Prof Kate Hendry is a chemical oceanographer and marine biogeochemist in the Polar Oceans Team of the British Antarctic Survey, and an honorary professor at the University of Bristol. Her research interests surround the impact on marine nutrient cycling of climate change in the polar regions.

Kate has published over 90 papers in international journals, and has won almost £5M in grant funding as Principal Investigator, and collaborated on several other national and international projects. She led the European Research Council funded project, ICY-LAB, investigating nutrient cycling in glaciated margins off Southwest Greenland, and now leads the NERC Pushing the Frontiers grant, SiCLING and co-leads work packages for PRESCIENT, BIOPOLE and POLOMINTS. She was a member of the Changing Arctic Ocean program, as part of the Changing Arctic Ocean Seafloor project (ChAOS). She won the Geological Society of London Bigsby Medal in 2025 for services to geosciences, the EAG Houtermans medal in 2016, and a Challenger Society fellowship in 2012.

Kate is Chair of Antarctic Science Ltd, which runs the journal Antarctic Science, and the Antarctic Science International Bursary Scheme. She is vice chair of the UK Arctic and Antarctic Partnership, and is the geosciences representative for the UK National Committee for Antarctic Research (UKNCAR). She is honorary secretary of the Challenger Society for Marine Science. She has a keen interest in reducing the carbon footprint of oceanographic research, and was a work package lead for the Net Zero Oceanography Capability team.

Kate has a keen interest in multidisciplinary research, especially in working with researchers across social sciences and the humanities on perceptions of the sea. She also established on the Challenger Society for Marine Science Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity and Accessibility working group, and is a member of the Diversity in UK Polar Science Initiative committee.

Research interests

• Nutrient cycling in polar regions
• Biogeochemical-ocean-climate feedbacks
• Global biogeochemical cycling of silicon
• Use of non-traditional stable isotopes for environmental geosciences applications
• Biogeochemical sensors and autonomous platforms

Selected recent publications:

• Beaton, A. D., Hendry, K. R., Hatton, J. E., Patey, M. D., Mowlem, M., Clinton‐Bailey, G., … & Meire, L. (2025). High‐resolution sensors reveal nitrate and dissolved silica dynamics in an Arctic fjord. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, 130(3), e2024JG008523.
• Wang, T., Ng, H. C., Hatton, J. E., Hammond, S. J., Woodward, E. M. S., Meire, L., & Hendry, K. R. (2024). Silicon isotopes reveal the impact of fjordic processes on the transport of reactive silicon from glaciers to coastal regions. Chemical Geology, 670, 122403.
• Ng, H. C., Hendry, K. R., Ward, R., Woodward, E. M. S., Leng, M. J., Pickering, R. A., & Krause, J. W. (2024). Detrital input sustains diatom production off a glaciated Arctic coast. Geophysical Research Letters, 51(12).
• Hendry, K. R., Pryer, H., Bates, S. L., Mienis, F., & Xavier, J. R. (2024). Spicule morphology impacts stable silicon isotopic composition of sponge archives. Geochemical Perspective Letters, 30, 57-63.
• Hendry, K.R., Hewit, N. (2023) Storytelling, exploration and science at the end of the world. Antarctic Science, 35. 161-164. 10.1017/S0954102023000184.
• Hatton, J. E., Ng, H. C., Meire, L., Woodward, E. M. S., Leng, M. J., Coath, C. D., … & Hendry, K. R. (2023). Silicon isotopes highlight the role of glaciated fjords in modifying coastal waters. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, 128(7).
• Ng, H-C., Hawkings, J.R, Bertrand, S. …. Hendry, K.R. (2022) Benthic dissolved silicon and iron cycling at glaciated Patagonian fjord heads. Global Biogeochemical Cycles. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GB007493.
• Sales de Freitas, F., Arndt, S., Hendry, K., Faust, J., Tessin, A., & März, C. (2022). Benthic Organic Matter Transformation Drives pH and Carbonate Chemistry in Arctic Marine Sediments. Global Biogeochemical Cycles. e2021GB007187.
• Ward, J.P.J., Hendry, K. R., Arndt, S., et al. (2022). Stable Silicon Isotopes Uncover a Mineralogical Control on the Benthic Silicon Cycle in the Arctic Barents Sea. Geochim. Cosmochim. Act., doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2022.05.005.
• Hendry, K. R., Briggs, N., Henson, S., et al. (2021). Tracing glacial meltwater from the Greenland Ice Sheet to the ocean using gliders. JGR Oceans, e2021JC017274.
• Faust, J. C., Tessin, A., Fisher, B. J., Zindorf, M., Papadaki, S., Hendry, K. R., … & März, C. (2021). Millennial scale persistence of organic carbon bound to iron in Arctic marine sediments. Nature communications. 12(1), 1-9
• Cassarino, L., Hendry, K. R., Henley, S. F., et al. (2020). Sedimentary nutrient supply in productive hotspots off the West Antarctic Peninsula revealed by silicon isotopes. Global Biogeochemical Cycles. e2019GB006486
• Pryer, H. V., Hawkings, J. R., Wadham, J. L., Robinson, L. F., Hendry, K. R., Hatton, J. E., et al. (2020). The Influence of Glacial Cover on Riverine Silicon and Iron Exports in Chilean Patagonia. Global Biogeochemical Cycles. 34(12), e2020GB006611
• Pryer, H., Hatton, J. E., Wadham, J. L., Hawkings, J. R…. & Hendry, K. R. (2020). The Effects of Glacial Cover on Riverine Silicon Isotope Compositions in Chilean Patagonia. Frontiers in Earth Science. 8:368.
• Sales de Freitas, F., Hendry, K. R., Henley, S. F., Faust, J. C., Tessin, A. C., Stevenson, M. A., et al. (2020). Benthic-pelagic coupling in the Barents Sea: an integrated data-model framework. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A. 378(2181), 20190359
• Hatton, J., Hendry, K. R., Hirst, C., Opfergelt, S., Henkel, S., Welch, S., et al. (2020). Silicon isotopic composition of dry and wet-based glaciers in Antarctica. Frontiers in Earth Science. 8, 286.
• Pickering, R. A., Cassarino, L., Hendry, K. R., et al. (2020). Using Stable Isotopes to Disentangle Marine Sedimentary Signals in Reactive Silicon Pools. Geophysical Research Letters. 47(15), e2020GL087877
• Ng, H-C., Cassarino, L.C., Pickering, R.A., Woodward, E.M.S., Hendry, K.R. (2020) Sediment efflux of silicon off coastal Greenland and implications for the marine silicon cycle. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 529, 115877.
• Hatton, J.R., Hendry, K.R., et al. (2019) Investigation of subglacial weathering under Greenland Ice Sheet using silicon isotopes. Cosmochim. Act. 247, 191-206.
• Hendry, K.R. et al. (2019) Tracing the biogeochemical pathway of glacial meltwater from Southwest Greenland. Progress in Oceanography. 102126.

