Annual Newth Lecture

Since 1990, SAMS has held an annual lecture to commemorate former SAMS President and Glasgow University Professor of Zoology, David Richmond Newth FIBiol FRSE. This is held by an esteemed academic following from the AGM. In 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic, no lecture was held.

Who was Professor David Newth?

David Newth had a distinguished scientific career at the interface between biology and medicine.

Initially David was at University College, London, and the Middlesex Hospital School. From 1965 to 1981 he was Regius Professor of Zoology at the University of Glasgow. He was a most urbane individual, excellent company and a wonderful raconteur.

In his six years of office, David Newth steered the Association with a strong and sure hand. Thereafter he served as a Vice-President until his death on 5 June 1988 at the age of 66.

The late Professor Alasdair D. McIntyre (SAMS President 1988-1993, SAMS Vice President 1993-2009) described David thus:

"David Newth was a distinguished scientist, a fair-minded and effective administrator, a man who was both strong and gentle in his approach to the challenges of his professional life. He did not flinch from difficult decisions yet took them with an understanding that inflicted least hurt. He was both an idealist and pragmatist and both of these aspects of his personality I saw displayed when he was a member of the Nature Conservancy Council. If David's spirit could be reincarnated in animal form then, given his love of cats, I imagine it as a tiger, applying the right amount of strength and energy appropriate to the occasion – but having enough in reserve to cope with the unexpected. And it was good to watch him in action. He served our Association with great distinction and with a sense of tradition in which he took a pride."

List of past Newth lectures

2022 In the 150th year since the Challenger Expedition set sail to establish the scientific investigation of the marine environment as a new discipline, our director, Professor Nicholas Owens, presented the annual lecture on Sir John Murray, The Challenger Expedition. Watch online here.

2021 The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development: Scotland’s role in this global initiative: Prof Martin Visbeck (GEOMAR), Michael Russell (President Scottish National Party), Prof David Paterson (MASTS), Susan Davies (Scottish Seabird Centre), Dr Hannah Grist (SAMS) - chaired by Susan Watts

2019 Associate Professor Ibon Cancio (Plentzia Marine Station University of the Basque Country): Scientia potentia est and marine biology is the proof. View here..

2018 Steven Hall (Society for Underwater Technology): Blue Future: how new technology is going to change our relationship with the global ocean. View here...

2017 Professor Colin Moffat (Head of Marine Scotland Science): A day at the seaside, a life with our seas. View here....

2016 Professor John Spicer (Plymouth University): Plankton of the sea and of the mind. When Hardy met Garstang

2015 Professor Jane Francis (British Antarctic Survey): When the polar regions were green - fossil plants reveal the climate history of the Arctic and Antarctica

2014 Dr Patricio Bernal (International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile): Oceanography and Ocean Policy: What are the links

2013 Professor Geoffrey Boulton (SAMS President): The Open Science Imperative and its Implications for Oceanography

2012 Professor Lora Fleming (Director, European Centre for Environment and Human Health at the Royal Cornwall Hospital): Oceans and human health: A new area of interdisciplinary science 

2011 Professor Gideon Henderson (University of Oxford): Ironing the Ocean: the critical role of metals for ocean ecosystems and the global carbon cycle

2010 Dr Paul Tett (SAMS): Modelling for Science and Policy: From Loch Striven to the European Court of Justice

2009 Professor Toby Sherwin (SAMS): Charting the circulation of the North Atlantic: the legacy of David Ellett

2008 Professor Laurence Mee (Director of SAMS): "Quo vadis mare nostrum? Systems science for sustainable seas

2007 Professor Tom Crowley (Director of SAGES, University of Edinburgh): A geologist's perspective on global warming and energy options

2006 Professor Julian Dowdeswell (Director: Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge): Ice and environmental change

2005 Professor Michel Kaiser (Bangor University): Can't see the fishermen for the fish: net benefits demand a wider perspective

2004 Professor Chris German (SOC): Hydrothermal exploration can lead you a long way: Oases for life in distant oceans

2003 Dr Phil Williamson (NERC/UEA): Is marine management a myth?

2002 Dr Joanna Oliver (ECMB): Biotechnology meets the sea – a recipe for success

2001 Professor Peter Wadhams (SPRI): Convective chimneys in the Greenland Sea

2000 Professor Graham Shimmield (SAMS): Marine Science Plan for Europe: Issues to be addressed

1999 Professor John Harwood (SMRU): Marine mammals in the 21 st century: will habitat loss be a problem?

1998 Professor John S Gray (University of Oslo): The oil and gas industry and the North Sea environment. Lessons from Norway?

