Philip Boyd

My career trajectory reflects a lifelong curiosity and passion about understanding the Ocean. I left Ireland in 1978 to study in North Wales for a BSc. in Marine Biology and Oceanography and took part in my first research voyage on board the RV Prince Madog. I next commenced a PhD in Ireland that focussed on “Carbon fluxes in marine microbial ecosystems” addressing whether the microbial loop is an energy link or sink? I was able to then obtain two concurrent three-year postdoctoral positions in the decade-long Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS) working at Plymouth and Vancouver as part of UK- (Atlantic, S. Ocean) and Canadian-JGOFS (Pacific).

I transitioned to a permanent position aged 35 in New Zealand (National Institute for Water and Atmosphere) as a phytoplankton ecologist working at a Centre of Excellence with marine trace metal chemists. Four years later, this collaboration resulted in me designing and leading the SOIREE (Southern Ocean Iron RelEase Experiment) that confirmed the Iron Hypothesis (iron-limited phytoplankton stocks). During my New Zealand years, I became more involved in research leadership on the Scientific Steering Committees of major international programmes, followed by lead authorship in the AR5 IPCC report (ocean chapter).

I moved in 2013 to the new Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies, with a continued focus on the S. Ocean, IPCC, voyages, and a growing interest on the societal issues around climate mitigation and intervention.