Terry Sloane

Industry Liaison and Technology 2010-17

My role on the Challenger Council:

  • Liaison with marine scientific industry to ensure that membership has access to news, research opportunities, commercial opportunities and employment opportunities from within the ocean business community.
  • Liaison with AMSI (Association of Marine Scientific industries) trade association to provide an independent conduit to and from appropriate government organisations and policy makers from a lobbying, economic and business perspective and with the international oceanographic, hydro graphic and meteorological instrument manufacturers and suppliers.
  • To strengthen the relationship between the two organisations to provide a coherent business and science contact point to government and the media.
  • To provide the council and membership with information on developing technologies, “horizon thinking” sponsorship opportunities, and technology search capabilities, and to respond to membership requests for technical information.
  • To provide industry with an overview of the future requirements of the oceanographic research community and to publicise requirements of membership within the instrument manufacturers community.
  • To facilitate introductions between membership with respect to joint venture and licensing opportunities.


How I got into science?

From a very young age I wanted to do “underwater stuff” and trained as an electronics engineer in the mid 70’s working for Marconi Space and Defence Systems, Naval Division on under water acoustics and weapon systems and have been working with underwater technology ever since with a brief break into meteorology. Shortly after qualifying I joined NBA Controls, as a designer working on CTD systems, tide gauges, current meters and wave buoys. The application of electronics in the marine environment has always been extremely challenging. We have placed men on the moon, but not on the deepest seabed of our own planet, have explored other worlds in greater detail than our own oceans and we continue to do fantastic science and engineering on what is realistically a shoe string budget.

Who inspires me?

Like most people of my age I was first exposed to the underwater world through the TV and the exploits of Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Hans & Lotte Hass and Troy Tempest! Since those formative days I have been fortunate to work alongside some of the best engineers in the business and still do.

Latest News

Heat and carbon uptake in the Southern Ocean: the state of the art and future priorities

The following Royal Society Philosophical Trans A issue has been highly cited and downloaded - Heat and carbon uptake in the Southern Ocean: the state of the art and future priorities organised and edited by Andrew J S Meijers, Corinne Le Quéré CBE FRS, Pedro M S Monteiro, Jean-Baptiste Sallée and the articles can be accessed directly at www.bit.ly/TransA2249 

Purchase the print issue at the reduced price of £40 by contacting sales@royalsociety.org

Read More


New Chief Executive at the National Oceanography Centre

Dr John Siddorn will officially start the role of CEO of the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) on 4 April 2024, bringing with him extensive experience in leadership in science, technology, and innovation. Dr Siddorn will be replacing Professor Ed Hill CBE, who announced his retirement from NOC in November 2023 after nineteen years of distinguished service leading the organisation. Full news story.

Read More


The Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN) Open Meeting

The Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN) invites the marine community, particularly those from a policy, commercial, academic and conservation background, to an open meeting to introduce the new MEDIN Business Plan 2024-2029 and to discuss how the wider community can contribute to the future developments in UK marine data management.

Wednesday 24th April 2024 – HYBRID (The Crown Estate, 1 St James's Market, St. James's, London SW1Y 4AH and online using Microsoft Teams)

Read More