The NOC provides public benefit, as part of a global endeavour, by contributing to the advancement of scientific knowledge of the ocean, which is both a public good in its own right and can lead to applications which result directly or indirectly in public benefit.
We do this by:
- Undertaking research and sustained ocean observations and making results available in peer reviewed scientific journals and other media
- Ensuring publicly funded data are openly accessible
- Being an enabling hub and providing access for the entire UK scientific community to nationally-pooled research equipment, facilities and infrastructures, data and samples
- Fostering and leading national and international co-operation in ocean research
- Providing independent scientific and technical advice concerning:
- Protecting people from marine related natural hazards and accidents;
- Developing safe, sustainable human activity in the ocean environment whilst protecting the health of marine ecosystems;
- Large-scale change and variability in the ocean and its effects on society;
- Working with universities and other institutions to support education and training of scientists, engineers and marine professionals, especially at postgraduate level
- Engaging the public with the science of the ocean and its implications
- Engaging with industry and other users of research to better understand their needs for scientific evidence and measurement technologies, and to engage in how enhanced scientific knowledge and understanding can better inform their actions. If such activity falls outside of the NOC’s charitable purposes, and it can be justified as being in the best interests of the NOC to do so (for example the level of financial return), it may be routed through our trading subsidiary with profits reinvested back into our public benefit purposes.
The beneficiaries of our work are:
- Scientists, engineers, and researchers in UK universities and other research institutions, as well as internationally, including developing countries;
- Those with responsibility for governing, managing or operating in the ocean environment and seeking to do so in a safe and sustainable way informed by scientific evidence
- Public in the UK and worldwide – by improving knowledge of the ocean and how it influences and is influenced by people – through inspiring, informing and educating
- Young people and students with an interest in science, engineering and the ocean, whether as a career choice or more generally.