Ship shape

At a time when project cuts and budget constraints are casting doubt over Britain’s scientific future, one programme that’s survived David Cameron’s axe is providing renewed hope that the UK can remain a leader in solving some of the world’s toughest problems.

The £75m replacement of the research ship Discovery has, after two years of delays, secured funding and is now set to provide British scientists with unrivalled access to the rich panorama of the deep ocean. The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) believes the vessel will usher in a new era of ocean exploration characterised by deeper waters and extreme climates; for this, it says, the ship will use cutting-edge technology.

Today, only around one per cent of the sea floor has been fully explored. That relatively small area, however, has already provided a wealth of information in areas such as natural hazards, biodiversity, and energy sources, and, crucially, it is now helping to unravel the secrets behind climate change.