1997 Professor Harry Elderfield (University of Cambridge): Sea floor hot springs and ocean aquifers

1996 Professor John HS Blaxter (SAMS Honorary Fellow): Enhancing marine fish stocks

1995 Professor Steve A Thorpe (SOC): Marine dispersion: from parsnips to oil and yellow plastic ducks

1994 Sir Graham Hills (former Principal, University of Strathclyde): The University of the Highlands and Islands: A university of the future.

1993 Dr Eileen Buttle (NERC): The government white paper on science, engineering and technology: The challenge to Scottish marine science

1992 Professor George M Dunnet (University of Aberdeen): Scottish Natural Heritage and the marine environment

1991 Dr John H Steele (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution): Are we marine organisms?

1990 Professor Sir Frederick Holliday: Conserving conservation

The next Wild SciArt Seminar will take place in February 2024.

Details coming soon

What are the Wild SciArt Seminars?

The Wild SciArt Seminar was created in 2022 to encourage collaboration between creative minds from marine science and the creative industries. It is named in honour of oceanographer and illustrator John James Wild, who was the official artist and secretary of the 1872-76 Challenger Expedition. 

10 March 2022: Art, Science and Algae (4-6 pm)

The inaugural event ‘Art, Science and Algae’ welcomed a group of creatives that utilise algal research in their practice to speak about their work. This was followed by a panel session exploring issues that arise when artists and scientists want to collaborate. 

Professor Juliet Brodie from the Natural History Museum chaired the meeting that highlighted the work of Anna Dumitriu, Jessica Giannotti of Crùbag, Samuel Iliffe from the Design Museum, Alice Sharp from Invisible Dust and writer Miek Zwamborn from Knockvologon.

Due to the Covid pandemic, the event took place online and attracted over 300 registrations.

It was coordinated by SAMS and the Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa. 

Read the programme

Watch the inaugural seminar 

The SAMS research bursary supports research in any marine science subject - especially if of relevance to Scotland - to a maximum of £1000 per application.

In the past this bursary has allowed visiting scientists to spend some time working at SAMS, or has been used to support travel, research assistance, completion of a project, or capital equipment purchase (for which SAMS reserves the right to retain ownership). We encourage applicants to discuss project ideas with a SAMS researcher, and welcome collaborative applications.

Any application will be judged on criteria including the originality of the project, the clarity and focus of the objectives, the research plan and content, its socio-economic relevance, the probability of being completed, and other funding sources and applications.

Successful applicants should be - or are required to become -  members of the SAMS Clan.

Applications are considered twice a year: on 31 March and 30 September.

Applicants should provide:

• > brief description of the project (no more than two pages of A4)
• >itimised costings to justify the requested funds
• >an indication of other funding granted or applied for
• >a brief cv including bibliography

Applications should be sent by email or letter to Professor Keith Davidson.

SAMS bursary privacy notice May19

Recent research bursary reports

2019 SAMS bursary report Susan Evans - oceanic DMSO in oxygen minimum zones

2017 SAMS bursary report Danja Hoehn - scyphozoan blooms and temperature rise

SAMS Clan year: 1 April to 31 March 

Annual subscriptions

• Ordinary supporter (£12): for anyone with an enduring interest in marine science
• Ordinary supporter (£5): Unwaged including retired
• Student supporter (£5): open to persons under 18 years old or registered students

How to renew

If you pay by standing order, we automatically renew your supportership unless you tell us otherwise. For supporters paying each year, we will send a reminder email and you can then choose to pay electronically in our online shop (selecting the appropriate category) or by cheque made out to 'SAMS' sent to Pauline Clifford at SAMS.

If you want to be invoiced for your supportership instead and pay by BACS, then please contact Pauline.

How to cancel your supportership

Please notify us in writing (letter or email) of your intention to withdraw from SAMS supportership. We would greatly appreciate some feedback why you do not want to remain a supporter as we do try within our means to provide you with a valuable experience.

Our supporters are looked after by Pauline Clifford. Please contact Pauline for any issues relating to your supportership.

Email: Pauline.Clifford@sams.ac.uk 

T: +44 (0) 1631 559 277

Postal address: SAMS, Dunbeg, Oban, Argyll PA37 1QA, Scotland, UK

Find out how we look after your data here.