AI Team Lead
Polar Artificial Intelligence team
About
The Polar Artificial Intelligence team at British Antarctic Survey uses AI to tackle key challenges in the polar regions. We work with data on sea ice, wildlife, oceans and climate, finding patterns that would otherwise be impossible to detect. We also use AI to make polar research more efficient and sustainable, from planning ship routes that cut carbon emissions to deciding where to collect data in remote places.
What we do
Our work is organised into three digital facilities that move AI from research into use in polar science and operations. Each one brings together several of the projects shown in our Projects tab.
- PolarSim – AI forecasting and modelling: forecasts, digital twins and faster climate models, including sea ice forecasts.
- AI environmental image analysis: monitoring ice, oceans and wildlife by detecting features in images, from satellite data to seafloor cameras.
- Logist – AI decision support tools: planning expedition schedules, ship routes and where to place instruments, saving time, money and emissions.
We also build data pipelines that turn large, complex datasets into formats people can use.
From science to impact
Our research starts with curiosity-driven science and ends in tools that improve lives, protect the environment and support UK growth.
- Resilience to a changing climate: Nilas sea ice forecasts, trialled on the RRS Sir David Attenborough in 2025, and PolarRoute route planning make polar navigation safer.
- Decarbonisation and clean growth: Logist tools cut emissions for ships and autonomous vehicles, with the VOLT fleet planner predicted to save up to 13%.
- Healthy ecosystems: AI for smart conservation gives early warnings for Arctic wildlife, and AI-led seafloor surveys track Antarctic biodiversity.
- Understanding the whole Earth system: QUASAR makes the satellite sea ice record more reliable for climate assessments.
Machine Learning for Seasonal Sea Ice Forecasting
IceNet is a deep learning system that forecasts Arctic sea ice. The system is trained on climate simulations and observational data. It outperforms state-of-the-art dynamical models, especially for extreme sea ice events.
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Machine Learning Research Scientist
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AI Researcher in Optimisation and Planning
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Machine Learning Research Scientist
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Machine Learning Research Scientist
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PhD Student
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Machine Learning Research Scientist
Polar Artificial Intelligence team, BAS Science Strategy Executive Group
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Machine Learning Research Scientist
Polar Artificial Intelligence team, Palaeo Environments, Ice Sheets and Climate Change team
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PolarRoute – an AI routing decision support tool
Read more of: PolarRoute – an AI routing decision support toolPolarRoute – Smarter AI routes through changing polar conditions
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IceNet – Machine Learning for Seasonal Sea Ice Forecasting
Read more of: IceNet – Machine Learning for Seasonal Sea Ice ForecastingIceNet is a deep learning system that forecasts Arctic sea ice. The system is trained on climate simulations and observational data. It outperforms state-of-the-art dynamical models, especially for extreme sea ice events.
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AI for smart conservation
Read more of: AI for smart conservationThe AI for smart conservation project combines sea ice forecasts, satellite data, and GPS tracking to create early-warning systems for Arctic wildlife.
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AI for Earth Observation
Read more of: AI for Earth ObservationThe AI for Earth Observation project develops machine learning tools to detect icebergs, sea ice, and wildlife from satellite imagery.
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PolarDT – Digital Twins of the Polar Regions
Read more of: PolarDT – Digital Twins of the Polar RegionsThis project is developing digital twins of Antarctic and Arctic environments and resources. A digital twin makes it possible to test “what if” questions far more quickly than traditional computer models.
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Nilas – a new approach to sea ice forecasting
Read more of: Nilas – a new approach to sea ice forecastingNilas produces high resolution, physically realistic sea ice forecasts which outperform physical models for the 1 to 15 day range.
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QUASAR – Improving how we measure Antarctic sea ice
Read more of: QUASAR – Improving how we measure Antarctic sea iceQUASAR uses AI to improve Antarctic sea ice measurements from satellites, making climate data more reliable for scientists tracking changes in polar regions.
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Top marks for UK science as world convenes for Antarctic conference
Read more of: Top marks for UK science as world convenes for Antarctic conferenceA major new analysis has confirmed British Antarctic Survey as the world’s leading centre for Antarctic and Southern Ocean research.
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Using AI to track icebergs
Read more of: Using AI to track icebergsResearchers are using a new AI tool to detect icebergs in the Southern Ocean – the first step towards tracking the complete lifecycle of Antarctic icebergs from satellite data.
