London, 6 January 2026 – The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project is delighted to announce a new partnership with the University of Plymouth, a global leader in marine and maritime education and research.
The University will actively contribute to Seabed 2030’s goal of inspiring a complete map of the world’s ocean through various initiatives, including the contribution of new bathymetric data and satellite-derived bathymetry.
The partnership will also see advances in research and innovation in the fields of hydrography, autonomy and remote sensing in order to improve seafloor mapping efforts. Additionally, it supports the University’s commitment to training the next generation of hydrographers and seafloor mappers through its esteemed BSc Ocean Exploration and Surveying and MSc Hydrography programmes.
Seabed 2030 is a collaborative project between The Nippon Foundation and the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO), which seeks to accelerate the complete mapping of the world’s ocean by 2030, and to compile all the data into the freely available GEBCO Ocean Map. The Project is formally endorsed as a Decade Action of the UN Ocean Decade. GEBCO is a joint programme of the IHO and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), and is the only organisation with a mandate to map the entire ocean floor.
Commenting on the partnership, Jamie McMichael-Phillips, Project Director of Seabed 2030, said: “We are delighted to welcome the University of Plymouth as a valued partner in our quest to inspire a complete map of the ocean floor. Not only will we advance scientific research, thanks to the University’s expertise in hydrography, but we’ll also inspire the next generation of ocean explorers.”
Dr Jenny Gales, Associate Professor in Hydrography and Ocean Exploration at the University of Plymouth, added: “This partnership with Seabed 2030 is a natural extension of our ongoing work to explore and understand the seafloor. By contributing our research and data we are proud to support the global effort underway to map the planet. This collaboration will also provide our students with unparalleled opportunities to engage with international initiatives, and develop the skills necessary to drive future innovations in ocean exploration.”
In addition to its academic contributions to Seabed 2030, the University of Plymouth is also working on related outreach initiatives including the development of a new Girls into Ocean Science programme, launched in October last year. This initiative aims to increase female participation in the physical sciences by engaging young women aged between 14-17 in hands-on ocean science activities, including seafloor mapping and ocean exploration.
All data collected and shared with the Seabed 2030 project will be included in the free and publicly available GEBCO global grid, contributing to the broader goal of enhancing global ocean knowledge and stewardship.
ENDS
For media inquiries contact:
Pegah Souri
external.relations@seabed2030.
Alan Williams
alan.williams@plymouth.ac.uk
For more information about the University of Plymouth click here.