The Convex Seascape Survey is a groundbreaking five-year initiative that aims to place the ocean at the forefront of global climate action by 2027. Spearheaded by the Blue Marine Foundation, the University of Exeter, and Convex Insurance Group Limited, this project is dedicated to understanding the ocean's role in carbon sequestration, particularly in the coastal ocean floors known as Blue Carbon habitats. The ocean has the potential to absorb vast amounts of carbon, significantly more than the atmosphere, yet there is a critical gap in our understanding of how, when, and where this process occurs, especially in the seafloor.

 

Through a combination of fieldwork and laboratory research, the Convex Seascape Survey is focused on filling this knowledge gap with reliable, open-source data. This information is vital for informing global policy and conservation efforts, ensuring that the ocean's immense potential to combat climate change is fully realised. By studying the continental shelves, the project aims to reveal how human activities impact these carbon stores and how we can better protect them for future generations.

 

Assigned by the key partners of this project, I was tasked with documenting the crucial fieldwork and research involved in this ambitious endeavour. My role is to creatively capture the scientists in action, both in the field and laboratories, with a particular focus on making an often-overlooked part of nature, mud, appear exciting and fascinating. This involves documenting dives to depths of 25–30 metres off the coast of Jersey, where the team collects mud samples from the sea floor, followed by their meticulous work in the laboratories at Falmouth University in Cornwall, UK.

 

This ongoing photo story will continue over the next three years, as I follow the fieldwork and findings both nationally and globally. The images aim not only to educate and inspire but also to bring Blue Carbon research to life, illustrating its critical importance in the fight against climate change. By sharing these stories, the Convex Seascape Survey hopes to engage the public, scientists, and policymakers alike, creating a deeper understanding of the ocean's role in mitigating climate change and driving meaningful action to protect this vital resource.