside NIOZ: yes, online and in-person, registration only
• Registration: sign up here
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Please note: External visitors are kindly asked to register in advance. The registration form can be used to attend one or more colloquia either online or in person. Practical information will be shared after registration.