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AI tool to revolutionise polar ship navigation
Read more of: AI tool to revolutionise polar ship navigationArtificial Intelligence (AI) will enable ships navigating in polar ocean conditions to be more efficient using a new route planning tool created by British Antarctic Survey (BAS) researchers. The tool […]
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Space technology and artificial intelligence to monitor whale mass stranding events
Read more of: Space technology and artificial intelligence to monitor whale mass stranding eventsAn international team of scientists led by British Antarctic Survey have published research today on using new technology to study mass stranding of whales from space and how the technology […]
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Artificial intelligence to help predict Arctic sea ice loss
Read more of: Artificial intelligence to help predict Arctic sea ice lossA new AI (artificial intelligence) tool is set to enable scientists to more accurately forecast Arctic sea ice conditions months into the future. The improved predictions could underpin new early-warning […]
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Using AI to track whales from space
Read more of: Using AI to track whales from spaceBritish Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientists will work with an Artificial Intelligence company after being awarded a contract from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to support the protection of an endangered […]
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PhD centre will nurture new leaders in Earth observation
Read more of: PhD centre will nurture new leaders in Earth observationA new centre will enable 50 fully-funded PhD researchers to harness satellite data to tackle global environmental challenges. The Centre for Satellite Data in Environmental Science (SENSE) will bring together expertise in […]
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Using AI to help tackle global environmental challenges
Read more of: Using AI to help tackle global environmental challengesA new Centre for Doctoral Training, involving researchers from British Antarctic Survey, will develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques to address critical environmental challenges. Climate change and environmental hazards pose some […]
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Watching whales from space
Read more of: Watching whales from spaceScientists have used detailed high-resolution satellite images provided by Maxar Technologies’ DigitalGlobe, to detect, count and describe four different species of whales. Reported this week in the journal Marine Mammal […]
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Seeing double: Digital twins and net zero
Read more of: Seeing double: Digital twins and net zeroReaching net zero, as a country or a business, requires new measures, technology and innovations. Digital twins are an example of this; they can be a powerful tool to drive innovation and efficiency.
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Predicting September 2021 Arctic sea ice using artificial intelligence
Read more of: Predicting September 2021 Arctic sea ice using artificial intelligenceTom Andersson, a data scientist at British Antarctic Survey Artificial Intelligence (AI) Lab, shares the latest predictions from a new Arctic sea ice forecasting AI tool as this year’s Arctic […]
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Innovative Research Sprints Tackle Challenges in Biodiversity and Exposure
Read more of: Innovative Research Sprints Tackle Challenges in Biodiversity and ExposureOver the last decade, digital technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, developed rapidly as did our capability to monitor our home planet from space with Earth Observation satellites. How can we most […]
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Earth Day 2020: A new age of Arctic science discovery – the AI way
Read more of: Earth Day 2020: A new age of Arctic science discovery – the AI wayWhen we see news reports on climate change on our TV, they are often accompanied by footage of a polar bear walking over the icy Arctic landscape. But the Arctic […]
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Official launch of the BAS AI Lab!
Read more of: Official launch of the BAS AI Lab!Today we officially launched the BAS AI Lab – thank you everyone for coming!
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AI Lab presents at the First Artificial Intelligence for Copernicus Workshop
Read more of: AI Lab presents at the First Artificial Intelligence for Copernicus WorkshopAndrew Fleming and Anita Faul present their research at the First Artificial Intelligence for Copernicus Workshop
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Machine Learning for Environmental Sciences
Read more of: Machine Learning for Environmental SciencesRachel Furner is a PhD student at British Antarctic Survey, which has recently opened up its new AI Lab, that aims to foster the application of various machine learning (and […]
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Data Study Group: Automated monitoring of seals via high-resolution satellite imagery
Read more of: Data Study Group: Automated monitoring of seals via high-resolution satellite imageryPrem hosted at Data Study Group at the Alan Turing Institute Seals from space: automated Antarctic ecosystem monitoring via high-resolution satellite imagery Antarctic seal populations are potential indicators for the […]
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Automated clustering of storm tracks for interpreting ice core records
Read more of: Automated clustering of storm tracks for interpreting ice core recordsAccumulation in coastal West Antarctic ice core records and the role of cyclone activity Cyclones are an important component of Antarctic climate variability, yet quantifying their impact on the polar […]
