The consortium is hosted by the Department of Earth Sciences in Durham and the School of Ocean and Earth Science in Southampton at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton. Both have strong and active commitments to research. In the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) in 2001 the Department was graded 4a and is considered to be amongst the best in the UK for its size, and the School grade 5 having an international reputation for environmental and oceanographic research in particular. In the 2008 RAE both Durham and Southampton have the equivalent of grade 5 status.
The majority of the marine geophysical research in both hosts is carried out in collaboration with colleagues in either host or in other universities, with industry or with charitable organizations, with substantial programmes funded by UK government, industry, EU sources as well as local councils.
Both hosts have a vibrant undergraduate and postgraduate student community and teach a number of Master in Science, Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees, all of which offer a broad-based approach to earth science education. All of our degrees are highly regarded by both employers and prospective students and attract a high quality of intake.
The scientific and management panel of the Ocean Bottom Instrumentation Consortium consists of senior academics from Southampton and Durham universities, and the seagoing operations, and research and development activities for improving the features and performance of the instruments are supported by three dedicated engineers.
It is our intention to recruit a further Instrumentation Engineer in 2010, whose primary role will be to support sea-going data acquisition services, together with a Facility Manager, who will be responsible for the day-day management of all OBIC activities.
OBIC Management Structure