Publications from NERC Open Research Archive

1. Creating Standards for Climate Experiments

   Eco-ICE studies whether making Arctic sea ice thicker could harm ocean life and creates tools to help decision-makers work out if climate projects are safe.

   Read more of: Creating Standards for Climate Experiments

   

2. Investigating mixotrophy in Antarctic cycles

   MACS looks at Antarctica’s rapidly changing seasonal sea ice. As the planet warms microalgae growing in ice and water are affected and this, in turn, affects our climate system.

   Read more of: Investigating mixotrophy in Antarctic cycles

   

3. Polar Ocean Mixing by Internal Tsunamis

   POLOMINTS investigates how glacier calving triggers internal tsunamis, reshaping polar ocean mixing and influencing climate, ecosystems, and carbon cycling.

   Read more of: Polar Ocean Mixing by Internal Tsunamis

   

4. PRESCIENT

   PRESCIENT supports long-term, strategically important measurements and capabilities for the wider science community.

   Read more of: PRESCIENT

   

5. Silicon cycling in glaciated environments

   SiCLING studies how silicon cycles in Arctic and Antarctic glacial environments and how these cycles affect marine ecosystems and carbon flow.

   Read more of: Silicon cycling in glaciated environments

   

6. Biogeochemical processes in polar ecosystems

   BIOPOLE studies how climate change is affecting the release of nutrients from the polar regions, and their redistribution around the world’s oceans.

   Read more of: Biogeochemical processes in polar ecosystems

   

1. Can glaciers feed the ocean?

   You might imagine glaciers as vast, cold, and lifeless rivers of ice, but they’re far more dynamic and alive than we once thought.

   Read more of: Can glaciers feed the ocean?

   

2. Six things we learnt on the Polar Science Trials

   The polar science trials cruise is over, everyone has travelled home (or are off on their next adventure), and now it’s time to reflect on a successful expedition. Thanks to […]

   Read more of: Six things we learnt on the Polar Science Trials

   

1. Underwater robotic gliders provide new insights into the impact of a melting megaberg

   Scientists have collected measurements close to a giant iceberg, giving an unprecedented window into the impact of meltwater on the surrounding Southern Ocean and ecosystem.

   Read more of: Underwater robotic gliders provide new insights into the impact of a melting megaberg

   

2. Join us for an ‘Antarctic Adventure’ – A family talk by a polar scientist at Cambridge Festival 2025

   Come along to ‘Antarctic Adventure – Explore the Frozen Frontier’ – a talk aimed at anyone over 7 years old by British Antarctic Survey polar scientist Kate Hendry and marine […]

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3. BAS scientist awarded Geological Society Medal

   Congratulations to Professor Kate Hendry who has been awarded The Geological Society’s Bigsby Medal for eminent services to geology.

   Read more of: BAS scientist awarded Geological Society Medal

   

4. Underwater tsunamis focus of new study

   An international research team, led by British Antarctic Survey (BAS), has been awarded £3.7M to advance a ground-breaking study on how underwater tsunamis are triggered by glacier calving around Antarctica.

   Read more of: Underwater tsunamis focus of new study

   

5. Building diversity, equity, and inclusion in ocean science

   A special issue of the journal Oceanography has shone a spotlight on the collaborative FindAScienceBerth project, inspiring people and institutions to make positive change towards increasing diversity.

   Read more of: Building diversity, equity, and inclusion in ocean science

   

6. BAS science funded by Pushing the Frontiers scheme

   Natural Environment Research Council’s pioneering Pushing the Frontiers scheme has funded four projects led by scientists from British Antarctic Survey (BAS). The projects, which received grants totaling £3.8m, are part […]

   Read more of: BAS science funded by Pushing the Frontiers scheme

   

7. RRS Sir David Attenborough begins polar science trials

   The UK’s new polar ship RRS Sir David Attenborough begins its polar science trials in Antarctica this week. A team of 30 national and international scientists, engineers and technical staff […]

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