Zooplankton Ecologist
RRS Sir David Attenborough
RRS Sir David Attenborough
- Occupied
- Autumn 2020 onwards
- Staff
- Summer: 90, Winter: 90
British Antarctic Survey (BAS) operates the Royal Research Ship (RRS) Sir David Attenborough (SDA), a state-of-the-art polar science ship.
RRS Sir David Attenborough provides access to remote and challenging marine environments across the Antarctic and Arctic regions. It is equipped with a suite of scientific and operational facilities for understanding the polar oceans and their role in Earth’s ecosystem.
Science capability
Research using RRS Sir David Attenborough includes:
- investigations into the stability of Greenlandic ice shelves
- the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems
- the biogeochemical cycles of the Southern Ocean.
These research expeditions involve international collaborations and contribute significantly to the world’s understanding of the polar regions and their role in the global climate system.
RRS Sir David Attenborough provides a floating laboratory for science at sea, allowing our researchers to collect data and conduct experiments in situ. This direct access to the polar environment is essential for understanding complex processes and the impacts of environmental change.

RRS Sir David Attenborough (Credit: Simeon Anastasov)
Scientists from many disciplines and organisations collaborate on board RRS Sir David Attenborough. Carrying out different kinds of research on board at the same time – from geology to marine biology, to atmospheric science – provides more holistic answers to scientific questions. The ship’s ability to deploy a range of scientific instruments and support diverse research activities makes it an invaluable asset for the global polar science community.
Research systems
On board RRS Sir David Attenborough, scientists can make use of a range of research in oceanography, marine biology, glaciology and atmospheric science.
The ship’s scientific instruments include:
- A moonpool – a 4x4m vertical hole running through the vessel, open to the air and the sea, that allows scientists to deploy scientific instruments, even in rough weather or icy seas
- Net trawl sledge systems – allowing scientists to collect samples from the seabed.
- An array of acoustic instruments for mapping the seafloor, studying marine mammals, and investigating ocean currents and mixing.
- The science boat Erebus, kitted out with acoustic sampling equipment and a small winch, allows scientists to carry out research in shallow, inshore waters.
- Biosciences facilities – onboard laboratories for analysing samples, and experimentation. Immediate analysis preserves the samples improving research findings.
- Remotely operated autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) which collect data in areas the ship can’t go.
The ship has more than 750m2 of laboratory space, and room for 18 ‘plug and play’ scientific containers. This means scientists can set the ship up to support a wide range of scientific research.

The moonpool that allows scientists to deploy scientific instruments, even in icy seas
Operational role
Beyond its scientific capabilities, RRS Sir David Attenborough is also equipped with advanced operational facilities that ensure its effectiveness and safety in polar environments.
These include:
- helideck and hangar for helicopters
- multiple cranes for handling cargo
- ice-breaking capabilities allowing the ship to navigate sea ice
- a small workboat, Terror
- advanced navigation and communication systems

The crew of RRS Sir David Attenborough view the A23 iceberg from the helideck
Virtual Tour of SDA
Step aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough – one of the world’s most advanced polar research ships. Explore the vessel that’s helping unlock the secrets of Earth’s poles. 
Purpose
RRS Sir David Attenborough provides UK polar researchers and their international collaborators with a state-of-the-art multi-disciplinary research platform to study the ocean, seafloor, ice and atmosphere.
It’s critical that we understand the role that the polar oceans play in our changing world. The Southern Ocean in particular has the sparsest data coverage of any of the world’s major oceans due to its remoteness and inhospitable nature. RRS Sir David Attenborough plays an important role in improving our knowledge of key polar atmospheric and oceanic processes, which regulate our climate. She is also enhancing our knowledge of the Southern Ocean ecosystem, essential for conserving and managing Antarctica’s species and biological resources.
International studies focusing on the changing Arctic are also being enhanced by this new facility. The ship enables scientists to investigate the impact that physical and biological changes in the Arctic environment will have on Arctic and non-Arctic countries alike.
At both poles, researchers can carry out marine geophysical and geological investigations to map and date glacial landforms and sediments on the seafloor to reconstruct past environments. This is fundamental for helping predict how the polar regions may respond to future climate change and contribute to global sea-level rise.
Scientific activities:
- Atmospheric science
- Biological Oceanography
- Chemical Oceanography (Biogeochemistry)
- Physical Oceanography
- Marine Geophysics
- Marine Geology
Scientific facilities
- Reconfigurable laboratory space to meet evolving science needs over the lifetime of the vessel, with docking stations for containerised laboratories for additional flexibility
- Computing and communication facilities to enable seamless collection, processing, storage and real-time transmission of scientific data
- Enhanced deck facilities including science hangar, winches and a moon-pool for flexible and reliable deployment and retrieval of scientific equipment such as remotely operated vehicles and autonomous underwater vehicles, even in rough weather and in pack ice
- Small boats and diving facilities to enable sampling in shallow coastal areas and under pack ice
- Helideck and hangar for two small helicopters to assist with the deployment of airborne scientific instruments and scientific field parties
- Sophisticated environmental sensor systems to continuously monitor atmosphere, water-column and seabed conditions
- Rock drills and sediment corers to collect seafloor samples offering valuable insights into past environmental conditions
- Seismic systems to examine the structure and evolution of the seafloor
Next-generation technologies
- Capability to deploy, operate and control large numbers of remotely piloted science instruments at the same time
- Robotic submarines and marine gliders will collect data on ocean conditions and marine biology and deliver it to scientists working in the ship’s on-board laboratories
- Airborne robots and on-board environmental monitoring systems will provide detailed information on the surrounding polar environment
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Ship is named with royal ceremony
Read more of: Ship is named with royal ceremonyThe UK’s new polar research ship is formally named the RRS Sir David Attenborough today [Thursday 26 September] by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. In their first engagement of […]
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Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to attend Naming Ceremony of New Polar Ship
Read more of: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to attend Naming Ceremony of New Polar ShipThe Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Sir David Attenborough will attend the Royal Ceremonial Naming of the New Polar Research Ship at the Cammell Laird shipyard on Thursday 26 […]
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First Antarctic construction season success
Read more of: First Antarctic construction season successANTARCTICA: At the onset of the Antarctic winter British Antarctic Survey’s (BAS) Rothera Research Station bids farewell to 50 construction workers. They have spent the last six months building the […]
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New polar ship takes to water once again
Read more of: New polar ship takes to water once againNew polar ship takes to the water once again
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Update – new polar ship superstructure lifted onto hull
Read more of: Update – new polar ship superstructure lifted onto hullBIRKENHEAD. The superstructure of the new polar research ship for Britain, the RRS Sir David Attenborough, is now on top of the hull. Following the launch of the RRS Sir […]
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State of the Polar Oceans report published
Read more of: State of the Polar Oceans report publishedReport published July 2018
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Launch of RRS Sir David Attenborough – in pictures
Read more of: Launch of RRS Sir David Attenborough – in picturesThe majestic red hull of the RRS Sir David Attenborough glided in the River Mersey on Saturday 14 July. The launch button was pressed by the naturalist and broadcaster Sir […]
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New polar research ship makes a ‘splash’
Read more of: New polar research ship makes a ‘splash’RRS Sir David Attenborough hull launch into River Mersey 14 July Update 20 July 2018 – watch video of launch A major milestone in the build of the UK’s state-of-the-art […]
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Call for Arctic ship-based research proposals
Read more of: Call for Arctic ship-based research proposalsDeadline for proposals 5 July 2018
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Working together to make the Arctic more accessible for science
Read more of: Working together to make the Arctic more accessible for scienceFifteen research institutes from around the world, including British Antarctic Survey, have joined forces to allow scientists access to their polar ships to carry out marine-based research in the Arctic. […]
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Year of Engineering 2018
Read more of: Year of Engineering 2018Take a closer look at Engineering in BAS
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The RRS Sir David Attenborough in the virtual wind tunnel
Read more of: The RRS Sir David Attenborough in the virtual wind tunnelThe RRS Sir David Attenborough (SDA) just got another step closer to completion as the Hamburg Ship Model Basin (HSVA) investigated the aerodynamic performance of Britain’s new polar research vessel using a computer generated ‘virtual wind tunnel’
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Milestone in construction of RRS Sir David Attenborough
Read more of: Milestone in construction of RRS Sir David AttenboroughRolls-Royce is marking a major milestone on the journey towards the completion of Britain’s new polar research vessel the RRS Sir David Attenborough being built by Merseyside shipyard Cammell Laird.
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Update – polar ship stern block arrives in Birkenhead
Read more of: Update – polar ship stern block arrives in BirkenheadThe “stern section” of the new polar research ship for Britain, the RRS Sir David Attenborough, arrived at Cammell Laird’s shipyard in Birkenhead this weekend (27 August 2017). The video […]
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The first dive of Boaty McBoatface
Read more of: The first dive of Boaty McBoatfaceThe unmanned submersible Boaty McBoatface was deployed in the Antarctic for the first time.
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New polar ship reaches first construction milestone
Read more of: New polar ship reaches first construction milestoneKeel-laying ceremony at Cammell Laird
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UK’s £200m Polar Research Ship named in honour of Sir David Attenborough
Read more of: UK’s £200m Polar Research Ship named in honour of Sir David AttenboroughUK’s £200m Polar Research Ship to be named after Sir David Attenborough, days before the broadcaster’s 90th birthday “Boaty McBoatface” to live on as the name of the ship’s high-tech […]
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NEWS STORY: New polar ship contract signed
Read more of: NEWS STORY: New polar ship contract signedThe contract for the UK’s new polar research ship was signed NERC’s Chief Operating Office Paul Fox and Cammell Laird Chief Executive, John Syvret CBE on Friday 19 November 2015 […]
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NEWS STORY: New polar ship bidder selected
Read more of: NEWS STORY: New polar ship bidder selectedGovernment announces preferred bidder to build new polar ship Minister of State for Universities and Science, Jo Johnson announced today that the preferred bidder to build a new polar research […]
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NEWS STORY: Funding announced for new ship
Read more of: NEWS STORY: Funding announced for new shipNew polar research ship for UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon George Osborne MP announced this week (Friday 25 April 2014) that the Government has earmarked more than […]